Liam began chatting with the couple when he found
out they were from Dallas. He wanted to know about everything from cowboy boots to the Cowboys and barbecue.
It really was adorable how dorky he was about all
things American.
Liam excused himself from the Texans when he got a call
on his phone. “Brilliant!” he exclaimed. If I had learned anything in my few weeks in Ireland, it was that everything was
brilliant: food, music, an idea, possibly a kiss. . . . It was such a better word than awesome or amazing. I was thinking of bringing it back with me as a linguistic souvenir, but when I’d tried it out on Levi when we were video chatting, he’d
laughed at me. Then he did a minute or two of re-creating
everything I’d said, but in an exaggerated cockney accent. I
would’ve been angry if it hadn’t been hysterical.
“So, me mates are having a party at the beach,” Liam
filled me in. “Shall we?”
“Only if there’ll be tons of craic,” I fired back.
He laughed. “Totally.” We headed to his car. “Not so
fast, Yank.”
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I groaned. “Sorry!” I always went to the driver’s side of the
car there. I hadn’t gotten used to it being on the opposite side.
We headed to Clogher Strand, one of my favorite places to sit
and relax. It wasn’t a beach for swimming because of the currents, but it had a gorgeous view of the Blasket Islands. I had
met only a couple of Liam’s friends at that point, Conor and
Michael, who referred to me simply as “the American.” I wasn’t
sure if they actually knew my name. Although I was more than
aware that they were familiar with my Scottish namesake.
“Liam!” Conor cried out while we made our way to the
blankets they’d lined up on the sand. “And you brought
the American.”
Conor handed Liam a bottle, then turned to me. “Can we
tempt you?”
“I’m good.” And only fifteen, I thought.
“You Americans are so uptight about alcohol.” Conor
laughed and went to sit with the other group.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked.
“Yeah.” Although I didn’t think I was.
I saw Liam grimace slightly at someone who was
behind me.
“Is everything all right?” I went to turn around, but he
stopped me.
“Yeah, well, no . . . ’Tis me ex, Siobhan.” He took a quick
swig of his bottle.
I’d heard him mention Siobhan a few times. “Do you want
to talk about it?”
He shrugged. “Not much to say. We dated for a year, she
fancied another fella, and we broke up. ’Tis fine, except things 165
are awkward. Mostly for me. It’s hard to be reminded that
you weren’t good enough for someone, ya know?”
“I understand,” I said. “That’s sort of how I feel about Levi.”
“I thought you said you were just friends.”
“We were. Are. But then he wanted more. I don’t know.”
Liam looked around the beach. “I’m fine leaving if you want
to go back to town. Let me go say bye to Conor and Michael.”
He walked off while I stood there awkwardly. Then I heard
a familiar name.
“Sorry,” I interrupted a group that was near me. “Were
you talking about Buggy and Floyd? I love that show.”
The guy who was talking exchanged a look with a girl
with dark hair. “Um, yeah. I was saying that they’re apparently doing a Christmas special.”
“Really?” I asked excitedly. “They haven’t had any new
episodes in over five years.”
The girl scowled at me. “That show is so lame. I’m only
interested in it because the guy who played the younger
brother is hot now.”
I smiled at her as a memory surfaced. “I know who you’re
talking about. He’s hilarious! Remember the episode where
Floyd got locked up in the school gym with him?” I started
laughing at the memory of Levi repeatedly imitating Buggy
looking into the gym window and saying, “Blimey if I knew
you’d be here; you’re not really the fit type.”
“Whatever.” The black-haired girl went back to ignoring me.
Right then I recognized the feeling that was steadily growing inside me. I absolutely loved Dingle. I loved being with
my grandparents. And everybody (present company excluded)
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had been so warm and welcoming. But this wasn’t my home.
These people weren’t my friends.
Truth be told, what was really bothering me was Levi. I
missed him. I’d started missing him when I was still home,
while we were still in school together. I wanted him to be next
to me. He would’ve loved Dingle, this beach, this beautiful view.
But he wasn’t here.
Liam approached me with a resigned smile. “Ready to
go home?”
Yes, yes, I was.
Liam opened up about his relationship with Siobhan on the
drive back to my grandparents. They’d known each other
since childhood and had the tight-knit group of friends you’d
expect in such a tiny village. Then they decided to date. Now
they didn’t even talk anymore. Liam couldn’t even be on the