Page 164 of Trying Sophie

“But have you tried explaining that to him?”

He scoffed. “Only like a million different times.”

I eyed him speculatively while he watched the exchange between Aoife and Declan with rapt attention. “Why do you think he doesn’t believe you then?”

He shrugged, never taking his eyes off the pair. And then I noticed that every so often Aoife’s eyes furtively flicked our way as well.

Ah, so it was like that.

Aoife and Eoin might claim to be only friends but I’d bet good money they were well on their way to something more. Declan was a good brother for caring about his sister’s emotional well-being, but if the look of open longing in Eoin’s eyes right now was any indication, he needn’t worry about his intentions. Being so young, they likely wouldn’t work out, but I didn’t think it would be because Eoin tossed Aoife aside. Because the guy sitting next to me right now? He was interested in the pink-haired sprite across the room.

“Excuse me,” he said gruffly, as he stepped away to re-join Aoife.

Shortly thereafter, Declan sidled up next to me. “What do you make of it?”

I slid my eyes to him. “Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear or what I really think?”

“The truth,” he grunted.

“Okay then,” I said, taking the bottle of mineral water from his hand and swallowing down a long drink. “I think you’re overreacting.”

He bristled at my feedback. “You don’t know him like I do though.”

“That may be true, but take a look at them,” I said, discreetly notching my chin their way. “I don’t know what’s going on with them, but I guarantee you Eoin cares about your sister.”

He stared at the pair for a few moments, Eoin’s arm wrapped casually around Aoife’s shoulders as she laughed about something he’d said.

“Hmm,” he mused. “Maybe, but you know I’m right.”

“Declan, I know you care about Aoife and you’re just looking after her, but she’s not a baby anymore. You have to let her make her own mistakes so she can learn from them. Eoin might be a friend with benefits—” he made an exaggerated gagging noise “—or he might be the love of her life. The only way she’s going to be able to tell the difference is if you let her live her life on her terms. And if it turns out she gets her heart broken, well, that’s normal too. I recall kissing a few frogs myself in order to find my prince.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and wrapped my arm around his waist.

He pulled me in close against his warm body and rested his chin on my head. Rubbing his hands over my back, he acknowledged my point. “Yeah, alright. I’ll ease off her. But I’m keeping my eye on Eoin.”

“I imagine you will. Just don’t be a dick to him. There’s a lot riding on your continued friendship. And who knows, maybe you can even be a good influence on him, reformed rake that you are.”

* * *

Once my grampswas satisfied his fiddle was properly tuned, he set the instrument aside and stood. Clinking his glass to call the group to attention, the din quieted and he cleared his throat. “We know this isn’t your traditional Christmas Eve dinner, so we’d like to thank ye for choosing to celebrate with us. This has been quite the year for my lovely Maureen and me,” he intoned, patting the area near his heart. “And while I can’t say I enjoyed my time in hospital and recovery, one bright spot did emerge from the ordeal.” He extended his hands, palm up, in my direction. “It brought our lovely Sophie back home to us and for that I couldn’t be more grateful.”

His eyes glassy, he swiped at them and the crowd clapped.

“And thank Christ for that,” Declan murmured as he dropped a kiss on my forehead.

If you would have asked me if Declan was a tactile, touchy-feely sort of guy when I met him, I would have snorted my disbelief but whenever we were close, he seemed compelled to touch me in some small way. And if we were in private? In a not-so-small way. I’d never been with someone who was so open and honest with his affection and I found myself basking in the warmth of his love.

“And while tonight’s dinner is to celebrate this lovely holiday,” my grandpa continued, my grandma joining him at the front of the room and looping her arm through his. “It’s festive for a few other reasons, as well.”

That being my cue, I eased out of Declan’s arms and, his hand in mine, we slipped through the crowd toward my grandparents.

“You’re all so important to us in so many ways,” my gramps said, coughing into his hands to hide the fact that he was choked up. “Many of ye, I’ve known my whole life. Some of ye, I’ve known your whole lives.” Most everyone chuckled because that’s just what life was like in a small village. “And you’ve all supported Fitzgerald’s through the years, made this place feel like our home, not just another pub.”

The group erupted in cheers with hearty choruses of “hear, hear” echoing through the room.

“But it’s time …” he added, his voice breaking. “It’s time …” Unable to continue, he turned away to hide his naked emotion and my grandma stepped in.

“Because you’re so important to us, we wanted you lot to be the first to know that come the new year, we’re turning Fitzgerald’s over to a new owner.”

Gasps of disbelief and groans of outrage ricocheted off the rafters and everyone started chattering at once, speculation rampant over who the new owner might be and what this change would mean for the town’s beloved pub. Declan squeezed my hand and I stepped onto the small stage to join my grandparents. Looking around the space, I was overcome with my own emotion. My life had come full circle. This was never how I’d intended for things to go, but right here, right now, I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

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