Page 44 of Since We're Here
“Semantics,” Saoirse says, but the look on her face is more serious than before.
“Well. I’m off. Need to feed Turtle and Kitty.”
“That’s a daft excuse to leave. They’re sheep. They can just eat the grass.”
“They like their afternoon treats. Besides, I need to swing by the brewery and do a few things.” I glance longingly at the front door, a sweet exit from this interrogation.
“Pub tonight? Have some craic?”
“I thought I had the girls? I’ve got plans to paint with them.”
“Ah, no, they’re sleeping here. Mam pulled rank and wants them.” Saoirse nods her head toward our mother, who is now sitting next to Erin on the couch, dutifully looking at the iPad with her. “Save it for next time?”
“We’re going to bake blueberry scones,” Mam says. “Then watch a film, then we’re going to work on their birthday present lists.”
“Aren’t their birthdays not till summer?”
“Never too early,” Mam says.
“How about tomorrow night?” The idea of a Saturday evening with nothing to do is both comforting—I could work on sanding down the bookshelves I’ve been ignoring—and depressing.
“A school night? Nah. Next weekend?”
“Fine.”
“So, O’Brien’s tonight, since you’re now free?”
“Nothing like going to my place of work on my night off.” My traitorous brain immediately thinks of the American.
“Great.” Saoirse cocks her head at me. “Maddie said she’s going to stay after her shift as well. We’re at a texting-level relationship now.”
“Why would I care if she’s going to be there?” But my insides flip at the thought of seeing her tonight. Something about that woman makes me uncomfortable. Not bad uncomfortable. Good uncomfortable. Like I want to be around her.
Which means I should probably avoid her.
Saoirse laughs and rolls her eyes at me—again—and I slip my runners on and escape my parents’ house.
My mind is scattered now that I have new plans for the evening. What was I supposed to do this afternoon? Feed the sheep, and go to the brewery, but I forget why. Admin? I can just deal with that from home.
I hate that I’m looking forward to seeing Maddie tonight at the pub. She’s off-limits. I can’t mess around with her.
But I’m really just looking out for her, right? Like with the Slea Head bike ride. I don’t want her to get in trouble drinking in Dingle. What would I tell Oliver?
So I’ll go and keep an eye on things.
11
MADDIE
Boyfriend Disaster #4: Franco the Poet
Job Location & Length: Starbucks, 6 months
My Age: 23
As a break from serving tables, I tried working as a barista. Franco was one as well. And a poet. He’d stare at me longingly from across the coffee shop. He asked me out by writing a haiku on a napkin.
We had an epic first date that started at a (different) coffee shop and ended up at the Jersey Shore, an hour and a half drive away. He had a blanket and a bottle of wine in his trunk, and we sat on the beach passing the bottle back and forth, listening to the ocean and staring out at the moon-kissed waves. He read me poetry. We slept together that night and couldn’t stay away from each other for the next two weeks.
