Page 36 of Since We're Here
“I also dropped out of the hospitality program.”
I pause and examine her face. Close up, she’s got freckles dotting her nose and under her eyes. It’s fecking adorable.
“Why’d you do that?”
“I hated it.” She shakes her head, helping the wind to lift the long strands of hair wrapping around her neck like a scarf. “And I didn’t need it. I don’t want to work at a hotel, and I know how to manage a restaurant, a bar, a pub, whatever. Even though I don’t have a fancy college degree.”
“Neither do I.”
“I also didn’t play professional soccer.” She reaches out and pokes me in the arm.
I can’t help but let my face soften. “You don’t need to have done either of those things, you know.” She’s so vulnerable on this cliffside, and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen against the backdrop of the ocean and Blasket Islands.
“Thanks.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds until she breaks our silence.
“You know what the stupidest thing is?”
“What?” I ask.
“His name’s not even really Blue.” She snorts. “It’s Brian. He changed it to Blue when he started working on the island. He’s actually from Ohio. Brian from Ohio. Can you get more boring than that?”
I throw my head back and laugh, and when I look at her again, she’s smiling widely. It’s like I’d made her entire day just by laughing. There might not be sun in the sky right now, but she’s like a ray of light warming my soul.
“Madison, I can tell you for sure, Blue-Brian from Ohio is a total loser.”
“Agreed. Okay, I’ve told you way too much. It’s your turn. Tell me something super personal.”
Well, feck me. This turned fast.
“I have nothing personal.”
“Come on. I’m freezing my ass out here on the edge of the world. Throw me a bone.”
I can’t just offer up a part of myself. It’s not who I am. I couldn’t even do it with Cara. Or with the other local girl I dated.
“Ask me a question.” But maybe I can try. She’s starting her life over, maybe I can try to change parts of myself as well.
“I want to ask two.”
“Go on.”
“Have you always wanted to run the brewery?”
“Yes. But until Dad’s stroke last fall?—”
“I’m so sorry.” She interrupts me and entwines her fingers together. “I didn’t know that happened.”
“He’s doing well now. But it was time for him to step back, and he finally let me take over. So yes, I’ve wanted to run the brewery since I left soccer.” I swallow. That wasn’t so hard. “Next question.”
Maddie narrows her eyes at me, her gaze darting quickly down to my lips in a fast movement I almost miss. “Have you ever been in love?”
“Jaysus. Not easing into personal questions, are we?” I run my hand from the back of my neck through my hair and down my face.
“Too scary for you? Do you want a different question?”
“Yes. That’s my answer.”
