KDBookOnline
Share Us
The small brick rambler house was packed, so Dylan bypassed the front door and went around back, scanning the assembled Byrnes and Gallaghers for red hair. For all the stereotypes about the Irish, there were only a few gingers in his family. His mother, Felicity, and a couple of his nieces. The fenced-off pool sparkled in the morning sunshine and was full of a gaggle of Gallagher kids under the careful eyes of their parents. Felicity had instituted a new set of pool safety rules and etiquette since starting nursing school. Dylan waved to some cousins and Brooks and Anderson, who were tossing their kids around while splashing in the water.
“Why didn’t you tell me to bring my bathing suit?”
“Because with the number of kids going in that pool today, it’s gonna be more urine than chlorine by three P.M.”
“Gross, Dylan.”
“It’s a fact.” Dylan smiled. “I’ll bring you back on another day if you want. Oh, also, if you go inside that fence, carry stuff in your pockets at your own risk. My brothers have a reputation for the well-coordinated ambush pool toss, but the rule is that it’s only permissible if you’re within the fence.”
“How’d that rule start?”
“Felicity threatened to beat Brooks with a bat the last time he tossed her in the water and busted her phone.”
“I think Felicity wakes up each day and chooses violence.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“Meh…” Derek squinted at the two large hockey players carousing in the pool, dad bods on unabashed display in the lurid speedos they donned each year for this occasion. “I can take them.”
Leaning closer, Dylan pretended to assess Derek’s body. “While your physique is objectively impressive—”
“Aw shucks, hon.”
“Combined, those dudes have a hundred and fifty pounds and three inches on you. Just like Gloria Estefan says, the physics is gonna get you.”
Derek tried not to laugh but failed. “Why was that even funny?”
“Because you’re biased in favor of my biting wit.”
Derek’s mouth grazed Dylan’s ear. “Definitely think we’ve established I’m good with biting.”
Dylan shoved Derek away. “My mother is here somewhere. Shush.” He hadn’t been sure what to expect today since Derek hadn’t touched Dylan at all in front of his sister. But Dylan hadn’t expected Derek to press a casual peck on his lips without any concern about who was watching.
When he pulled back, Derek winced. “Sorry, was that okay? I should have asked.”
“Super okay.” Dylan slipped his hand into Derek’s. “It’s all good.”
“Okay, then. Cool.” Derek exhaled like he was the nervous one or something.
An insect must have flown into Dylan’s mouth without him noticing, because his stomach was doing a very disconcerting flittering like there were dragonfly wings inside while he tried to keep his mind on finding his immediate family and not on anything having to do with kissing or biting.
The pair walked to the large external garage workshop that was actually double the size of the tiny house. All of the adult Gallaghers contributed money for this event. In recent years the kid entertainment had expanded to include an enormous bounce house next to the garage. A few kids were in the bounce house while others climbed on the old playset that Dylan’s father had built thirty years earlier. The elder of the Gallagher girls was probably inside cooking since she was a crunchy vegan and normally brought a selection of her own food for herself and her kids, but he didn’t see Felicity anywhere.
“I didn’t realize this was an event. Like an event event.”
“Oh, it’s an event for sure.” A blur of orange hair in the distance cut behind the tent.
Inside, his mom was taking inventory of her Costco packs of paper plates and cutlery, pointing out things to his dad, who appeared to be taking a mental list of her instructions. She flipped through an old spiral notebook and checked items off with one of the colorful gel pens sticking out of her fluffy auburn bun, beaming like a kid at Christmas. She sent her husband off in search of something missing.
“Mom.” After hugging her, Dylan put two hands on her shoulders to direct her attention. “This is Derek.”
“Heard my son kidnapped your dog. Will you be pressing charges?” His mother leveled a hard glance at Derek.
“Oh, uh—no. Of course no—”
She snickered. “First rule of the Gallagher Grill-Out, don’t take anyone too seriously.” His mom gave Derek a small squeeze. “We’re very happy to have you.” Then she kept squeezing down Derek’s arms. “Oh my, you’re a sturdy-looking fella.” A little of the Irish lilt emerged.
“If you could stop feeling up my… friend, that’d be swell, Ma.”