Page 9 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

I left New York in order to survive, and I’ve missed the smell of trash, the sound of honking horns, and the wail of sirens ever since.

The only sound here is that of the camaraderie of the small army of workers as they carry out their daily duties on this massive manor-house estate. Many are young children, no doubt used illegally by the Ruoccos as cheap or even free labor.

Taking a seat at my desk, I open up the photographs from Fletch once more and stare at the image of me and Jaine.

12 Years Earlier (Age Nineteen)

Yale University, Connecticut

This is date number three.

Toward the end of date one, Jaine finally relented and let me hold her hand. On date two, she let me snake my arm around her shoulder even though she clearly wasn’t receptive to the tactile gesture. My public display of affection made her as stiff as a board.

I’m a fella who likes to push my luck, what can I say?

Normally, even a little effort on my part instantly produces the required results from the fairer sex, but not with Jaine Jones.

Is today going to be the day that she finally caves in and lets me kiss her? Because I can’t think about anything else. Even my studies are starting to suffer.

By now, I’d usually have fucked my latest conquest and sent them on their way before moving on to the next in a very long line. You’re only nineteen once, after all. Life is for sampling, tasting, and living at this age.

I thought maybe it was the coffee shop. That with it being on campus, it was just too public for her. That she didn’t like the idea of being overly familiar with me while surrounded by a load of other students, many of whom we both know.

It’s hard to pinpoint things with Jaine. She’s not introverted or withdrawn or anything like that. She’s a girl who tends to speak her mind when she has something of note to say and not just to fill an awkward silence. It means that she never gives much away. There’s definitely something holding her back.

I need to find out what it is.

She is my future wife, after all.

It’s a pleasant day, so we’ve decided to meet at a local park off campus for a change. I’ve chosen a bench that affords us a bit of privacy while not being too discrete that Jaine starts to think my intentions are anything less than honorable. I frown at the realization that, for once, they really are. That if Jaine needs me to take things at a snail’s pace, then that’s what I’ll do.

Raising my face to the sun, I close my eyes, appreciating the warmth as I listen to birdsong and inhale the smell of freshly cut grass.

For some reason, I know she’s close by.

Lowering my head, I open my eyes to blatantly admire her, a smile crossing my face when I’m rewarded with her cheeks flushing pink in response.

My gaze drifts over her.

Ma would describe Jaine’s figure as being straight up and down. I’ve decided that the straight-up-and-down look is now my favorite on any girl.

In the time we’ve spent together, what I’ve come to realize about Jaine is that there are no heirs nor graces with her. What you see is what you get. She doesn’t give two flying fucks what anyone thinks, me included.

It’s one of the things I respect most about her when typically, I’m surrounded by yes-people and everything fake. She’s like a welcome breath of fresh air.

She’s wearing white jean shorts and a tank top today, her beat-up high-tops finishing off her typical student look.

Most girls would come dressed to impress if asked to go on a date with me, even if it was only to the local park. I know I’m popular with the ladies. It’s in part because I checkmark a lot of boxes.

Good looks. Winning personality. Influential family. Loaded.

I’m what many would call a good catch.

But what impresses the other girls doesn’t seem to work with Jaine. Then again, she may not even be aware of the last two boxes since she’s not from around these parts. Maybe I should tell her? So she knows exactly who she’s getting involved with and about the mobster family she’s going to be marrying in to.

I smirk at that thought as I close my eyes and lift my face back up to the sun. I can tell she’s now blatantly admiring me, even if I can’t see her doing so.

I catch her staring a lot when she thinks I’m not looking, so I already know she likes what she sees. That’s not what’s holding her back.

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