Page 21 of The Irish Getaway
“Pass me the puke bucket,” Kent protests from the row across. “I just threw up in my mouth.”
I flip him the bird. “You need some new insults, Kent. It’s starting to get old.”
“I wish your love would. Then we wouldn’t have to suffer so much.”
Keaton elbows him sharply in the ribs. “Don’t be mean, and you know that’s never going to happen.” He winks at me, and I blow him a kiss.
“You’re right, Keats. My love for Ky will never die.” I burst out laughing. “Ha! That even rhymes.” I’m rather proud of my cheesiness.
“Fuck. Someone help me, please.” Kent slams his palm into his forehead. “Or shoot me, or something.”
I snort. “At the rate you’re clocking up enemies, I’m sure that can easily be arranged.”
Kent elbows Keaton in the ribs.
“Ow!” Keaton cries. “What was that for?”
“So, it’s okay for her to speak to me like that?” He pouts, and I can barely contain my laughter. Kent never fails to entertain me.
“What are you, like, five again?” Keaton shakes his head in frustration.
Kent pouts again, pulling his headphones on. “Whatever. I’m bored with this conversation.”
I share a smile with Keaton as I get out of my seat, carefully tiptoeing around Ky so as not to wake him now that he’s dozing again. “Where you going?” he whispers.
“To speak to your dad.”
I move up a few rows, plonking myself down in the empty seat beside James. He marks the page in his book and closes it, smiling at me. “Hey, sweetheart.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“Do you have a minute?”
He beams at me. “For my favorite niece? Always.”
I mock scowl. “I’m youronlyniece.”
“You’re still my favorite.”
I shake my head, fighting a smile. “You’re my favorite uncle too.”
He throws back his head and laughs. “I know when I’m beat. What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the house.”
His expression turns serious. “I’m all ears.”
“I’m going to hold onto it. It doesn’t feel right to sell it.” He nods. “But I’m going to need to find someone, a housekeeper-type person, to keep an eye on it. To make sure it’s clean and that the grass is cut, etcetera, but I don’t have the first idea how to go about finding such a person, and I was wondering if you could help?”
“Of course. Leave that to me and Alex. We’ll deal with it.”
“Thank you. That would be a weight off my mind.”
“No problem. Happy to help.”
We are quiet for a couple of minutes, but it’s not awkward. “Can I ask you something? If it’s too personal, you can tell me to butt out.”
He arches a brow. “Go on.”
I wet my lips, wondering if Ky will be mad that I’m about to cross a line. I know he doesn’t want me to play matchmaker, but I haven’t missed the little looks and touches that James and Alex have been sharing on this trip, and my gut tells me they still have strong feelings for one other. Maybe I’m trapped in a rose-tinted love bubble, because I’m so deliriously in love, or maybe it’s another consequence of my parents passing before their time, but it doesn’t feel right not to say something when two people obviously still care about each other a lot. “You and Alex seem to be getting on really well on the trip, and I know you guys haven’t divorced, and I think you both still care about each other, and I was just wondering if you might be getting back together?” My word vomit comes to an abrupt halt.
