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“Awesome.”

“Why?”I asked, narrowing my eyes with excited curiosity.

“’CauseI’mcomin’ over.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I wasborn a mutt with a fairly small percentage of Irish in my blood, but from thetime I was born, I was raised as anIrish-American. Iloved all things Ireland and had big dreams of visiting one day, when booksales did more than just pay my rent. So, every year, St. Patrick’s Day was apretty bigdeal in my family. We went all out with the food,decorations, and of course, Guinness and Bailey’s. But this Saint Patrick’sDay, the first holiday with Alexander in the world, I didn’t want to doanything.

Becausehe wasn’t home.

ButI took solace in knowing Goose would be coming over to spend some time with me.I still wasn’t sure if it was the right time to pursue our relationship as morethan justfriends, buthanging out with him was someof the best medicine I could get during my time of healing.

So,when one o’clock rolled around, I smiled at the knock on my door and ran toanswer it, wearing my pajamas and fuzzy slippers. But when I saw a crowd ofpeople standing on the other side, I blanched and struggled to muster theability to vanish into thin air.

“Hey,girlfriend,” Goose said, amidst the people he apparently brought with him,before he pushed past me into the apartment. “I brought my family. Hope youdon’t mind.”

“Uh,well, um …”

Idid mind. Especially when I hadn’t gotten around to cleaning or laundry or evenshowering in over a week. The last thing I wanted was a gaggle of strangerscrowding my tiny apartment and smelling the fumes I was polluting the air with.

Butthey all entered the apartment anyway, carrying an array of bags andcontainers, and I watched with embarrassed hesitation as they immediately madethemselves at home.

“I’mKrystal,” a tall woman with sleek black hair said, offering a smile anddisplaying a set of gorgeous, perfect teeth. “I’m Goose’s ex-wife and bestfriend.”

“You’redefinitely not my best friend,” he quipped from the kitchen, where he droppedoff a heavy-looking box that clanged and rattled as he set it down.

“Fine.Second best friend.”

“Hmmm… Okay, sure, I’ll accept that.”

Hecame to stand beside me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and pointed to a younglady, who Iinstantly knewwas his daughter.

“Thisis my spawn, Hannah,” he said, confirming my suspicions. “She’s decided shedoesn’t like us anymore, because she’s fifteen, and only wants to look at herphone. So, don’t take it personally if she just rolls her eyes and grunts alot.”

“Stopit, Dad,” she muttered, crossing her arms over herchestand turning her gaze toward the ceiling.

“That’salso my new name. It used to be Daddy, but now, it’s Stop It, Dad. I think ithas a nice ring to it.” He looked at Krystal and asked, “What do you think,Krys? I’m thinking about getting it tattooed somewhere, soI don’t forget.”

Theolder man Goose had brought with him stepped forward and grumbled, “Stoptormenting your daughter, Goose,” before smiling at me and saying, “I’m Mitch,Goose’s father. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“It’snice to meet all of you, too,” I said, finally able to get a word in. Therewere only four ofthembut their personalities werebig enough for an army.

Gooseshowed me the contents of the bags and containers they hadbroughtand it was enough to move me to tears. Corned beef and cabbage, steamedvegetables, Irish soda bread, cake, and a case of Coke, along with paper platesand plastic utensils. When I went to help get everything ready to serve, Gooseshook his head and Krystal put her hands on my shoulders.

“Wehave this. You go take a shower and when you come out, it’ll be time to eat,”she said.

“W-What?No, I can’t just—”

“Go,”she cut me off gently, then nudged me in the direction of the bathroom.

Ilooked to Goose for backup, but he only shook his head and said, “Listen to thelady.”

Andso, I did.

***

AfterI had scrubbed away days’ worth of filth and frustration, I emerged from thebathroom in clean clothes and feeling better than I had in weeks. But when Isaw my tiny apartment, once filled with empty boxes but now straightened up andsmelling of good food and a candle I hadn’t burned since sometime beforeChristmas, my jawdroppedand my stomach clenched withnervous gratitude.