“To wash dishes?” he asks, clearly amused.
“Uh, well, no. Just…uh…happy tohelp out. That’s all.”
Real smooth, Norah.I slap my hand to my forehead.
“Right,” he says, seemingly unconvinced. “I’ll see you then. Have a good day, love.”
My brain short circuits.Love. He called me love.I know that’s a common phrase in Ireland, but damn. I like the way it sounds rolling off of his tongue.
“You too,” I choke out.
Chapter Eight
Eamon
Tuesday morning comes too soon. I roll over, slam a hand down on my alarm, and groan, cursing our sadistic coach. Practice is way too fecking early on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If it were up to him, he’d have us practice at this time every day, all week long. We start drills at four in the morning and keep it up for two hours. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are easier to manage, and the weekends are usually free unless we have a game.
I pull on my practice kit, brush my teeth, and head for the door. It’s going to be a long day. My first class isn’t until eight, so blessedly, I’ll have time to shower and grab breakfast before hitting the books. I have three classes today, though, and each one lasts around two hours. Education degreesare no joke.
When I arrive at the field and step out of my car, a bleary-eyed Teagan approaches from a few spaces down and grunts out greeting as he pulls his hood over his head. He’s not much of a morning person, so we walk in silence for a few moments before he speaks.
“Ro said you were out with Ginger yesterday. When did that start?” he asks, voice gruff with sleep.
I roll my eyes.Fucking Rowan.“If Ro had half a brain in his head, he’d keep his mouth shut.”
“So itistrue. I thought he was full of shite. Guess I was wrong. So, found a new flame did ya?” he asks, a hint of longing in his voice. It’s only been a handful of months since his long-term girlfriend ended their relationship to run off to Dallas with another guy.
“No, Teag,” I tell him. “Paddy had us come in for dish duty to atone for our behavior on Friday night. I let her drive my car to her house so she wasn’t walking home alone. We had coffee when she returned it. That’s all.”
“No plans to see her again, then?” Teagan hedges.
I shrug. “We’re working at Paddy’s again tomorrow night.”
“Watch out for Ro. You know how he is.”
Do I ever? “Aye,” I say. “He already brought it up. He has his eyes on Alicia at the moment though”
“Ach! He better not fuck things up. I’m not finding another pub because he screwed over the bartender. Plus, she’s a good lass. I’d hate to see Ro hurt her,” Teagan says indignantly.
“I don’t think we have to worry about that. If anyone can set him straight, it’ll be Alicia.”
We’re on the field at this point, so we set our bags down and begin stretching. Coach likes to start practice off with a long run because apparently, we don’t run enough on the field. While warming up, my thoughts keep turning to Norah. I like the idea of spending more time with her and it doesn’t hurt that she’s absolutely gorgeous. I’m entertaining the idea of asking her out but haven’treallydated anyone since moving to the States—a night out here and there, but nothing serious. Norah doesn’t strike me as a hookup kind of girl and if I’m being honest, I’m not sure Iwant just a hookup with her.
* * *
I’m sitting at a table by the window of the cafe, drinking coffee and eating a protein bar I grabbed from home, as I study for a quiz in my first class. Giving my eyes a break, I look out the window. It’s lovely out today and it reminds me of home. I’m about to turn back to my book when a glint of red hair catches my attention. It’s Norah. She’s walking across the street, heading for this very cafe. Her hands are stuffed into the pocket of a weathered hoodie with IRELAND sprawled across the front in faded lettering. Suddenly the clouds part and a ray of sunlight hits her hair and my breath hitches in my throat. She truly looks like a fire sprite with her auburn waves burning like a bright flame. I can’t believe I’ve never noticed her at Paddy’s before. My heart pounds as she walks through the door, the little bell tinkling above her head. She moves to the back of the line and glances around as if she’s looking for someone. It’s when her eyes meet mine and she smiles that I think she might have been looking for me.
Norah
I wake up early on Tuesday and drink a cup of coffee while I get ready for my eight o’clock class. It doesn’t take me long to get dressed, fix my hair, and put on a little bit of makeup, and after scrounging around my fridge and pantry for a moment, I discover that I am in desperate need of some groceries. There’s not a single thing in my house that will pass as a decent breakfast. What I really want is another one of those cranberry scones.
I glance at the clock and realize that I actually have enough time to stop and get one on my way to class. Grabbing my bag and locking the door behind me, I step into a perfect September morning. The sun is shining and the air is crisp, perfect for the heather-green hoodie I have on. I got it in Ireland and it’s my favorite article of clothing. I’m surprised that it isn’tcompletely threadbare with how much I wear it.
It doesn’t take me long to reach the coffee shop. The extra pep in my step is strictly about the scone and has nothing to do with the possibility of seeing Eamon there. When I walk through the door, I immediately go to the back of the line before looking around the cafe. It’s quaint and cheery with light wood furniture and pops of pastel colors scattered throughout. I look towards the corner by the window and see Eamon sitting at a table, books open in front of him. Our eyes lock immediately and his lips spread into a slow grin. God, he looks good enough to eat in a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, the color making his blue eyes pop. I smile brightly at him in return.
I’m not sure how much time has passed but apparently, it’s enough that the person behind me coughs to signal that I need to move forward and order.Rude. I quickly give my order to the cashier and pay, then wait at the end of the bar for my coffee and breakfast. It’s an exercise in self-control to not keep glancing over my shoulder at Eamon. Once my order is in hand, I wander towards his table.
“Mind if I join you?” I ask cheerfully.
