“If he bought her a ticket, he can,” the man who runs Cork says.“That’s the rules.”
“All the proceeds from the tickets go to St.Carthage’s House,” Cillian says, “to care for the local elderly folks who are struggling, as you all know.We often raise as much as thirty or forty thousand euro.”
Smart.He’s generous, he gives away a car, boosting morale, and the charity of his choosing also benefits.“Alright, well, who’s winning it this year?”I lift my hand.“Let’s find out.”
“If she picks her own name, I’m walking out,” says the loud woman.
“Hush, Bridie.You already won the vacation.”The woman next to her is clearly as fed up as I am.
“Alright, here she goes.”Cillian thrusts the box at me, and I draw one ticket and hand it to him.“The winner this year is...”He squints.“Clodagh Murphy.”
It’s the woman who told Bridie to hush!I like her already.Unlike her friend, her eyes widen, and she quietly freaks out, culminating with tears streaming down her face.By the time she stands, everyone else is clapping, so she must be an office favorite.As she walks toward the podium to accept the keys Cillian’s holding, she’s progressed to ugly crying.
It’s actually quite sweet.
She hugs Cillian quite tightly, then springs away, her head spinning toward me.“Sorry, I’m so sorry, lass.”
Lass.I’ve never been called lass in my life, but having a woman who’s probably within five years of me call me lass is, well, it’s funny.“Of course,” I say.“No problem at all.”I smile at her.“It’s a big night.”
She nods vigorously.“It certainly is!”And then she hugs me.“Thank you for drawing my name.”
The rest of the night goes by in a blur.Cillian finally gets to eat, and then the dancing starts.I might have one glass too many, because people and faces start to be harder to remember.Cillian looks happy, though, and the people whose names I drew keep coming up to thank me.
“How much did you raise for charity this year?”I finally remember to ask, as we’re on our way back to Fortwilliam.“It’s a really nice thing you do.”
“Just under forty thousand,” he says.“People have the money to buy raffle tickets, because they just got their Christmas bonuses.”He’s smiling.“But they know it’s all in good fun.”
“Will the woman who won it keep the car?”
“They have to keep it for a month,” he says.“Almost no one actually keeps it beyond then.Keeping a car that’s worth that much is hard for most people who work for me, even though I pay them well.They’ll drive it for a bit, have some fun and enjoy a little special attention, and then they’ll sell it and use the money for something they want more, like a vacation, a college fund, or a new home.”
“It’s a kind thing you do,” I say.“You don’t have to do that.”
“They’re like my family,” he says.“I built the company up, and I care for the people who work for me a great deal.”
I can tell that’s true, but I think it’s a sad substitute for a real family.
“What?”
I shake my head.“Nothing.”
“One of the things I really appreciate about you is that you understand I have to work and why.I know I’ve been busy lately, and you haven’t seen me that much, but you don’t hassle me about it like...”He grips the steering wheel tighter.
I can’t help my smile.“Like past girlfriends, I assume?”
He sighs.“I don’t try to bring them up, but yes.They always get really clingy at Christmas, and they’re upset that I’m not around for all their things, like parties and Christmas markets and whatnot.”
My brow furrows.“I mean, everyone’s job will have some good and some bad, but I also have kids who take up a lot of time, especially around Christmas.I suppose we’re both busy.”
I can’t help wonderingwhyI’m not more clingy, though.It feels like a bad sign, like I should be more upset that he’s not around.When he drops me off, he doesn’t hop out to open the door, which would be corny, but he does lean across the console and kiss me.Reallywell.“I’ll call you tomorrow?I’d love to try and get lunch.I think I have time between closings.”
I nod.“I’d like that.”
I’m torn, as I walk inside, because I really do like Cillian.When he kisses me, a tiny thrill runs up my spine.My hands itch to touch his face, his chest, every part of him, really.The chemistry’s there, and he’s a supportive, kind boyfriend.
Even so, I was a little surprised when he called me his girlfriend.We’ve been dating for a while, but I didn’t realize he wasn’t dating or interested in anyone else.It’s felt...casual between us.
Or maybe I’m the one who thinks of it that way, because I don’t want to be hurt again if he’s more like Mason than I hope.For a split second, when that woman hugged him, a relatively attractive woman close to our age, I did wonder.But that’s my past baggage throwing up red flags where they don’t exist.I can’t put that on him when he’s done nothing to deserve it.Her response made it clear that she had no designs on Cillian, no matter how hot he may be.
