I don’t miss the frown on Jameson’s face. To be honest, he’s been acting out of character lately. Something is going on between him and Boyle. I shrug it off and mind my business.
“Don’t be so jealous. The girl yer after isn’t even interested in him,” Croía says and rolls her eyes.
I bite my lip and look down at the beer bottle in my hand. I’ve had a few, but I’m not trying to get drunk and embarrass myself. Or better yet, blurt out to everyone that I am interested in Cole.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I can’t seem to get him off my mind. I don’t want to be that silly best friend Kate has to ask to stay away from her brother. I also don’t want Cole to think I’m some sort of stook.
“Don’t ya have anything slower? Something us lads can get ye ladies to dance with us to?” Flynn asks.
I laugh and take the escape he’s offering. “Yeah, sure. I’ve got ya.”
I turn and head over to the stereo. I pull the CD I’m looking for and pop it in. A smile comes to my lips as people get up and begin to dance together.
I’m grateful when I see Boyle heading my way, but Clodagh Murray stops him to dance with her. I move over to the fire and stare into the flames as I try to sort out my feelings. Nothing can ever happen between me and Cole.
He lives in America, and I live here in Ireland. I’m going into the league to play softball. I probably won’t have time for guys at all. Cole, Boyle, it doesn’t matter; I won’t have time for either.
Suddenly, heat engulfs my back, and I’m locked in a one-arm headlock. If I didn’t smell his cologne through the alcohol, I would still know it’s Cole. I sigh and melt into him.
“Are ya having a good time?” he asks and kisses the top of my head.
“I guess so.”
“It took me five stores to find this album for ya,” he chuckles.
I tune into the music and listen to see which one he’s talking about. Sisqó’s “Addicted” is playing. Cole begins to sway and step from side to side as he keeps his hold on me.
I rock with him as my belly does a dance of its own. I can’t help basking in the feel of his huge bicep and forearm cradling my head.
“Thanks for all the CDs.”
“Anything for ya, DJ. Ya know I can’t call ya that if yer not my personal disc jockey.”
“Ya mean it doesn’t stand for Dirty Jaw anymore?” I tease.
He bursts into laughter. “I felt bad for weeks after that, ya know? The prank wasn’t meant for ya. Besides, I’ve always called ya DJ because of the music. Logan and Jamie started that Dirty Jaw shit.”
One summer when his cousins were here, they had all been playing pranks on each other. I got ahold of a dirt cupcake that wasn’t meant for me. I bit right into it before Cole could stop me.
Everyone had a good laugh at my expense. I was so mad. Kate helped me get them all back.
“That was one of the best summers ever,” I laugh.
“Not for me. The last time I was here was the best summer I’ve had here.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“There was this cute little fifteen-year-old. She saw me when no one else did. I was going through a ton of shit, and she gave me words I now live by.”
My heart begins to race along with my mind. He’s talking about me. Brothers call their little sisters cute all the time, right? No big deal.
“What could wee fifteen-year-old me have told a big nineteen-year-old lad like ya that would have stuck with ya?”
“Ya told me no matter what I decided, I needed to stick to my truth. Then ya told me to be who I wanted to be and give it my all,” he says right next to my ear.
“Aye, sage advice. Sounds like me,” I snicker.
“Ach, it was. Now it’s time for me to return the favor. None of those melters is worth yer time. Yer too pretty, too smart, too mine to give them the time of day. I’ll tell ya one of me secrets, DJ.
