Chapter 4.4

                                    

                                          
Reminder: This is a book preview and only contains the first five chapters. My chapters are pretty long, so I've broken them down into sections. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment but no hate, please. Be mindful of trigger warnings in the Authors Note.

Peter caught sight of Collin and Liam as they started unloading the .  He jogged over to them so that he could help. "Hello, my friends!"
         "Hey, Peter.  How was the trip down?"  Collin handed Liam some equipment, and Liam headed into the room to unpack it.
         Peter started grabbing stuff out of the SUV and smiled as he answered, "Surprisingly quiet."
         Collin laughed.  "Yeah, Liam mentioned that you rode with Han.  I didn't figure you two had much pleasant conversation, under the circumstances."
         "He apologized for some things he said to Jackie about me.  We talked about her for a while, and the conversation sort of dried up after that."
         "About you and Jackie, Peter.  I'm sure she's told you that I don't like it."
         "She told me as much, yes."
         "It's not that you wouldn't be good for her.  It's just that, as small as this group is, tension between any of us affects everyone.  That's why I've tried ta keep you guys from fraternizing.  Things between Han and Ginger caused trouble for all of us."
         Peter pulled out the last of the cases from the SUV and turned to face Collin.  "I understand your concern, Collin, and it was our intent not to tell anyone about our relationship.  We both wanted to see where this would go before we made a big deal out of it.  You should know by now that any decision she makes is one that I would live with, and as far as Jackie goes, nothing gets in the way of her work.  Any problems she has, only makes her work that much harder."
         "Can you honestly stand there and assure me that her going back ta Han wouldn't hurt you?"
         "I did not say that.  I said that I would live with it.  As long as she is happy, it does not matter what I want for her.  Contrary to what you believe about him, Han does care very much for her.  She is his best friend.  Oftentimes, he does not think about how his actions may affect her.  In that way, he is very much like Ginger, but he always takes responsibility for what he does."
         "I wouldn't call leading her on, responsible."
         "Jackie told me that he never promised her anything, and he never lied to her.  She knew how he was when she began her relationship with him.  The fact that she developed feelings for him was not his fault.  What he did not expect was to develop feelings for her, and his fear caused him to unwittingly hurt her.  He regrets, very much, what he did."
         "Ye should probably be careful with that information.  If Jackie heard that, you'd lose her, for sure."
         Peter laughed.  "You should not underestimate my ability to woo a woman, my friend, and you should give her a little more credit."  He picked up several bags and took them to Collin's room.
         "Peter, Collin and I are feckin' hangin' out and playin' feckin' cards tonight.  Think ye might want ta feckin' join us?"
         "Not tonight, Liam.  I have a date."
         "Whoa, wait, since when do ye feckin' go out?"  Peter laughed at his shocked expression.  "Christ, would ye even feckin' know what ta do with a feckin' wan?"
         Collin walked in with the last of the bags.  "Leave him be, Liam.  I imagine he knows more than you about how ta handle a wan.  When he gets one, he keeps her.  How many have you had in the last month?"