They had climbed the tall oak on the edge of the fields since they were children, scrambling up through the branches until they could see over the canopy.
“Still think you’re faster than me?” Cormac asked, almost at her heels.
Without glancing at him, Aoife raised her voice so he’d hear. “I was faster when we were ten, and I’m faster now.”
He laughed, deep and honest, and Aoife was reminded it was the man and not the boy running beside her now. “We’ll see about that.” He put on a burst of speed and overtook her. Aoife gave all she had to match him. They reached the tree within a second of each other and were soon scrambling up, fighting each other for branches. The bark was warm beneath their hands, the air full of the scent of moss.
Aoife reached their favourite broad limb first, settling into the crook where the trunk split. He joined her a moment later.
“Told you.”
He nudged her shoulder.
For a while, neither spoke. Below them, the fields spread out in shadow, the last light catching on the river.
Together, they watched the first stars prick the darkening sky.
When the air grew cooler, Cormac shifted, pulling off his jacket and draping it around her shoulders. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the slow rhythm of his breathing, steady and reassuring.
“When was the last time we came up here?” she asked. They used to climb up here at least once a week, but she wasn’t sure they’d been here at all this year.
“Last autumn,” he said. She looked at him; there was something in his tone, something he wasn’t saying. Aoife studied his face, trying to figure out what was wrong.
“What?” he asked, looking sheepish.
The memory hit her then. “That’s right. The last time we were here was the day you nearly fell out of the tree.”
“I did not nearly fall out of the tree.”
Aoife laughed. “Yes, you did.”
“It was your fault.”
“How was it my fault?”
“Because you were worried about the squirrel’s nest.”
“That branch was precarious. As proven when it snapped under your weight.” Aoife couldn’t help but laugh.
“Aye, and you laughed then as well. Before you helped me.”
There was no point in denying it. “Only because I knew you were fine.”
“I was hanging almost upside down in a tree.”
“Were you not fine?”
He smiled, shaking his head. The evening light caught in his hair. He looked younger for a moment.
“You could have been hurt though,” Aoife said, her mood turning earnest. “It was reckless,” she said.
“I did it for you.” Cormac’s tone was light and jocular still, teasing her. He hadn’t noticed the shift in Aoife’s voice.
“You have to promise me you’ll be more cautious.”
This time he noticed she was serious. He looked at her, smile fading.
“I can’t promise that. Not where you’re concerned.”
