Page 63 of Since We're Here
“Quirks?”
“Yeah, like quirky things. We’re going to go see a giant salmon statue in Belfast, Patrick. Ian’s suggestion.”
He presses his lips together and raises his eyebrows.
“Where are we stopping again?”
“I have a list—no thanks to you.” I pull out my phone and scroll to the notes app.
Patrick scoffs. “A simple internet search?—”
“Hush. Here. This is what I got so far from my online research. Oh, and from your sister.”
“Could’ve been done from New Jersey.” He tilts his head and drinks, and I try not to stare at the way his lips wrap around the neck of the bottle.
“No, it definitely could not have. Just listen. We’ll start in Dublin and do things like Temple Bar, Guinness Brewery, and go see your Hungry Tree?—”
“It’s not my tree.” He groans. I ignore him.
“Then we’ll head to Northern Ireland, first stopping in Belfast, where we’ll see the giant fish statue. Then drive through the Dark Hedges, which look amazing. Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge to finish off Northern Ireland. Thenwe’ll stop in Donegal, where your sister told me about some hole in the ground that’s the gateway to hell, so that sounds delightful?—”
“Christ.”
“Shhh. Then to Galway, Cliffs of Moher, stay in Limerick for the night, then end up in Dingle. We’ll find some tiny stone houses along Slea Head. Thank you, Saoirse.”
“I could’ve pointed them out on our bike ride.”
“But you didn’t.” I give him a withering look. “When we leave Dingle, we need to stop by your favorite: Blarney Castle, where we’ll kiss the rock while hanging upside down for good luck.”
“That is a disgusting, dirty stone that thousands of other people have put their mouths on.”
“Yup.”
“Don’t expect me to participate. No self-respecting Irishman would do such a thing.”
“You suggested it.”
“I was joking.”
“Noted. Then we’ll head toward Dublin, and everyone will go their separate ways.” I gulp at the idea of flying out of Dublin at the end of the road trip. “I need a few more ideas for quirky things.”
Patrick doesn’t answer right away, but there’s a shadow of a grin on his tempting mouth.
“I think it’s a good list, but we might have to adjust a few stops to make it work within our twelve-day timeframe,” he says finally.
“Yes!” I pump a fist in the air. “I knew it was brilliant.”
“Did I say brilliant? I don’t think I said that.”
“Shut up.” I reach over to push his biceps and let my hand linger there for a second, scooting closer, tucking one leg beneath me so that my knee is touching his thigh. I love being this close to Patrick. There’s an energy that radiates off him, andI want to be near it. A crackling between us. He’s a magnet and my body is made of iron.
“I like it. Really.” His voice is softer, and his arm hardens beneath my hand. He shifts his body so it’s turned to me, our knees now touching. “In Limerick, we can take an easy hike to a beautiful waterfall in Clare Glens forest.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“And I know a brewery in Donegal.”
“Perfect. And in Dingle we’ll obviously go to... New Dingle Brewing. I hear they have a great tasting room.” I remove my hand from his arm.
