Page 82 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
“Hi, I’m Ollie,” the little boy said, holding out his puppy. “And this is Pip. Kade said you were in an accident when you were a boy like me. I’m sorry. Did it hurt?”
Ryan set his bag on the table and took the puppy, who nuzzled his jacket. “It did, but it could have been worse. Right, Kade? Now I make cocktails with my cousin in Dublin. Do you want one? I can make it without alcohol.”
“Can I, Mom?” Ollie asked, jumping in place.
“That would be very nice.” She grabbed Kade’s hand, her nerves palpable. “Thank you, Ryan. I’m Megan.”
“You’re pretty,” Ryan said, his grin contagious. “Kade, you found a pretty girl. Good for you. He’s waited long enough.”
Kade laughed, and Megan’s tension had to be dissipating because she joined in. “I waited as long as I needed to,” he said.
“Even I’ve had more girlfriends than Kade.” Ryan winked at her. “Would you like to come to Dublin with me?”
Megan blinked. “I live here. I have classes.”
Ryan laughed louder, making Pip squeak. “Kade said you’d say no. But I don’t blame you. He’s the best. Do you want a cocktail too? I brought three choices.”
Megan’s shoulders finally relaxed. “Three? I can’t wait to hear about them. Maybe I should try them all.”
“If you do, you might get pissed,” Ryan said, handing Pip back to Ollie.
“Pissed means drunk,” Ollie informed his mother as the puppy lapped at his face.
Kade bit his lip as Megan sighed. “I won’t ask who told you.”
“Mom,everyoneknows what pissed means. We live in a town where everyone goes to the pub. Except us. Ryan, can I help you?”
Ollie edged closer to Ryan, who was looking inside his bag. “Kade, I’m going to make these in the kitchen. Do you have ice?”
“In trays in the freezer,” he replied.
“Bad ice, then.” Ryan rolled his head dramatically. “We have a whole machine that makes different kinds of ice.”
“You’re in Caisleán now, Ryan. Not Dublin.”
“No Wi-Fi out here either.” Ryan winked at Megan. “Means I can’t text my girlfriend.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, and Ollie followed him with Pip.
“Why are you so nervous?” he asked Megan when they were alone.
She glanced to the open doorway of the kitchen and whispered, “He’s important to you. I want him to like me.”
This again…
Had the sweater set brought up the old patterns, or was it the other way around? “You should tell Ryan that when he brings out our cocktails.”
When Ollie brought out two cocktails, she gave him a look. “One’s for me, Mom. It’s made with passionfruit juice and something bitter with vanilla.”
“Vanilla bitters,” Ryan said, carefully setting the glasses on the table. “I make the bitters myself. Megan, I made you all three since you said you wanted to get pissed.”
Kade started laughing as she sputtered. “I did not!”
“Yes, you did.” He giggled and gave her a lopsided smile. “Don’t worry. Kade will drive you home too.”
“I’m—”
“Megan, he’s teasing,” Kade said, glancing at Ollie, who was laughing under his breath.
