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“Are we even supposed to have alcohol at two teenagers birthday party?” Amy teased as they came back in.
“Both Damian and Lar are probably used to it.” Keith winked, “This is Ireland.”
“Really?” She laughed sarcastically, he laughed too. “Drinking around your sister too, some brother you are.”
She meant it as a joke, and he knew that, she thought. His laughter died a bit there.
“What?” She asked.
The smile came back, “Nothing, just Lauren.” Looking at his little sister he sighed.
“What about her?” Another honest, non-sarcastic question. He chuckled.
“Thinkin’ about how much I’d missed her, ya know?”
“Missed her?”
Ryan never told you? Lar and I were, I suppose, separated for a while until, well now.”
“Separated?”
“Our parents divorced when I was 14 and her 7. We didn’t see each other for 8 years.”
Oh. Ouch! “Kinda like Ryan and I.” Except they weren’t really siblings, as she had to often remind herself.
There was another difference too, apparently, “I guess. Lauren and I weren’t able to keep contact with her when she moved to the U.S. I had no clue what she’d been up to, until Damian thankfully ran into her during one of our tours there.”
“Wow, that- that’s awful.” She whispered.
His smile didn’t fade, “I’ll say it was, but she’s here now. So things are good.”
She tried to smile back. But she was thinking of herself and Ryan. And Vanessa.
Keith caught her upset expression, “What’s the matter, Amy?”
“Just- ah”, if lying had worked before, maybe it would again, “nothing. I’m fine.”
“C’mon,” He said, not believing her for a second, “You’re upset about something.”
His lovely green eyes, usually so bright with his smile were completely serious now. And completely smoldering. She couldn’t think of an excuse.
“Vanessa,” She mumbled.
He blinked, a little surprised, “She’s back in New York, right?” He was confused. He didn’t know what had happened, what she’d done.
She sighed, and told him. Her voice quiet, though the room was loud. She didn’t want to be heard by anyone other than Keith. She especially didn’t want Ryan to hear. He felt bad enough already.
“Well, that’s stupid.” Keith said in conclusion.
“Stupid?”
“Stupid. She should’ve stayed, or at least listened. This could be a lot less complicated.”
Amy was glad someone else confirmed it. What Vanessa had done was quite rash and well, kind of stupid. “But it’s still my fault.”
“Ryan’s not mad.”
She sighed, “I know he’s not. But that almost makes it worse. Wouldn’t you be mad?” He looked at her in questioning amusement, and she continued, “If, say, you caught your girlfriend with another guy.”
“Don’t have a girlfriend.” His smile grew. She blushed, and tried not to think about that.
“Just hypothetically, play along please.” He laughed and she rolled her eyes.
“I’m not sure how I’d feel. I think I’d want an explanation.” He replied.
“Would you listen to one?”
“If I trusted the girl, yeah.” Keith nodded, “Do you think Vanessa doesn’t trust Ryan?”
“Hell if I know.” She sighed, glad she was letting this out, “I don’t know enough about those two’s relationship to tell anything. I just know he loves her.” A sadder sigh.
“Jealous?”
“EH!?” She stared at him, caught completely off guard.
He laughed, “Not like that! I know, you said Ryan is like a brother. I mean of the whole relationship thing.”
She was relieved. She remembered many a time in middle school and high school being teased about Ryan being her boyfriend. And she’d have to defend a million times that it wasn’t true. Which was occasionally very hard.
Because occasionally that was a lie.
She was not going to think about that, especially now. She concentrated again on Keith’s question.
“Nah, I’m not jealous of their relationship.” That was completely true. She wasn’t really interested in getting in a relationship. Dating was alright, if it didn’t mean anything. She didn’t want to get into a serious relationship at the moment though. Which is what came of dating, so she didn’t date either.
Keith raised his eyebrows, laughing. He didn’t seem to believe her. She gave him a mock glare and added, “Are you?”
He shrugged, “Not really.” He paused, “Not completely. Not really interested in dating, at the moment.”
Like her. Man, they had so much in common. She was enjoying this conversation more with every bit.
Of course then it had to end. He casually told her he had to give his baby sister her present, and went to do just that. She sighed, then followed him to where everyone had gathered.
She stood beside Ryan.
“I see you met Keith.” He told her. His blue eyes laughing. She stuck her tongue out at him.
“Aye, yeah I met him.”
“What d’you think?”
“That’s an odd question to ask.” She laughed, “But, he’s friendly, he’s funny. WE talked about surfing a great deal.”
“I can image.” Ryan laughed.
There was a squeal as Lauren opened her gift from her brother. A Claddagh ring. Amy grinned, she remembered those. She’d never gotten one, but she’d seen them a million times.
Rachel piped up to ask about the meanings, her voice a tad tight. Ryan was a bit stiff too, She looked at him, his arms were crossed but she noticed the same style ring on his hand.
“From Vanessa?” She whispered, mouth opened in surprise.
He was expressionless, but nodded. Amy felt tears fill her eyes. How had he been unsure about her feeling for him if the girl got him that? How adorable the two must have been together.
How terrible they both were apart.
Right then she felt like leaving again, mad at herself for ruining everything. Right then, she caught Keith’s eye. He beamed at her like seeing her made him as happy as a kid on Christmas morning. The thought of leaving disappeared. She blushed and waved. Beside her, Ryan laughed.
My, what an interesting day this was.