The Unearthed: Book One, The Eddie McCloskey Series by Evan Ronan Read Free Book Online

knew he wouldn’t. “Jackie, I love you more than anything, except that boy in the other room. You got it?”
    “I got it.”
    “Now do I have to show you?”
    He smiled. “It would help.”
    * * * *
    Eddie had made his play, but things weren’t going well.
    Moira said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    “I was just flirting with those two girls earlier, nothing serious.” He’d talked up a couple co-eds, managed to listen to their ridiculous sob stories about how difficult college was. Attending classes for three hours a day, maybe doing a couple hours of homework each night … Eddie felt like telling them to get ready for real life.
    “It’s not that,” Moira said.
    “It was just talk.” Which wasn’t exactly true. He would have taken either one home for a night of fun if they’d been interested. The thing was, he wanted something real with Moira.
    She was quiet.
    He said, “I never got over you. We had something special.”
    “You’re a good guy, Ed. You’ll find somebody.”
    Eddie looked into her dark eyes and thought of kissing her. Maybe that would resonate. There was something still there at her end. He could tell by how deliberate she was, like she was acting against her natural inclination.
    “Eddie …”
    She didn’t finish her sentence. She started to turn away.
    “How’s work going?”
    Moira kept her eyes away from him. “I finished up my last grant project a month ago. I have another proposal out there to do more archiving and restoration.”
    “When’s it come through?”
    “Eddie, do we have to do this?”
    “It’s called talking. It doesn’t hurt.”
    She sighed. “I’ll hear in a month or so. Fingers crossed.”
    “That’s cool.”
    “You know me. Books are my life.”
    “Mine too,” Eddie said, not lying.
    “Damn, are you talking about books again?” Stan asked, suddenly joining the conversation. He watched Stan put his arm around Moira’s shoulders. It looked funny, with Moira a few inches taller than Stan. But she didn’t mind. In fact, she moved in a little closer.
    Eddie felt an unhealthy bitterness rise up in him.
    Moira looked at Stan. “You seem like you’re feeling good.”
    “Got my arm around you. Of course I am.”
    Eddie tried not to roll his eyes. Stan’s lines came with extra cheese. But they always worked for him. If Eddie tried something like that he’d be laughed out of the bar.
    “Why didn’t we ever date?” Stan asked, and the two of them had completely forgotten about Eddie.
    “You guys staying?” Tim suddenly appeared at his side. He swayed like he was on the deck of a trawler, Michelle doing her best to keep him vertical.
    “No, I’d better get going.” Stan smiled. “You know, I’ve gotta get up for work tomorrow … oh wait a minute.”
    Everybody fuck you-ed Stan.
    “If only we could all win the lottery,” Moira said. “I’ll leave with you guys.”
    Score one for Eddie, he thought.
    Moira said, “Can I catch a ride? I’m a bit tipsy. And you know the cops around here.”
    “Eddie knows the cops real well,” Tim said.
    Everybody laughed. Eddie flipped a collective bird.
    “No problem,” Michelle said. “I’m good to drive.”
    Stan spotted someone he knew at the bar and said good night to them.
    They made their way to the parking lot. Never one to miss an opportunity, Eddie took up the rear to get a good view of Moira’s caboose. They’d had sex a lot while they’d, and it had been good, the best he’d ever had. He’d joked with her about how all librarians were maniacs in the sack. She’d told him it was probably true. And then had proven it in her own case.
    “Here’re my keys.” Tim almost missed Michelle’s hand.
    “No way. I’m not driving that pedophile van of yours. Let’s take my car,” Michelle said.
    Eddie couldn’t walk a straight line. He zigzagged as if he were trying to avoid being sniped. He estimated a twenty-five percent chance of puking during the car ride.
    He’d driven