Page 41 of The Irish Goodbye

“I can take you if you like,” Niall said.

Christ, what did he say that for? Colin’s eyebrows were raised so high they were disappearing into his hair. Niall stared intensely at the steak in the pan, trying to come up with some way to take it back without being rude.

“That would be great,” Cordelia said after a pause. “Thanks.”

He couldn’t tell if she was just being polite, so he ducked his head and said, “Cool.” He threw a quick, desperate glance at Colin, and his best friend started up an old Everly Brothers song. The energy in the room seemed to relax again. What had he been thinking? It sounded like he was asking her on a date, which he definitely was not—he wasn’t dating. He was heartbroken and sad and not dating.

He didn’t feel heartbroken though. Not at this moment anyway.

The steaks were going to overcook, he realized with a start.

“Are you ready to watch me flip ’em?” Niall asked, chancing a look at her.

Cordelia’s cheeks were faintly pink, her eyes brimming with excitement. She had a small button nose that twitched when she smiled, like a rabbit. She clapped her hands and nodded. Niall took the tongs and, with exaggerated movements, turned the steaks.

“I told you it’s not that impressive,” he said.

She shrugged. “It is to me.”

Their eyes met. Niall was about to say he hadn’t meant to push himself in on her plans, and if she wanted to go to the fort alone that was fine. But then Colin called out, “Oi, don’t forget I like mine medium!”

“You’ll have medium rare, you bugger, or none at all,” Niall said. He turned back in time to see Cordelia fleeing the kitchen with the cutlery. Alison grabbed some plates and went to help her. Colin stopped playing and came over to where Niall stood at the stove.

“Dún Dúchathair, huh?” he said.

“Mm.”

“With Cordelia.”

“Mm.”

Why was his face so hot? It didn’t mean anything. And his issue with the Black Fort was stupid, really. It was past time he went back there.

He could feel Colin’s eyes on him.

“What?” Niall said at last.

Colin shrugged. “Sounds grand.” He strummed the guitar and walked out of the kitchen to join the women, but he picked up the Everly Brothers song again as he left. “When will I be loved …”

12

Cordelia was meant to be brushing down Brigid, but she kept stopping every few minutes to tuck the curry comb under her arm and take out her phone.

She’d already written and deleted several texts to Niall.

Hey, you really don’t have to come today if you don’t want to.

Didn’t mean to put you on the spot last night, you still up for the fort?

Should be fun today amirite lol.

What even was that last one? She never used “lol.” She was not a lol person. She was a hahaha or laughing emoji person.

“Christ, girl, is there a ball you’re attending later?” Róisín cried. “You can’t brush Brigid properly if you’re staring at that infernal contraption every two minutes.”

“Sorry,” Cordelia said. She was being stupid. It wasn’t like this was a date or anything. Niall was a friend now. She’d exchanged numbers with both him and Colin. Niall had said they could head out around two since he had to be at work at the pub at six.

She slipped the curry comb back into her hand and started brushing Brigid’s neck in the circular motions Róisín had shown her. But her mind kept wandering. Niall had been relaxed and laughing last night, looking more like the person in the old photograph with his mom than the clench-jawed, irritable guy she’d bumped into on the pier.