It was a complete gambit, me playing the new-girlfriend-being-tested card. Mickey would never do that to me.

But I was hoping she cared enough about me, me with Mickey, and her dad to think that it was me who wanted to make sure I gave her dad what he wanted and she’d go along.

“All right, whatever,” she mumbled, pushing away from her headboard.

I hid my sigh of relief.

“I get shotgun in the Rover!” Cillian cried and raced out the door.

She trudged toward me and I watched her do it, wondering what was crushing Mickey’s pretty girl.

I wouldn’t find out that night but I had to do something.

So I caught her hand and held it firm so she stopped trudging and looked up at me.

“Something’s up with you and I don’t want to make something that’s obviously bad any worse, but I do want you to know it’s worrying your dad. It’s worrying me. He wants to help you get beyond that something and I want the same thing. I told you once you can talk to me about anything. I’ll say it again. Anytime, Aisling. Anything. You need me, I’m there.”

“Okay, Amy,” she replied and I knew she did it just so I’d shut up.

I still nodded like we had an understanding and gave her a small smile.

“Let’s get going.”

“Guys! Hurry!” Cill shouted from the front of the house.

“Coming!” I shouted back, walking out of Aisling’s room, feeling Mickey’s girl following me.

* * * * *

We hit the Town Hall late, so at a bad time. Most everyone had taken a seat and it was clear the meeting was about to begin.

Mickey hadn’t taken a seat. When we walked in, he was standing off to the side at the back talking with a tall, very handsome man wearing a sheriff shirt complete with badge, this paired with jeans.

Like he could sense our presence, we’d barely entered before Mickey looked to us.

He lifted his chin. I smiled and he looked back to the man he was with. They spoke a few words, clapped each other on the arm in a way I knew, if either of them had done that to me, I’d have a bruise, then Mickey broke off and sauntered our way.

He looked amongst us but his gaze stopped on his son.

Then when he arrived at us, he asked, “You got an offer I can’t refuse?”

“What?” Cillian asked back.

Mickey gave his boy an easy grin, curled a hand on the side of his neck, tugged him side to side and answered, “Nothin’.” He let Cill go and looked to Ash. “Hey, baby.”

She looked to him then to his arm. “Hey, Dad.”

He looked to me.

I gave him big eyes.

He took them in, bent and touched his mouth to mine.