Page 89 of Hearts on the Mend

Sloane rushes over in a chic cable-knit sweater and draws me into a big hug. “No, but you can have a drink. I have wine. Guinness. Irish coffee.”

“Guinness,” Ethan calls from the stove without turning around.

“Ssh.” She frowns at her fiancé. “You can have whatever you want.”

“Guinness,” I say with a small laugh. “Need to trust the chef.”

“Knew I liked you,” Ethan quips back.

That’s the problem with the Murphys. They’re entirely too lovable.

“That smells delicious,” I say, grabbing the icy glass of Guinness from Sloane.

“Colcannon,” he says while hovering over the pot. “It’s potatoes and cabbage. Mom and I like to keep it more traditional. If I have to eat another undercooked corned beef this year from Nana, I’ll lose my mind. I’m taking over the menu.”

Sloane rolls her eyes. “It’s almost as if you should open your own restaurant.”

He turns around, plucks her close by the waistband of her jeans, and kisses her. I can’t hear what he whispers into her ear, but the way she winks at me makes me laugh.

“Where’s my brother?” Ethan asks.

Before I can answer, the front door bangs open.

Yelling. Then a flash of blonde curls flies past the doorway before a woman flings herself at Nolan with a high-pitched squeal. She has shamrocks painted across the bridge of her nose and a wiggly shamrock headband.

Jack comes to stand beside me as we all look on. “Always second fiddle,” he mutters.

Izzy groans, snuggling close into his side. “You’ll live.”

When Nolan finally sets the woman down, he turns back to me. “Cassie, this is Annie.”

I awkwardly give a quick wave.

“Annie, this is—” He pauses for a minute. The whole room’s attention is pinned on the two of us. “Cassie. Ruth’s niece.”

Ruth’s niece.

Makes sense. It’s easier that way. We’re moving soon, and to give his family hope feels cruel. But I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t been thinking about staying. I’ve accepted what everyone else has wanted for me. Divorcing Matt is the first step. What the next one looks like, I’m still working out.

Annie pulls me into a tight hug like we’re long-lost friends. When she draws back, she looks straight at Nolan. “You didn’t tell me your roommate is so beautiful.” She waggles her eyebrows, hooks her arm in mine, and says, “Now you have to tell me everything. He’s a big, grumpy vault.”

She says it lightly, but there’s an edge underneath it that I recognize. I know what it sounds like when someone’s practiced at making hurt sound like a joke.

Halfway through dinner, Richie mentions something about the fire chief retiring.

I pretend to listen to Annie tell Ruby that sharks are older than trees. Meanwhile, my body is frozen.

“I ran into him the other day,” Richie continues. “Told him to talk to you. I think you’d make a great fire chief.”

“Already did.”

I set my fork down, surprised. “You did?”

“Hmm,” he says. He taps my foot under the table and flashes a small wink before he continues, “I’m still waiting to be cleared. Another doctor’s appointment in two weeks. Anyway, not sure I’m interested in the position.”

My stomach tumbles, and a bitter taste crawls up my throat. I might be sick here in front of everyone. Why didn’t he tell me about meeting the fire chief? Everything between Nolan and me has fallen quickly into safe and comfortable, but what else is he keeping from me?

“But you could,” Richie says. “Wouldn’t it be nice to stay close? We’d get to see you more. Your brothers would get to see you.”