Page 20 of An Irish Hope

He nodded. “And a few others.”

“I see.” He sat back in his chair. Well, it was a good thing he’d sworn off relationships because this woman, intriguing as she was, was obviously way out of his league. And even though her family were nice and had welcomed him, he knew he couldn’t stay. He shouldn’t stay. So as soon as he politely could he’d leave.

He pushed back his plate, decorated with a few crumbs and sauce remains. “That was delicious. Thank you for letting me join you.”

“But you’re not leaving now, are you?” Ash said.

“I should probably see where Grady is up to. He might be wondering where I am.”

“He’s a grown man, isn’t he?”

Aine’s head angled. “You know, you remind me of someone. Where did you say you were from?”

“Out Cork way.”

“Hmm.”

“I attended university in Cork,” Ash said.

“What did you study?”

“Social sciences, particularly to do with Irish culture.”

“What is it you do for work?” Rory asked.

“I’m a high school teacher. I teach PE.”

Rory chuckled. “Well, you would’ve had your work cut out for you if you’d ever had Ash as one of your students. She used to skive off PE classes as much as she could.”

He glanced at her. “Not a fan of exercise?”

“I don’t mind it.”

“Since when?” Rory asked.

“Well, let’s just say I would like to not mind it.”

A round of chuckles met Ash’s comment.

“I suspect that if our PE teachers had looked like him then she probably would’ve been there more,” Rory said in an undertone to Aidan, but in a voice Ash was clearly meant to hear. As was he.

Heat travelled up his neck, holding his tongue hostage. He never knew what to say in moments like these. He knew he wasn’t as handsome as the likes of Aidan or Grady, having what some called an honest face, but it hadn’t stopped some young students from trying to flirt over the years.

“Have you ever had difficulties with getting students to do their exercises?” Aidan asked.

“I think all teachers can, at times. But our school has measures in place to ensure participation rates are pretty high.”

“What kinds of sports do you enjoy?” Aidan continued. “Are you a rugby man?”

“I don’t mind watching the game. You?”

“I’d like it more if we Aussies were better, but we’re going through a lean patch at the moment. Well, we’ve been there for a few decades it seems.”

Andy joined Aidan’s laugh, and their conversation turned to sports while the women continued chatting about the wedding. He admitted he was a runner, and it was nice to simply say that without someone’s eyes lighting up and comments being made about Olympic trials. That man seemed like someone who had lived another life ago.

“I’d like to run but I’m more of a gym bro,” Aidan admitted.

“Gym bro?”