Chapter 37

Sunday, 27 April

I head from our table to the bar, weaving in and out of groups of people. Today was a perfect day, and this is the perfect ending.

The six of us went on an early cycle to Slea Head this morning since yesterday’s scenic drive was full of rain and fog. Maddie used her bike, which I’d kept in my barn with mine, along with the brand-new, well-fitting helmet. I borrowed the rest of the bikes from neighbors and Saoirse so we wouldn’t have to rent wonky ones from that shop down the road from the pub. After lunch, I took the group to the brewery for a short tour and tasting, and now we’re at O’Brien’s.

It’s finally tourist season, so the pub is busy. I lift a hand to Saoirse, who holds up one finger before starting another round of drinks for my group. I wait patiently, lost in my thoughts.

I’m basking in the memory of my conversation with Maddie yesterday after giving her the three gifts. Gifts which were so easy to figure out. I could easily come up with a hundred more.

We have a plan to get married. The fact that she’ll even consider spending her life with me? It’s everything.

Suddenly, I’m aware of someone standing next to me.

“Patrick.”

It’s fecking Liam. I have to remember not to hate him on sight the way I’ve gotten so used to for the past five years. I have to remember that Cara lied to him. That he thinks he’s been a good, protective big brother.

“Hello,” I say.

“Hello.” Liam stares at me and I fight the urge to roll my eyes or make a dismissing motion with my hand.

“I’m not actually working, but Declan or Saoirse can sort you right out.”

“Two pints for you, Pat,” my sister says, sliding the glasses to me right on cue. She glances between me and Liam with raised eyebrows.

“Thank you.” I nod to her as she heads back for the rest of the drinks.

“I’m not here to order drinks. I’m here to talk to you.” Liam swigs from his bottle of New Dingle Amber Ale, draining it.

“Oh, Christ, why?”

Liam sighs and runs his free hand through his floppy brown hair.

“I’m going to do this once, so listen up. I owe you an apology.”

I let out a surprised huff, and Liam narrows his eyes at me before breathing in deeply.

“Sorry. Go on.”

“My sister recently told me that she lied to me about how things ended between you two.”

Saoirse places two glasses of red wine next to the pints. I bet she wants to stand here and listen to our conversation, but she has two more to grab for me. I lift a pint to my lips and drink deeply, letting the creamy foam of Slea Head Devil’s Dark sit on my tongue before swallowing. I look away from Liam.

“I also recently found that out.”

“I thought—” He stops, and I give him a few seconds to continue, but he looks frozen, like a streaming movie stuck on the same scene.

“What did you think?” I need to hear the words from him. To know that the end of our friendship wasn’t my fault. Not only my fault, anyway.

“I need a drink for this.” Liam gestures to Declan and accepts a fresh bottle from the bartender. “She told me you cheated on her. That you’d been cheating on her the whole time you were in England, and she caught you in Dublin.”

“Which is all false.”

“Yes. I know that now.” He swallows. “It didn’t sound like you.”

We lock eyes for a few beats. I remember how close we used to be. It feels like a lifetime ago.

“You could have asked for my side of the story.”

He nods and shrugs at the same time. I have a feeling it’s too late to start over.

“I’m sorry for being such a dick to you over the past five years. I guess you didn’t completely deserve it.”

Saoirse slides the last two pints over. Time to get away from this conversation.

“Thank you, I guess. So are we going to be best friends, or something?” I’m not sure what Liam’s still standing around for.

He studies me. “Nah, I don’t think so.”

“Well. That’s a relief.”

After a second, he chuckles, and I do the same.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Stella and Reese walk back to our table, and I glance over. Reese kisses Oliver on the lips and sits in the chair next to him, and Stella settles on Ethan’s lap. Maddie’s watching me from across the room.

“Have a good night, Liam.” I carry a pint and two glasses of red wine to the table, and by the time I go back for the other pints, Liam’s gone.

As I get back, Maddie’s rolling her eyes at Stella and Ethan, who are kissing.

“Ugh, get a room.” She turns, sliding her hand up the outside of my thigh and staring at me with her big brown eyes. She’s wearing another of her dresses tonight, and even though it’s fully spring in Ireland, it’s still not quite warm enough to justify the short dress. But I’m damn thankful for it.

“Hey.” I sit and press my lips to hers.

“Hi.” She kisses me again, lingering a bit longer before pulling away. “What was that about?” Maddie nods her head to where I was with Liam at the bar.

“He apologized for hating me for the past five years.”

“Wow.”

“Yes. Wow.” My eyes drift down to her bare legs. “You look gorgeous tonight, as usual.” I settle a hand on her thigh.

“Thanks. Noreen just texted me. The flat will be ready next week after the current people check out and it gets cleaned. I have a feeling you guys canceled a few bookings for me.”

I shrug. She’s right.

“It’d be better if you were living with me.” I squeeze her leg gently.

“Soon.”

“When?”

“How about once we find out the Irish Oktoberfest is a huge hit?”

“It’s a deal.” I run my thumb along her soft leg, inching up to below the hem of her dress. “I was thinking, I don’t know nearly enough about the woman I’m in love with.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Hmm. First kiss?”

“Oh, lord. Freshman year of high school. A skinny kid who played guitar named Markus. In a dark science room after school.”

“Wow.”

“How about you?”

“I was sixteen. No, seventeen.”

“Pretty late, huh?”

“Don’t judge. I was too busy with soccer to worry about girls.”

“Whatever you say.” Maddie’s eyes twinkle. “Tell me more.”

“Her name was Elaine. I first said ‘hi’ to her at the corner shop and we met there every day for a week until I convinced her to let me stick my tongue down her throat. She never showed up again.”

Maddie laughs and I savor the sight of her happiness and her smooth throat, begging for my lips.

“You must’ve improved dramatically since then,” she says when she stops chuckling.

“You’re so mean.” I move my hand under her dress until it’s borderline inappropriate and she inhales sharply.

“Next question?”

“When did you first leave the States?”

She tilts her head. “I visited Stella in London once a few years ago. That’s it, though. I’d like to travel more now that I’m living here.”

“We can make that happen.”

“How about you? When did you start your international travels?”

“Mam and Dad took us to Paris when I was five. But I’ve traveled pretty much everywhere in Europe, and a handful of other places as well.”

“Show off.” Maddie rolls her eyes.

I lean forward to kiss her. “Hey, come with me. I have to show you something.”

“What? Another gift?”

“Don’t be greedy.”

The side of her mouth turns up, and she lets me drag her through the crowded bar, past my sister serving drinks, and toward our dark hallway, the one that leads to the pub office, restrooms, stairs to the basement storage, and the locked door to the flat.

“Oh, are we going to have fun in the office again?”

I grin, remembering laying her out on the desk. “Not quite.”

“Aw, shame.”

“Another time, although Saoirse might have something to say about us defiling her office.” I stop in the dark hallway and press my back against the wall, pulling her against me.

“Hey, tourist.” Even in the dim light, I see her smiling, her eyes sparking.

She wraps her arms around my waist. I layer mine on top of hers.

“Hey, hot bartender.”

“When we first met in this hallway, you told me you were getting over someone and needed a kiss to help you forget him.”

“Did I say that? Pretty forward of me.”

“It was. I’m so glad you took that chance.”

“Me too.”

“Have you done it? Forgotten him?”

She laughs. “I don’t even remember his name.”

“Good.”

And I kiss her.