Page 21 of Colin (The Doherty Mafia)
I grabbed a few whiskey minis from the bar and climbed into bed, not even bothering to change out of my clothes.
I wasn’t as hungover anymore, just exhausted and on the brink of falling asleep.
I had the TV on but left it on mute, and I just lay there on the bed, surrounded by more alcohol than was good for me.
Clearly, the room had been given a clean because the sheets didn’t smell of Marley anymore. One of the first things I’d noticed when I woke up that morning was her perfume on the pillows. Even in the shower while I fucked her, the smell surrounded me and I was sure I would never forget it.
I couldn’t help but groan when I remembered the look on her face when she saw the ring on my finger. Horror mixed with confusion. She didn’t want it to be true. Was it me? Or was it the concept of marriage?
I didn’t know her well enough to know which one it was.
Did I know any girl well enough?
Anyone other than Tina?
Tina was the first person I had opened myself up to, and I was amazed that she had wanted to get to know me too.
I tried not to think about her. I closed my eyes and tried forcing myself to sleep, but the opposite happened. I was waking up more. My mind filled with dizzying thoughts of Tina.
Her face when I asked her out the first time.
She had bright red hair, the likes of which I’d never seen before. We were both seventeen. She was beautiful and I wanted her.
I didn’t think she would go for a guy like me. She knew about our family’s reputation. She knew the kind of life I was involved in, and Tina was a good girl. She was dating the jock in high school. She was in the cheerleading squad. She was popular.
She was the kind of girl I thought was too good for me, but I wanted what I saw and decided I had to have her. As it turned out, she wanted me too. The sex was going to be an adventure.
We fucked behind the bleachers one night after a game. Tina’s face was flushed after sex and I noticed how she couldn’t stop staring at me.
“Would your boyfriend be mad if I asked you out?” I said as I pulled my pants up. Tina blushed hard and I had no idea why.
But I found out a few seconds later.
“I don’t want to be with him anymore,” she replied.
We got into a relationship.
I’d gone all my teenage years so far without having an actual girlfriend, but Tina demanded it. She wanted to be known as Colin Doherty’s girlfriend and I wasn’t going to deny her.
This was the first girl who was able to make me stop in my self-destructive path and take a good look at myself in the mirror.
“You drink too much, Colin,” she said to me one morning when she woke up in my bed.
I could have thrown her out of my room. I hated being told what to do. But all I did was smile and she smiled too.
“It’s your life and I’m not going to tell you how to lead it. I’m just making an observation, that’s all.” She sounded too mature for her age. Wise beyond her years.
She was a good influence on me and it didn’t matter that I was getting sucked into being sentimental over a girl. Tina was worth it.
My father saw her in the house once. She was making herself a cup of coffee in the kitchen. At first he wasn’t sure whose girl she was. He assumed she was with Aidan.
“I’m Colin’s girlfriend.” I heard Tina’s voice in the kitchen while I rushed down the stairs. I didn’t realize Dad was at home. I’d never introduced him to any of the chicks I slept with. None of them ever stayed over.
Dad was standing there, stunned, while Tina made herself comfortable with the coffee at the kitchen table.
“You have a girlfriend?” Dad asked when I walked in.
I looked at Tina, she had her brows arched high up on her forehead. She dared me to answer. To finally admit it.
I didn’t want to lose her. I was going to do anything to keep her with me. For the first time since my mother’s death, I actually felt something for someone. I wasn’t going to give that up.
“Yeah, I do,” I replied, walking over to plant a kiss on Tina’s cheek. I knew how cheesy that was. I knew my father was in shock. But, I made a statement.
It worked because she was more happy with that than any expensive gift I would have given her.
Dad nodded and then he smiled.
“Good for you, son. It was about time you found someone,” he said and giving Tina a wink, he walked out of the kitchen.
