Kieran’s wide eyes roamed around as he took in everything. “Holy shit balls! This place is perfecto! I could spend weeks exploring and never be bored. Where are we?”
“This is a country house, built when the English ruled Ireland. However, if you don’t mind, can we explore it later?”
Kieran snickered as he heard Logan’s stomach grumble. “Sure, last one downstairs has to pay for lunch,” hechallenged. And with that, he hopped on the banister and started sliding down the curving staircase, giggles trailing after him.
Logan’s jaw dropped, not believing what his mate was doing and then it snapped shut as the bet registered in his mind. Running down the first few steps, he shouted, “Hey no fair! You didn’t say go!”
Reaching the bottom first, Kieran jumped off and stood, laughing as his mate jumped on the bannister, finally reaching the bottom. “I’m glad you’re buying lunch,” Kieran smirked, “because I don’t have any money on me. It would wreck the look of my skinny jeans.”
Logan lifted his mate up and looking him in the eye, said, “You cheated.”
“Uh uh. I won fair and square. I can’t help it if you’re big and move slower.”
“Big, huh. You liked my bigness in the shower.”
Rolling his eyes, Kieran said, “Of course I love your bigness. I just said I can’t help it if I have an advantage because I’m smaller.”
“True, but you should have given me a head start to level the playing field, if that’s the case. And mind you, I’m not admitting that it’s true.”
“I couldn’t do that!”
“Why not?”
“Well, what would your brothers say if they found out you needed help to beat little old me?” Kieran grinned, loving the sound of Logan’s laughter when it filled the air.
“True. Let’s forget I ever suggested it.”
“Okay. Can we eat now? I don’t have the reserves you big wolves have! And Iamstarving!”
Still laughing, Logan said, “Sure, let’s eat.” Striding toward the front door, he saw Thomas waiting for him with coats, umbrellas, and everything else he’d requested.
Taking in everything, Kieran turned back to Logan, eyes narrowing. “We’re going to eat outside somewhere…in the rain?”
“Of course not. Now put on your coat so we can go.”
After Logan set him down, he turned to Thomas and said, “Hi, I’m Kieran.”
“Hello, Kieran, I’m Thomas. Please let me know if I can be of help with anything.”
“Sure will,” Kieran answered, taking his coat and slipping it on, then turning back to Logan, added, “Yo, mate, I’m not getting any younger, but I am getting hungrier.”
Chuckling, Logan said, “Yeah, I remember that about you.” And then seeing his quizzical face, continued, “You were ragging my twin about getting fed the first time I saw you.”
“Oh yeah! Well, now I’m doing it to you. I’m ready as per your order so chop, chop.”
Smiling broadly at seeing his mate’s sassy side come out, Logan grabbed Kieran’s hand and strode to the front door. After stowing the picnic basket and the rest of the paraphernalia in the trunk, they got in and the driver headed down the long driveway.
Logan watched his mate look out the window and wondered how he felt about being back in the land of his birth. Then, as he glanced around, he noticed the softnessof the light and its effect on everything, deciding to file that away for later to use in his design work, before turning to focus on his mate. After about twenty minutes, Logan could see a small village up ahead of them and as they entered it, he was taken with the charming architecture.
Kieran’s head swiveled from side to side, wanting to see everything. When he lived with the Shaman, he was never allowed to fraternize with humans and after the Shaman died, his parents kept him busy on their small farm. He wondered what Logan would think of his life back then. His head jerked around as the car stopped in front of an Irish village pub, then, grinning at the quaint building, he asked, “Are we having lunch here?”
“Yes, I was told they make the best cottage pie around this part of Ireland.”
Kieran scrambled out as soon as the door opened, standing there with a smile so wide, he was sure his face was in danger of being split in two. As Logan joined him, Kieran said, “Listen, I think they have live music. Can you believe it? Live music! I wonder if they would let me play the bodhrán.”
“What’s a bodhrán?”
“It’s an Irish drum. C’mon,” Kieran said excitedly, pulling Logan into the pub where he found a booth for them and ordered some beers. Kieran’s eyes couldn’t stop moving as he studied everything and everyone while he was bouncing in his seat, excited to be in his first pub ever. After the waiter brought their drinks and took their food order, Kieran looked at Logan. “This is the bestest surprise ever. I always wanted to go to a pub, but never could. Maybe I should do a pub instead of a dance club. I bet Theo and Norman would love it…even Miss L could enjoy it. I know she and Frankie would love this music…you know she wasn’t too crazy about the music Zane picked for the Cum and Bite Me club.”
