Page 55 of Our Song

‘Yeah,’ said Tadhg.‘Very glad.’He took a step closer towards me.

For a moment I wassurehe was going to kiss me.For a moment I thought I might even kiss him first.

Then a voice went, ‘All right, lads?’

I turned around and Ruairí was strolling towards us, his hand raised in greeting.

‘Ruairí!’said Tadhg, stepping back from me.‘Hey!’

‘You on your way to the bus?’said Ruairí.‘I’ll walk with you.’

‘Um, yeah, sure,’ said Tadhg.He turned to me.‘You’ll be okay on your own, Lol?’

‘Course I will,’ I said brightly.

‘Okay,’ he said.‘I might see you before practice on Saturday.’

‘Sure!’I said.‘See you soon.’

Perfect timing, Ruairí, I thought as they walked towards O’Connell Bridge.Thanks a bloody bunch.But the hope was growing blossoms now.There’ll be another moment like that, I thought.We’ll have another chance soon.

That’s what I thought.That’s really what I thought.

And then the gig happened.

Chapter Twenty

2019

I’m humming to myself when I let myself into the house after our session with Sam.One of Tadhg’s melodies – now slightly tweaked by me – is stuck in my head.

‘Lol?’Katie’s voice calls me from the back of the house.

‘It’s me!’I say.I prop the Danelectro case up against the wall and unwind my scarf from around my neck.

‘Were yousingingjust now?’says Katie from the kitchen.

‘No!’I say.‘Why does everyone keep accusing me of singing?I was just humming!’

‘Sounded like singing to me,’ says Katie.‘And it didn’t sound bad, to be honest.How did things go today?’

‘Really good!Tadhg’s friend came over to play drums and he was great.He’s coming back tomorrow afternoon.’I stroll into the kitchen to see Katie standing at the fridge, unpacking groceries.‘Ooh, did you go to the posh supermarket?’

‘I did.I’m going to have to get another loan from the credit union because I’ve spent all my money on cheese.’

‘Can I have some?’I say.

‘You can have some on Saturday, when His Highness comes over for dinner.How are things with him?’

‘Good!I think.Want some tea?’I put the kettle on.When I turn around, Katie has closed the fridge door and is looking at me with concern.

‘You like him again,’ she says.

‘Tadhg?’I take some mugs out of the press below the counter.‘Yeah, of course I like him.I mean, we’re friends again.And I don’t really think he wants to steal my song anymore.Come on, Kay, you know I’m not still angry with him.’

‘I don’t mean you like him as friends,’ says Katie.‘I mean youlikehim, like him.I can tell by the way you’re bouncing around the place.Andsinging!’

‘Likehim, like him?What are we, fifteen?’I put teabags into the mugs.‘And I wasn’t singing.’

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