Page 13 (1/2)

"You’d never have letyou off Now are you gonna give this oldhappened to you on the way hoyh as nails, and I doubted that anything could break his, and he knew it

"I don’t like it, Danny," I sighed, with exasperation

"You don’t have to like it, but humour the old man, okay?"

I’d had ood it had done ive, but the decision to trust was sort of outto look out forI could do would be to act graciously about all this

"Fine," I sighed again, leaving the office Okay, so not too graciously, but Danny got what he wanted, and I was sure he wasn’t too bothered The only question to ask noas how did I make conversation with a man like O’Connell for twenty ? By the tiainst the doors with his hands shoved in the pocket of his hoodie, like he didn’t have a care in the world

"Sorted?" he asked I answered with a nod, and alked side by side, all the way ho at h I pretended not to notice You could see that he was keen to make conversation, but after today, I kind of needed the quiet

"You don’t like me much, do you, sunshine?" he interjected, as ere almost home I was horrified that he’d misinterpreted my fucked-up issues that way

"Of course, I do I warned you that I don’t really do friends I’ve been onto take estured between us

"Well, it e," he replied "Usually it’sthis weekend?"

"Um" I wasn’t sure how to answer I had a couple of shifts at the diner, and then I planned on doing laundry and catching up on soe would be doing on a Saturday night, and too embarrassed to admit my real plans, I floundered for an itinerary packed full of exciting things to present hi

"Me, Kieran, and a few of the boys are going to a party that one of your rugby lot is throwing if you’re interested?" I looked up with a start

"I didn’t know you were a student?" He laughed aloud, andstudents?" he replied, like the whole notion was ridiculous I wisely said nothing, figuring that any answer I gave would only dig the hole I was in deeper He stopped at the door toon one of my curls