Page 50 of Since We're Here
Patrick nods, eyes on me. “She wants about ten.”
“She gets three, though. But I bet you give in to her.”
“Sure do.”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus, the way this man is looking at me. I press my lips together.
“I brought shots,” Ian states.
“Really, Ian?” Patrick finally turns his head toward Saoirse and Ian, who has a spread of filled shot glasses on a tray.
When I look away from Patrick, Saoirse is watching me with a twinkle in her eye. Did she see us kiss? Between this and her little speeches to me about her brother, I’m getting the feeling she’s supportive of whatever just happened.
“Really.” The tattooed redhead doesn’t flinch from Patrick’s glare.
“I’m not a big liquor person.” I attempt a protest.
“Objection denied.” Ian cheerfully slides a glass across the table to me.
“Aren’t we too old for this?” I try again, pleading with my eyes to not have to drink the clear liquid.
“What does age have to do with shots?” Ian shakes his head.
Saoirse shrugs in agreement, and Patrick chuckles. The three of them knock the shots back and I follow suit, concentrating on not gagging at it burns its way down my throat.
An hour and another round of pints and shots later, everyone is trashed. Or at least I am, because three pints and two shots will do that.
“Anytime, lass, come on down and I’ll get you sorted with a beautiful tattoo.” Ian’s face is lit up.
“Both my sisters have tattoos already, and I feel like I’m slacking. I mean, if responsible, perfect Reese did it, surely I can, too?” I concentrate on not slurring my words.
“Exactly.”
“And your tattoos are just beautiful. What are those?”
“My kids’ names.” Ian holds out his right arm, pushing up the short sleeve on his biceps. “Eileen is seven, and Jack and James are both five.”
Celtic swirls and knots surround the script names, masking the words beautifully.
“I love it.”
“They are my everything. Well, them and Saoirse.” He casts an intense glance at Patrick’s sister, and she reaches over and touches his hand, even though she’s in another conversation.
I bet they don’t have a ton of messy complications.But another look at his tattoos contradicts that. Five children between the two of them, two ex-spouses... Maybe their love is strong enough to overcome?
“Hey, question for you,” I say to Ian.
“Go ahead.”
“What’s a unique thing we can go see or do on our road trip? In Ireland or Northern Ireland?”
Ian twists his lips to one side and appears to think.
“Ah! There’s a giant fish statue in Belfast.”
I giggle. “Ohhhkay.”
“It’s called—wait for it—the Salmon of Knowledge.”
