“Fairly well, yeah.”
“I don’t really know much about your relationship with that family.”
“My dad was the O’Connor brothers’ rugby coach – he taught all of them.” I smile at the memory. “And, well, I was always getting under their feet. I liked going to the pitch, helping out with training, giving Dad a hand when he needed it. You know, it was a way for us to spend time together. I was his only daughter and he lived and breathed rugby. So I adapted.”
“That must’ve been a nice time.”
“It was – even though Mum wasn’t around. At first, when my parents separated, I used to go back and forward between their houses – it wasn’t the best thing for such a young kid. Then Mum remarried, and Dad requested full custody: it wasn’t an easy battle, from what I remember, but he managed to win the case, and my life started to be a little more stable. Even though he threw himself into his work, I never wanted for anything.”
“Your dad is terrifying.”
I laugh. “I know – his team were all petrified of him. Especially the O’Connors.”
“I would’ve loved to see that,” Martin smirks.
“I’m sure you would…” I say, knowing that Martin would’ve paid to see Ryan in trouble, someone kicking him up the arse. “We were friends – I was friends with everyone on the team. I was like their mascot.”
“And you were particularly friendly with Dickhead Number One?” he asks suggestively.
“I was friendly with all of them,” I say, trying to clear things up.
“But with Nick…?”
“Nick was…Nick,” I smile, despite myself. “You know what he’s like. He was exactly the same back then. A hothead.”
“And that was what you liked so much about him.”
“He made me laugh, he was funny and lively. He was always up to something – and I needed to break a few rules now and then. He was the perfect partner in crime.”
“Interesting…”
“It was such a buzz, doing something stupid. Sometimes, being the only woman in the house was too much. I didn’t want to disappoint my dad, but I also didn’t want to wind up as the female version of him; it was hard to find a balance. But with Nick…” I trail off halfway through my sentence, trying not to let myself drown in the memories.
Martin nods, thoughtfully. “With him, you were simply yourself.”
I smile as I sip at my coffee.
“And you wanted it to be something more.”
“A long time ago, it was. I was young and stupid and Nick was…well, Nick.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Some things never change.”
He’s starting to sound like Mr O’Connor.
“He was your first love, right?”
I sigh sadly, avoiding his gaze.
“Fuck, please don’t say it.”
“What?”
“Was he youronlylove, too?”
“Jesus, Martin! No! I’m not that desperate. I’ve had other men in my life.”
“I’m not talking aboutthat, Casey. I mean emotionally.”
