“You’re giving it to him?”
“Yep. Get dressed and come help me with the animals in a little bit. I’ll tell you everything.”
She fell back on the bed, kicking and punching the air. “Yes! Yes! Finally!”
I left the room smiling. When I saw McKale leaning against the wall of our hut it was my turn to feel shy and uncertain. He eyed the ball with curiosity as he came to stand in front of me.
“I guess you haven’t heard of the World Cup, have you?” He shook his head, so I briefly explained how it worked. As I held his interest and attention it hit me all at once how much I’d missed him. He crossed his arms and listened as I told him about the game we’d attended.
As he stared down at the ball in my hands, his arms uncrossed and fell to his sides. It was hard to breathe, I was so nervous. When he finally looked at me I had to grit my teeth against a wave of emotion. He wasn’t crying, but his eyes were definitely shining, and his face wore an emotion of awe and disbelief.
“It’s for you, McKale.” I held out my offering, just as he’d done. I was awarded with an adorably boyish grin.
“Truly?”
“Yes. It’s been yours for a long time. And if you accept it, I want you to use it. Have fun with it.”
He reached out and placed a hand on each side of the ball, but didn’t take it yet.
“I’m honored to accept this gift from ye, Robyn.” His eyes were bright and the walls around my heart were smashed to pieces.
“I’m honored that you will accept it.” I swallowed hard as he took the ball from me. “And maybe we can play together?”
“I’d like that very much,” he said.
“Have a good day at work,” I whispered.
I clasped my hands behind my back. He gave me a small bow and ambled away, absorbed in every detail of the ball. But when he got to the corner he stopped to glance back. I stood still, soaking in the look of him. That brief glimpse of gratitude spoke volumes to my heart. Come what may, I would not be avoiding him again.
IN THE HOURS BEFORE supper, I sat in a quiet corner of the open field to paint my nails. I leaned back against a tree at the edge of the forest, admiring my view of the village. It was interesting and sweet to see a few of the younger males helping the women folk do their chores, mostly the heavy lifting. They had flat carts, resembling wheelbarrows, which they used to move buckets of waste to a far area of the lands where they made compost.
Laughter sounded in the forest behind me. Rock chased Cass down the nearby path, and when he caught her, he pinned her to the tree and kissed her with a passion that surprised me. I had to look away and keep myself from yelling when he started getting handsy. I’d been so preoccupied with my own drama and emotional overload that I hadn’t taken time to ask what was up with those two.
Cassidy didn’t have the best track record when it came to guys. She couldn’t have a romantic fling without becoming emotionally involved. Rock posed a huge dilemma—too many factors stood in the way of them being together. His history being the biggest. Second being no way of having a long distanced relationship. Rock didn’t exactly have WIFI out here.
Cassidy came bursting out of the trail, running right past me.
“Hey,” I called. She spun, looking breathless and flushed, and smiled when she saw me.
“Hey.” She came over and sat down at my side. “Ooh, paint my nails?”
“Sure. You look happy.”
“Yeah.” She placed her hand on my knee and zoned out, visiting la-la land while I painted. I waited until I was on her second hand to talk.
“So… what’s up with you and Rock?”
She was silent as I swiped the polish twice over her pinky nail. I was afraid to look up.
“I’ve never met anyone like him. Ronan’s amazing.”
Ronan. Yeah, she had it bad.
“Amazing, huh?” I looked at her now, at the dazzled glint in her eyes.
“What would you say if I told you I’m thinking about… you know…?”
Uh, what the what? I cleared my throat and I fought to stay calm as I answered. I didn’t want her doing anything she’d regret.
“I would say I think it’s a very bad idea.”
Her face tightened. “Why?”
She really had to ask?
“Cass, why would you give your virginity to a miscreant cousin of the Leprechaun who you’ll probably never see again?”
It came out meaner than I’d meant, like a major bash against her overall judgment, not to mention the guy she liked. She yanked her hand away from me.
“Oh, did I say thinking about it?” she snapped. “I meant I already have.”
“What?” I leapt to my feet, standing over her. “No. You’re lying.”
She shrugged nonchalantly, the challenge leaving her.
I needed to stay calm, but my voice rose despite my efforts. “When?!”
She looked away from me. “The night we first went to the waterfall.”