Page 175 of Redeeming 6

“He said that it wouldn’t be fair to start anything up with me when he’s leaving soon.” She chewed on her lip, looking very young and uncertain. “But then he came over after school yesterday.”

“He came over.” My eyes widened. “Here. To this house.”

She nodded. “He helped me with my homework.”

“Did anything happen?”

“We hugged.”

I fought back the laugh that was threatening to escape me. “You hugged.”

“Uh-huh.”

Desperately trying to keep a straight face, I asked, “Was it a good hug?”

She sighed wistfully and clutched her chest. “It was the best hug I’ve ever had.”

Now, I did laugh.

“Joey!”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Clearing my throat, I scrubbed my face with my hand and tried again. “So, the Dub gives good hugs, yeah?”

“Yes.” She gave another uncertain nod and shrugged helplessly. “But I wanted it to be more than just a hug because I just… I really like him, Joe. And then, today at lunch, he literally punched Bella’s boyfriend in the face because she was saying those mean things about me. But that scares me because you know how I feel about violence, but I’m not scared of him like that, you know? He’s a good person. I mean he’s a really, really good person. Excellent, in fact. I can tell. And I like him, Joe. I like him so much it’s hard to breathe when he’s near me. But I just… And he won’t… And I don’t… Oh god, help me!”

Jesus, I needed another smoke for this.

“You couldn’t have taken a shine to a lad from around here?” Shaking my head, I sank back down on her bed and sighed. “You had to pick the Irish international?”

She squirmed in discomfort. “I’m sorry?”

“Don’t be sorry, Shan.” I chuckled, rubbing my jaw. “You can’t help who you like. And for what it’s worth, I reckon he likes you too, kid.”

“What do I do, Joe?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Who else can I ask?”

“Fuck.” Pressing my fingers to my temples, I tried to think up the appropriate answer to give her in this moment. “Give me a second to think about this.”

“What would you do if you were me?”

Yeah, I wasn’t going to tell her what I’d do.

“Or Aoife? What would she do in this position?”

And I definitely wasn’t going to tell her what Molloy would do.

“Just take your time. Be his friend and just let whatever happens come naturally,” I finally settled on, knowing it was lame as fuck, but unwilling to give my baby sister tips on how to seduce a fella. “If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, then that’s okay, too. And please, for the love of Christ, don’t ask Aoife for advice,” I added, shuddering at the thought of the pointers Molloy would be only too happy to give her. “You’re only sixteen, Shan. This is all new to you. You need to navigate this thing with Kavanagh at your own pace and nobody else’s.”

“I can do that,” she whispered, looking up at me like I was giving her some sacred advice. “Thanks, Joe.”

“Anytime.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

“What?”

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