Page 132 of The Matchmaker
As we watch, the promised hearts finally appear in the sky, and I swear I can hear the oohs and ahhs coming from the crowd. But I don’t move. I don’t want to move. I’m exactly where I need to be.
“Callum?”
“Yeah?” He kisses the crown of my head, and I burrow into his side.
“You’re my favorite place too.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
They keep Granny in for another day, just to be sure, before finally letting her go home. She’s shaken, but otherwise uninjured, and when Callum drives the two of us back, we find a brand-new ramp installed by the front door, courtesy of Jack, according to the men who installed it. Plankton is also beside himself. The two days might as well have been two decades with how he acts when he sees her again and he doesn’t leave her side, not even to go to the bathroom. I’ll admit I’m equally as cautious for the first twenty-four hours, watching the woman like a hawk, even though I know it annoys her. But eventually I’m pulled back to my other responsibilities and resume the rest of my neglected life.
It’s a little strange how quickly the village empties, and even stranger how odd it feels once they do. Even though it’s normal and is how it always is, I can’t help but feel like Ennisbawn is a little like a ghost town over the next few days. A small part of me even starts to look forward to the hotel opening, to people walking around. But right now, I have to deal with more pressing matters.
The cleanup.
“Have you figured out where we’re going to store all this stuff?” Gemma asks, as Nush lays another bag of bunting by my feet.
“That’s a problem for tomorrow.”
“That’s what you said yesterday.”
“And it still stands,” I say, as Adam sticks his head through the back door of the pub. He and Noah have been clearing out the wishing well all morning and his face is already a little sunburned.
“Is Callum here yet? I need his help lifting something.”
“He went back to his to get some packing tape,” I say, checking the time on my phone. “But he should be back any minute.”
“I can lift things,” Nush says.
“You weigh a hundred pounds.”
“Yeah, of muscle.”
He turns back to me. “Send him out when he’s here, yeah?”
“You’ve got it.”
“Half of lifting ishowyou lift,” Nush argues, following him out to the patio. I head out front, wondering where Callum got to.
I don’t have to wonder for long.
I spot the Jeep first, gleaming in the sunlight. And then I spy the brothers next to it. I immediately tense, watching the two of them talk. The body language is…not great. They both stand rigidly, several feet apart. I know Callum still hasn’t spoken with Jack since their argument and every time I’ve tried to bring it up (which has beenfrequentlythe last few days), he either ignores me or kisses me to shut me up.
But he obviously got tired of waiting and it’s Jack who spots me first, nodding over Callum’s shoulder to where I linger. I relax a little at the grin Callum sends me and don’t hesitate when he beckons me to them.
“Everything alright?” I ask, trying to sound more blasé than hopeful.
“Everything’s great,” Callum says. He draws me into his side, that grin still plastered across his face. “Jack has something he’d like to say.”
Jack gives him a look. “Seriously?”
“Oh, extremely. After you.”
I shoot Callum a confused look as Jack turns stiffly to me. “Katie, I wanted to apologize for the last few months. Both regarding my handling of Kelly’s and your relationship with my brother. I hope you can forgive me.”
“He’s been doing a lot of soul searching,” Callum whispers, earning himself a sharp look.
“I havenot,” Jack says. “You’re just—”
