Chapter 3 Sidney let the warm water hit her body as she soaked in the heat. Her body was aching from the moving and her eyes were tired from the late night. She was at the club last night with Shane working on the new set design, they had been there since she dropped Bailey off at the Kavanagh's after school. Then after Bryan finished his set at the club, he wanted her to get a cup of coffee with him. With him teaching during the day and singer late at night, their time together was limited. She just barely picked up Bailey from the Kavanagh's, got him to bed, got herself to bed and then was up again getting him ready for school. It was difficult being a single parent but every time she saw Bailey's smile, it was worth it.
She couldn't believe that it had been a year since Michael passed away. After that meeting with the guys on that faithful night, she went back to California, sold the house, packed up their things and moved to Sligo. The move was done in haste so she wouldn't lose her nerve but Sidney knew that it was the right choice. It was the right choice for Bailey and her. Although her family didn't understand, there was nothing more that she wanted then to be close to Shane, Kian and Mark. There were her family and she knew that they would take good care of her. She hadn't been in their new house more then a week and gotten Bailey settled in school before she was at the club designing the new dance floor and stage. Sidney settled into her new job as Designer for the club very easily and enjoyed working with Shane and Kian everyday. Even though Shane and Sidney got into an argument at least once a day, she still enjoyed working with him. He was a perfectionist and he made her be the same. Kian just laughed and called them the perfect married couple. The long nights at the club, spending time with Bryan and trying to be the best mother she could for Bailey was beginning to take it's toll. She hadn't slept since Michael died and one could see it in her eyes.
She stepped out of the shower as the cold air chilled her bones. She reached for the towel as she could hear the phone ringing. She wrapped the towel around her and made her way down the cold hallway to the kitchen dripping on the wooden floor.
"Hello?" She said as she hung tight to the towel.
"Sid, can you pick me up at the school?" Asked Mark softly.
"Why?" Sidney said as she tried to keep herself covered so she wouldn't catch a cold. That was all she needed now, a cold to just slow her down.
"Briana has my car. Her damn BMW is in the shop. We have had more trouble with that car but she just had to have it." Mark said remembering the argument he and Briana had about the car. He just finally gave in to her because he was tired of hearing about it.
"Sure, I have to stop by the club first and then I'll be there." Sidney said as the cold air was beginning to settle in her bones." Mark, I really need to get dressed. I am standing with nothing but a towel and I am freezing." Sidney said as she shifted her feet trying to keep warm.
"You are just now showering? It's past noon!" Mark asked as the images of Sidney in nothing but a towel were in his mind.
"I know. After I got Bailey off to school, I tried laying down a bit." She didn't get any sleep though. She laid thinking about Bryan, thinking about Bailey and missing Michael.
"Were you out late with Bryan?" Mark asked not really wanting to know the answer.
"Yes, it's the only time we get to see each other. Mark, we will talk when I pick you up. I'm freezing! I'll be there in an hour. I just have to get the tile colors for the dance floor and then I will be at the school. " Sidney hung up the phone and ran back to the bathroom to get her robe on and finished getting ready to start her already hectic day.
Bryan McFadden was Sidney's new distraction. He was a tall, blonde beautiful man with deep blue eyes. He was the same man in the picture that mesmerized Sidney a year earlier. They started out as friends as they worked together at the club. Just two months ago, Bryan finally got the nerve to ask Sidney on a date. She shyly went and they have been together since. Sidney loved to watch him sing as his every emotions went into his words. She loved the reaction he got from the girls as he sang and the fact that he always left with her. Bryan had been very good for Sidney's self-esteem and had been very patient. He knew that he could not push Sidney but just enjoyed being very attentive to her. He liked spending time with Bailey as they became good buddies. Sidney didn't know what to think about Bryan. He was beautiful, he was gentle, he was kind and he was caring. She loved to see him with Bailey and she loved his kisses but she always felt something was missing. She couldn't place it but her heart would not lie.
She parked her car, walked into the Summer Hill College side door to the Math department and found Mark in his class talking to a student. She stood watching him as he carefully explained the problem to the student. He took so much pride and care into his students as he held his glasses in his teeth and wrote on the chalk board. Mark was truly handsome as he explained the problem one last time. His smile shone bright as the student finally understood the problem. Sidney began twisting her hair as she watched Mark perform his duties as a teacher. A smile came to her as he turned to look at her, smiling at her as he gathered his briefcase. The student thanked his teacher and gathered his books and walked past Sidney.
"Well, hello there." Mark said as he hugged her. "Nice to know that you finally joined the world. You smell good."
"Thank you, Mr. Feehily." Sidney said as she returned the hug.
"Can we run a few errands before you run me home?" He asked as he put his glasses in his pocket.
"Sure, I have to pick up Bailey at school in an hour. Wanna have dinner? I don't have to be at that the club until late tonight and Bailey misses you." Sidney grabbed Mark's hand and held it as they walked to her car.
"Sure, I could never turn down a dinner with a beautiful lady and I miss the little B. Briana is working late tonight anyway." Mark was glad when Briana had late night photo shoots. She would be working until early morning and would just come straight home and go to bed. They wouldn't have to talk or fight. They two were just rounding the corner of the Math department when a scratchy voice was heard behind them.
"Feehily, what are you trying to do to me?" Yelled the voice. Mark stopped in his tracks as he turned around. Sidney was still holding his hand as they stood facing a beautiful blonde man with once again, deep blue eyes. Sidney truly loved the Irishmen and their deep blue eyes.
"Bryns, what do you want. I was just about to leave." Mark said raising his voice. Sidney didn't know if the two men were about to start a fight or something.
"I needed Teagan and you just lost him for me." The handsome man said as he moved closer to the two. Mark dropped Sidney's hand as he stood face to face with the man.
"He flunked my class. Sorry." Mark said standing firm.
"He is my star goalie. I need him to win Saturday's match. This is important." The man said as he quickly glanced at Sidney brushing back his blonde hair from his eyes.
"He should have thought of that when I offered to tutor him." Mark shifted in his stance as he spoke.
"Man, he told me you didn't help him. That duetz!" The man said laughing. "I guess I will have to use McCluskey. That boy is not ready."
"Well, he has the best goalie in Ireland to get him ready." Mark said as he pat the man on the back. The two men laughed as Sidney began to ease her position between the two. "By the way, this is my friend Sidney Kavanagh. Sid, this is Nicky Byrns. He is the football coach for Summer Hill."
"Very pleased to meet you." Nicky said as he stretched out his hand to Sidney.
"Thank you." Sidney got lost in his smile as she shook his hand. There was something about him. Something that made her smile, something that made her want to know him more.
"I think I have seen you at the Duachais, don't you work there?" Nicky asked interrupting Sidney's thoughts.
"Not only do I work there, I own part of it." She said smiling. Nicky liked her smile. It was honest, real and raw, something that he hadn't seen in a woman before. He loved her green eyes and how they danced when she looked at him. Not only did Nicky see Sidney at the club but he had also asked about her. Kian was quick with his answers as he told Nicky briefly about Sidney but it didn't stop Nicky form asking more about her. Nicky stood watching Sidney and noticed even the smallest detail about her, like the way her smile was slightly crooked and how her hair swept across her face when she laughed. Something was happening between them and neither one was ignoring it.
"Well, you always seem to be real busy. I always see you running around." Nicky said smiling.
"Well, the next time you are there, stop me from running." Sidney said not realizing how trampy that sounded. Actually she did realize but didn't care. For the first time, she didn't care.
"I will have to do that." Nicky said as his eyes twinkled even more since he first saw her. He and Mark talked for a brief time and then they all said their good-byes. Mark and Sidney were quiet until they got into her car.
"Nice flirtation, Sid. Not obvious at all" Mark said as he buckled himself in.
"What?" She asked innocently.
"Don't give me that. You know exactly what you did." Mark said as he smiled at Sidney. "But what about Bryan?"
"What about Bryan?" She asked as she turned the key. "I didn't set a date or anything. I just told him to talk to me when he is at the club."
"Right." Mark said as he looked straight ahead.
"So, does Nicky have a girlfriend?"Sidney asked as she put the car in drive and drove out the parking lot.
"What do you care? You didn't set a date with him or anything." Mark said as he smiled at Sidney.
"I was just making polite conversation." Sidney quickly said in her defense.
"So polite conversation is asking me about Nicky's love life?" Mark gently rubbed Sidney's face as he ran his cold hands down her neck.
"Stop it!" Sidney screamed in the cold excitement. "I was just wondering, in case..."
"In case Nicky did set a date with you?" Mark said as he gave Sidney one of his biggest smiles.
"Just forget it." Sidney turned the radio up to drown out Mark's teasing and continued driving.
"He broke up with his girlfriend two months ago, they were dating for 3 years." Mark said as he turned down the radio.
"See, now was that difficult?" Sidney asked as she squeezed Marks hand as he simply smiled at her.
The two sat in silence as Sidney drove. She thought about Bryan and their relationship. But then her thoughts soon went to Nicky. What was so different about him? Why did he even enter her thoughts? Mark had to endure seeing Bryan with Sidney, giving her the kisses that he should be giving her. Now he would have to see it with Nicky. He knew that Sidney was sweet on Nicky and he did everything he could not to let it consume his heart. It was his own fault, she didn't know. She couldn't know and he would never tell. He would keep the secret and live in his own misery... that Sidney was sweet on Nicky and he did everything he could not to let it consume his heart. It was his own fault, she didn't know. She couldn't know and he would never tell. He would keep the secret and live in his own misery...