Page 22 of Tangled Up In You

Gavin gulped down the beer he’d been given, stood, and went to her. “I thought from day one that you were too good for me and now it’s been proven.”

She laughed. “Don’t be silly.”

“You do look lovely,” Lynne said. “Shall I get a photo of you both?”

They posed and Gavin hoped his dark jeans, button-up shirt, and borrowed blazer would pair up with her well enough.

“Now, I know it’s New Year’s Eve,” Malachy said, “but let’s get her home by half-twelve.”

“Absolutely,” Gavin promised.

He helped Sophie with her coat, another new and seemingly expensive item that made him feel even more outmatched, and they stepped out of the house.

“Listen, darlin’, I should maybe, em, set your expectations about tonight. I mean, I think it’ll be grand, but you know I haven’t any money. So, this may not be the kind of date you’d?—”

“Being with you is all I need. I don’t care what we do. But it is fun to dress up, so thank you for that.” She kissed him and then wiped her lipstick from his mouth.

“Did I tell you that I’ve missed you?”

“Just now you did. And I missed you. I couldn’t wait to come back home to you.”

He couldn’t contain his smile at that. To think that she considered Dublin home was a great comfort.

“Let’s be on our way, then.”

The planfor the evening was to go dancing. Of course, with it being New Year’s Eve, every club in Dublin had raised their rates to ridiculous levels. Gavin did some research and found an inexpensive option. It just required an open mind.

“We’re the youngest people here,” Sophie whispered to Gavin as he led her into the church hall.

“Yes, but there’s a live band,” he told her, nodding to the octogenarian mini orchestra on the small stage.

She squeezed his arm. “You’re sure we’re welcome? Everyone’s staring.”

“I did ask about age restrictions when I learned of this New Year’s Eve celebration and was told there were none. Sure, this is put on by a charity group geared toward providing pensioners opportunities to socialize and combat loneliness, but I’m up for helping on that front. What about you?”

He watched her take in the room, her eyes scanning over the silver and blue streamers, scattered white helium balloons, and haphazardly strung twinkle lights. Instead of being disappointed by the imperfect and homemade décor, a smile transformed her face. This gamble he had taken to bring her here had worked. She was charmed.

“Yes, I’m up for it.”

Dinner was a bland buffet, but it didn’t matter since it was just the prelude to the main event. They spent the next two and half hours on their feet, dancing with each other to old standards played surprisingly well by the orchestra, dancing with the elderly guests, and chatting with those who would not or could not get on the dance floor.

It wasn’t yet midnight when this crowd did their own countdown and blew noisemakers for an early celebration before slowly filing out and calling it a night. When they were alone, Gavin hopped up on stage and pulled out the guitar he’d stashed away with the organizer’s permission before bringing Sophie here.

“What’s this?” Sophie asked.

“I have a little something I want to play for you, darlin’.”

Smiling, she pulled a chair close and watched him as he took the acoustic guitar and sat on the edge of the stage. He strummed it a few times, made a couple of adjustments, and then continued playing with intention.

He always liked playing for her because she couldn’t hide her emotions as she watched him. Most often, he recognized admiration in her face, but if he was off, he could see that too. She had an innate sense for music, something more than mere appreciation. That’s what made it even more important for him to impress her.

What he played now was something he had tinkered with for weeks and really got serious about when she was away. Conor helped him sharpen the main guitar line and suggested a chord progression that brought it all together. He’d composed it with Sophie in mind and had just a few lines of lyrics but he sang them to her now.

You broke something in me

I had everything in a cage

And it’s all been unleashed

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