Running Back

by Allison Parr

  I flushed. “Oh. Great. That’s just...swell.”

  Oh my God, my ability to talk should be revoked. Swell? Who said swell anymore? Next I’d be all “gee whiz!” and calling things “nifty.”

  Eileen smiled, and her eyes gleamed. “His family is renting one of the cottages in the back, but he’s staying on your floor. The room across from you, if I’m correct.”

  “Wow. Cool. Awesome.” I snapped my mouth shut before my superlatives reached the stars, and jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “I think I’m going to bring my stuff up now. Nice to meet you.”

  My room was on the third floor, at the end of a long hallway with a faded green rug on the wooden floorboards. As promised, my door faced another painted pale green. The number 12 was stenciled on in white, while a wooden decal of a dove was attached at eye-level. I stared at it, somewhat unnerved, and then certainty filled me that Mike would step out any second. I fumbled with my keys and the fussy lock, and then let out a sigh of relief when I’d closed the door behind me.

  A huge westward facing window allowed light to fill the room, and I flipped on the overhead chandelier as well. The room was large with a slanted roof over the king size bed, which had been covered in pillows and a pink and white and green comforter. Faded wallpaper showcased a print of twining orange blooms and green stems.

  I rolled my bag over to the closet and then collapsed spread-eagle on the bed.

  Okay. Should I knock on Mike’s door so he wasn’t surprised to run into me? After all, the first thing I needed to do was call on his aunt and express my condolences. I’d also needed to find out if her late husband had any records or stories about the land that I hadn’t heard, and which locals would be good to talk to. I should check the town hall and church records too.

  And now that I was here, it seemed possible Mike would at least let me walk over the land. I could do a preliminary digging report, in case he ever did change his mind.

  In case he... But it wasn’t just him, was it?

  I wondered what the other O’Connors would be like.

  I showered and unpacked. My stomach tightened as I put away the work clothes I probably wouldn’t get a chance to wear, but couldn’t bring myself to leave behind. Work pants and shirts, along with hiking boots, hats, gloves, sweatshirts and a windbreaker. In Ecuador, it could start off freezing in the morning and be down to tank top weather midday. I didn’t think Ireland would be so drastic. Instead, I pictured wet. Lots of wet. If I actually had been digging, another pair of boots would’ve been in order.

  I had brought my one black dress, since the slim fabric rolled up and could be squished down easily. I’d shoved it between my black flats and worn my walking sandals on the plane. The likelihood of needing anything fancier was smaller than the possibility that I’d dig at Kilkarten.

  I’d brought a handful of American treats, too, which I worried might not be easily available—a bag of peanut butter cups, which I started snacking on, and a bottle of maple syrup. I’d tried to stomach the golden syrup used on pancakes here, and it just didn’t go down well.

  My eReader went on the bed stand, along with the one paperback I’d brought, a volume of Yeats. Next to the book, I propped a photo of my parents, because I always felt like they should be there, and another of my three brothers. The last was of me and Cam our sophomore year of college. We’d gone to an ’80s party and looked ridiculous.

  I hesitated before going downstairs. If I ran into Mike or any member of his family, I didn’t want to look like a schlumpy grad student. I pulled a nice cardigan over my tank-top, and then I wandered downstairs into an airy, well-lit dining room. I made myself a cup of tea using the electric kettle on the sideboard, and then set up my computer and wrote Jeremy to let him know I’d arrived.

  I hadn’t been there half an hour when a shape shifted in the door, and I looked up. Mike O’Connor stood there, his lips parted slightly.

  I smiled sheepishly. “Um. Surprise.”

  He kept staring.

  “I mean, not really a surprise, since you knew I was coming to Dundoran and this is the only nearby inn. But. I can tell by your face that you’re kind of surprised.”

  He shook his head. “You have to be kidding me.”

  I shrugged apologetically. “Not me. The cosmos, maybe, but I’m entirely innocent this time.”

  “Maybe I’m hallucinating.” He dropped into a chair beside me and studied me carefully.

  It became a lot more difficult to breathe. I tried a smile. “Why? Have you hallucinated me before?”

  He raised his brows and my throat tightened. I should’ve thought more carefully before I spoke.

  I cleared my throat. “If this is too weird, I could get a place in Cork—”

  “No.” He spoke so quickly I was silenced, and a hint of color streaked across his cheekbones. “I just meant—I’ve spent a solid week touring Ireland with only my mother and younger sisters.”

  It struck me as a little odd that he hadn’t come straight to Dundoran after a death in the family, but I skipped over that in favor of the family itself. “That’s right. Eileen—the innkeeper—said your family was here with you.”

  “Yeah. They’re staying in one of the cottages out back. I’m staying in this main house, though—I needed space.”

  I nodded two or three times more than necessary. “She also mentioned our rooms happen to be facing each other.” I let a beat pass to acknowledge the situational irony and ridiculousness of that. “What a coincidence.”

  The crooked smile that curved his lips made me feel incredibly odd and self-conscious. The way he looked at me made me think he was imagining exactly what nearby rooms might mean.

  Time for a topic change. “So! I saw that lateral touchdown pass in the AFC title game last year. Pretty badass.”

  Shock crossed his face, and he stared at me like I’d started spouting Greek. Well, at a non-Greek spouting appropriate time. Greek spouting did occasionally happen at academic conferences. “You watched that?”

  “Well, yeah. I’m a Leopards fan.”

  He cocked his head slightly. “No, you’re not.”

  What was that supposed to mean? “Am too.”

  He flashed a sudden, wide grin at me. “So you knew about me. The day you walked into my office.”

  I shrugged. “What’s to know? You’re shockingly fast. Two years ago you had the single season record for yards-per-carry. You’re theoretically charming.”

  He shook his head, still smiling. “You ever come to any of my games?”

  I swallowed. “A couple.”

  He leaned closer, and I mirrored him. When our knees brushed energy jolted through me. “Wow. But you treat me with so little respect.”

  A new voice rang out. “Oh my God.”

  I automatically straightened away from Mike and glanced toward the doorway, and stared in shock. A girl with deep red hair stood in the frame—a younger, female version of Mike. She’d gathered her hair up in a huge messy bun and stabbed it through with lacquered chopsticks, and the red seemed even more vibrant compared to her all black outfit. Black lined her narrowed eyes, while heavy, expensive jewelry dangled off her ears around her neck. She scowled in my direction. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  I glanced at Mike with rounded eyes to see if that was directed at me.

  Slight color rose on Mike’s cheekbones. “This is my sister, Anna. Anna, this is Natalie.”

  I waved. “Nice to meet you.”

  Anna tilted her head. “You’re an American.” She pursed her lips together, and then I watched as suspicion visibly entered her mind. Her eyes flickered back and forth between us. “Wait. Wait.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Mike said levelly.

  She started shaking her head. “Do you two—do you two know each other?”


  Mike and I exchanged a glance. “Um,” I hedged. “We met once—twice—in New York.”

  “Oh my God.” Now she spoke directly to her brother. “I can’t believe you. Are you serious?”

  Mike finally sounded exasperated. “Anna, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Anna raised one hand and pressed another to her heart like she was about to place an oath. “God forbid you want to spend any time with your actual fucking family.” She turned and stomped off.

  Mike and I watched her go, and her comments slowly fell in place for me. I looked at Mike. “Did she think...that I came here with you? Like as a...girlfriend or something?”

  He squeezed his eyes shut. “I think so. I’m so sorry.”

  “That’s okay,” I said on autopilot. “I mean, it makes sense why she’d be mad at you then, if she thought she had her brother to herself and then he’d brought some random girl with him.”

  He let out a deep breath and leaned his head into his hands. “Before this week, I’d forgotten how much teens talked in italics.”

  That startled a laugh out of me. “I don’t know, sometimes I think I talk in italics a lot. Or all caps.”

  Two more women walked through the door, at a much more sedate pace. One had the same bright hair as Mike and Anna, and looked my age. The other, a pale brunette, wore jeans and what everyone else called a mom haircut, though my mother would never be caught dead like that. She smiled, and I saw an echo of Mike in her.

  She kissed her son on the cheek. “Hello, dear.” She angled herself at me and smiled, clearly expecting an introduction.

  Mike provided it, gesturing my way. “This is Natalie Sullivan, an...acquaintance from home. She’s—interested in local history.”

  The second sister snorted. When we all turned to look at her, she covered it with a cough, looking a little red. “Sorry. Something in my throat. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lauren.”

  “And I’m Kate,” the mother said. “It’s so nice to meet one of Mike’s friends. Won’t you join us for dinner?”

  “Mom—” Mike began in a low voice.

  Kate blinked. “Unless you don’t want to, of course.”

  I felt caught. I wouldn’t mind eating with a family, but not if Mike didn’t want me there. “I’d love to,” I said a little uncertainly, and then glanced at Mike. “I mean, if it’s okay with you?”

  It only took half a second before he had that charming smile back on his face. “Yeah, of course.”

  * * *

  We ate in a comfortable, well-appointed dining room, where the wide windows let in the last of the day’s light and the other tables were filled with the rest of the inn’s guests. Eileen and her granddaughter brought out greens, a beet salad, hearty brown bread, beef stew and mashed potatoes.

  Kate smiled as we all served ourselves. “So how did you two meet?”

  Mike smoothed butter across his bread. “Natalie’s...considering working in the area.”

  Lauren propped her chin on her hand and looked skeptical.

  “Oh, I see.” Kate frowned into her food. “So where are you staying, Natalie?”

  “Here, actually.” I pointed at the ceiling. “Third floor.”

  Kate nodded. “Mike, isn’t that where you are?”

  I glanced at Mike, who looked equally guilty. He cleared his throat. It was kind of charming to see a celebrity cowed by his mom. “Yeah. That’s me.”

  Anna snorted.

  “Hmm.” Kate paused to let a spoonful of stew cool. “I’d been hoping Michael was finally introducing us to a girlfriend.”

  I started coughing on my salad.

  “Mom!” Mike and Anna chorused. Lauren just let out a long, beleaguered sigh.

  “What?” Kate didn’t sound embarrassed at all. “I was married by the time I was Lauren’s age. I don’t think it’s so unreasonable to want the same for my children.”

  “Thank you, Mom, for pointing out your marital status at twenty-three again,” Lauren said.

  “Natalie is just a friend, Mom,” Mike added. “We’ve barely even known each other a month.”

  Kate raised her brow. “If you insist,” she said, in much the same way my brother Evan said the lady doth protest too much.

  Something hit my shin. “Ow!”

  A horrified expression crossed Lauren’s face. “Oh my God, I am so sorry, I was aiming for Mike.”

  Mike leaned his head back and groaned.

  Anna laughed.

  Kate held out the breadbasket in my direction. “Would you like another piece, Natalie?”

  “That sounds great,” I said, and took one.

  Mike pulled himself up out of his embarrassment to look at his mom. “So what’s the schedule? Did you see Patrick’s wife?”

  Kate stabbed more forcefully than necessary at a beet, sending it skittering across her plate. “We’ll swing by Friday morning. Tomorrow we need to go shopping.” She directed a pointed look at her youngest. “Anna, despite bringing a wardrobe entirely in black, doesn’t have a single appropriate outfit for the—what’s it called?” She turned to her eldest daughter.

  “The month’s mind.” Lauren looked at me when she explained. “It’s like a month after someone dies, family and friends go to mass and have a meal to remember the person. We missed the funeral, so we’re going to it instead.”

  “He’s already buried,” Anna said. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “It’s a matter of respect.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? How is it respectful to skip out on the funeral and then run around town?”

  Kate frowned. “Anna. Do not swear.”

  She slammed her fork down. “For Christ’s sake, Mom. What are you going to do about it? Ship me away from my friends and my boyfriend and my job for the summer? Oh, wait. That already happened.” She shoved back the chair and stomped out of the room, her combat boots heavy on the pale wooden floor.

  Wow. I wished I’d been that ballsy at her age.

  Kate turned to me. “I’m sorry. I wish I could say she wasn’t always like this...”

  “Is she?” Mike sounded surprised. “She definitely had an attitude when she visited New York, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”

  Kate smiled flatly as she raised her drink again. “That, dear, is because you don’t live with her.”

  Family politics were above my pay grade. With a smile and a flurry of pleasantries all around, I left them to their squabbling.

  Chapter Six

  Back in my room, I video-called Cam, and to my shock and delight she answered. I could see her bed and posters behind her. She stared squealing immediately “You’re there! Oh my God! How is it?”

  “Ireland’s gorgeous. Haven’t seen the village yet. As for the inn—well. I’m staying across the hall from Michael O’Connor. I met and then had dinner with his entire family just now.”

  She started laughing and flailing her arms about. “Ahh! I’m so excited!”

  I couldn’t help grinning. “It’s so awkward. I actually like him as a person, but I feel weird about the whole Kilkarten excavation disagreement thing. How are we supposed to act?”

  “You could try to get him to reconsider.”

  “If only.” I paused, and then rushed my next words. “I did kind of have a thought.”

  She raised her brows and gestured regally. “Do go on.”

  “He has two sisters. And I kind of wondered... What’s their take on the excavation? Maybe they just have great poker faces, but when I said I was an archaeologist interested in the area, they acted like they’d never heard of me. Shouldn’t Mike have talked to them about the dig before he rejected it?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe he owns the land outright and didn
’t need their agreement.”

  “Maybe,” I agreed, but that sounded dubious. I sighed. “It probably doesn’t even matter. Anyway. How are you?”

  “I sat through a three hour meeting and listened to people argue about a color scheme. I was like, what does this have to do with anything? Why am I here?”

  “How very existential.”

  “Oh, but then I was thinking about the color red, and did you know it’s a biological turn on? Like, people are more likely to say they don’t like red lipstick or find red dresses too much, but they actually find it hot. So your football player is scientifically more sexy than others!”

  “In Ancient Greece they thought redheads were vampires.”

  “Well, that is a great tidbit that you should never mention again.”

  I groaned. “His family’s also super nice. They invited me to have dinner with them. Who does that?” I sandwiched my nose and mouth between my palms and pulled them down. “I think I’m going to go knock on his door and try to de-awkwardize this situation.”

  “Because going over to his room late at night isn’t awkward?”

  I glanced at the clock. “It’s only eight-ten. And won’t admitting this is strange be better than saying nothing?”

  She shook her head. “There’s no avoiding awkwardness. You just have to muddle through it until everyone’s made peace.”

  Despite that, I still headed across the hall after disconnecting from Cam. I collected my half eaten bag of Reeses, and glanced quickly in the mirror. The reflection wasn’t impressive, but I wasn’t supposed to care about that. I made a face and then stepped out through my door, closing it firmly behind me.

  Mike’s door loomed ahead. Well, the bird decal and light green paint kept the looming from being too impressive, but still. I stared at that bird for at least a minute, breathing shallowly, before I took two quick steps across the hall and banged loudly on his door.

  It swung inward almost immediately. Mike stood there, ruffling his gleaming curls with a towel. He’d slung another around his waist. It dipped dangerously low. “Hey.”