“Hi,” she said softly.
The look on Rock’s face as he watched her was pitiful, like his mind was frantically trying to grasp at something right out of reach. His entire summer had been spent with Cass—that was a lot of memory to take. As grateful as I was to the Summer King, I was also angry that he addled the mind of a young man in such a dangerous way.
Rock pressed two fingers to his temple and closed his eyes. “Me head…”
“You should have a lie down, mate,” McKale said, reaching out to steady him. Rock nodded and hung his head, heading indoors.
“It makes it worse for him to see me,” Cass said with sad realization.
“Should we try to remind ‘im?” Blackie asked. “A bit at a time—”
“No.” Cass’s voice was strong. “I’m afraid it’ll strain his mind. I need to just… stay away.”
We looked around at each other, at a loss, awkwardness and discomfort spreading. Cass turned from us and rushed away, tearing into the trees. I would have chased her, but I was sure she needed some time to herself. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“We still have three more weeks before my family goes home,” I said. “This is going to be hard.”
They all nodded. It was strange and wrong to see the Clour forlorn.
“Take care of him, ‘kay?” I said to the guys.
Again they nodded, and McKale escorted me away, back to Leprechaun land.
Three weeks passed in a dizzying mix of joyful love with McKale, and sorrowful silence with Cassidy. She had changed—matured overnight. Not once did she try to see Rock after that day on Clour land. She woke early every morning to help with chores, spent afternoons devouring classics from her AP summer reading list, and went to bed early each night. I actually missed the carefree, spontaneous, giggling girl who’d come to Ireland with me.
On another note of drastic change, Mom and Dad had spent the last three weeks on Clour land helping the boys till the land for a late summer garden, fixing up the cottage, and teaching them to do basic things to better care for themselves and their home. Dad had even talked Brogan into allowing the Clour to begin helping with Shoe House responsibilities again once they were gone. He said the boys needed more responsibilities to feel like men. They were young when the Fae had cursed their clan. The older generations of Clour who’d caused all the problems were now gone. Dad wanted these boys to have a second chance to be better than their ancestors.
On my family’s last morning I sat behind Cassidy french-braiding her wet hair while she finished reading Pride and Prejudice. My stomach had been hurting for days at the thought of them leaving. I loved McKale and would follow him anywhere, but I was going to miss my family like crazy. Especially my sister—my best friend.
Cass closed the book with a sigh just as I snapped the rubber band into place.
Someone knocked quietly on the door before pushing it open. Mom and Dad stood there, dressed for the day. Cassidy and I stood.
“Listen,” Dad said. “We need to go into town to return the tech stuff and van and get our rental car back. We’d also like to get some things for Robyn—necessities to hold her over here for a while.”
I nodded at that. There were several things I wanted to stock up on.
“And, um…” Dad swallowed and Mom slid his arm through his, encouragingly. “We were thinking of inviting McKale and Ronan to come along. But only if that’s okay with you.” They looked at Cass.
Her face stayed neutral, but I saw her chest rise and fall faster. “Okay.”
An hour later Cassidy and I were holding hands and turning the corner around the back of the village. Our hands were sweating, but we didn’t let go. The front of the white van came into view and then we stopped in our tracks. McKale and Rock stood there, waiting for us, looking so cute with anticipation. They both looked clean, with haircuts and shaven faces.
McKale’s face lit up when he saw me, filling me with familiar, welcome tingles and forcing a smile to my lips.
Next to him Rock gave a rueful grin to Cassidy. “There ye are again. I was beginnin’ to think ye were only a figment of me imagination and dreams, I was.”
Cass gave a nervous laugh and blushed. “No, I’m real.”
Rock grinned at McKale, then at my sister and I. “So, we’re goin’ on an adventure today, aye? One last day to try and win the heart o’ me best mate’s sister. I’d best take advantage.”
Though his words were playful, there was something almost cautious about his demeanor, as if he still felt strange in her presence although he was clearly drawn to her.
Cass crossed her arms and pursed her lips to hold back a smile. “I should warn you that I’m kind of hard to win over.”
I covered my mouth to hide a snort and McKale came to my side, nudging me with his shoulder and giving a chuckle.
“Is that right?” Rock asked, sidling closer to her. “Well, I’ll take that as a challenge, Cassie-lassie. We’ll see if yer no’ in love with me by the end of this outing.” He winked and pulled away, causing Cass to blanch and flush. I bit my lip.
Dad ambled up carrying a speaker and the guys rushed to help him.
I watched Cass stare at Rock and thought to myself that she was way ahead of him. I think Rock’s heart was way ahead of his mind, as well. For once I didn’t want to tell my sister to be careful. I wanted her to enjoy this day and this boy.
One at a time, Dad, McKale, and Rock carried equipment to put in the van, and each of them gave us a wink in passing. Cassidy and I broke into laughter and it was so good to hear her humor that my eyes watered.