Since that could not be me, I could only find paintball gear.

Therefore I was going to do that.

“Okay, I’m off,” I declared and started Aisling’s way. “See you later, kiddos.”

Cillian didn’t say anything.

Aisling followed me to the door.

I stopped at it and asked quietly, “Do you know his sizes?”

She nodded and gave them to me.

I looked down the hall then to her. “Did his dad get him any of that stuff?”

“Dad faked him out with a bunch of new clothes for school. The new Xbox that’s really his present is still in Dad’s closet.”

That was cute and sweet.

“Right, blossom.” I tipped my head to the side. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” she again answered too quickly.

“You ever wanna talk, I’m across the street,” I invited.

“Okay, Amy,” she said in a way I knew she’d never take me up on that.

I didn’t push it. Maybe one day I’d have a chance, and looking at her pretty face, I hoped that day would come.

I just said, “Okay, Aisling.”

I opened the door and was through it when she called, “Amy.”

I turned to her. “Yes, honey?”

“Are you…is that…?” Her eyes slid away then to my house where she kept them as she finished, “That Bradley guy you were with seemed nice.”

“I broke up with him last night, Ash.”

Her gaze cut to me.

I shrugged, going for casually. “We just didn’t click.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” I told her quietly.

“Yeah.”

She wanted me with her dad.

I liked that. It felt nice.

And it was scary.

“I’m going out paintball gear shopping,” I told her. “I’ll see you later?”

She nodded.

“’Bye, sweets.”

“’Bye, Amy.”

I turned and walked to my house. When I got there, I went to my laptop and looked up where I could find paintball gear. The closest place was at a shop in a bigger town that was forty-five minutes away.

I headed there, stocked up with everything the clerks told me any paintball aficionado would need or even want and stopped by a Target on the way home to get a card and gift wrapping.

When I got home, I wrapped the gifts and took them over, handing them off to Aisling but not bothering Cillian again.

She gave me a small grin and thanked me.

I gave her a big smile and went home.

Through this, Boston Stone called again.

But Mickey did not call me.

* * * * *

It was late and I was on a stool at my bar with a glass of wine and my laptop.

And Mickey still had not called me.