After leaving the park, I went spouse hunting. I met this young man, Kearney O'Shea. I didn't have the chance to meet his twin brother, Breandan, but I was too impatient to wait around for the prodigal brother to return.
I visited houses all over the city. The majority were deserted, and I didn't feel any connection with the people who
were home. A few hours later, I visited the Flanagan house and met a very strange man, Quinn Flanagan.
He's more than twice my age, insane-looking, and not exactly at the top of his career. But . . . the heart wants what it wants.
We immediately became friends, and he even let me stay the night at his place! Which was good, because he actually has a refrigerator, table, and chairs.
Not to mention the shower.
We didn't
do anything, of course, but he let me use his bedroom. It's okay, Quinn slept in the guest room. Such a gentleman!
The next day was graduation. We didn't go to the school here in town, but apparently they got our records from Lucky Palms and decided to let us participate in the ceremony, which is really wonderful, because I'd hate to miss out on one of the best days in a person's life.
And it meant that I was able to see a few old friends and sisters.
"Everything's great for us, Ky. My mom and Grace are both pregnant, Aliya's seeing someone--Mason Sackholme--and, believe it or not, so am I! Well, actually I'm seeing
several young men," she gave an embarrassed little cough. "Apparently the move reset lots of things, so now--I've been reset. Where was I? Oh, yes, have you heard that Dad is the new town Casanova? He's trying to fend off all the women chasing him down, and doing a decent job of it."
"You're all insane," I laughed. "What are you doing career-wise?"
"Dad got promoted to the principal of the school here, Mom, Grace, and Blake are still doing well in their careers, I got a job on the police force with Mom, and Aliya's working with her mom at the theatre! We're all very happy."
I would have stayed at the school for a while, but the rest of the family had already left . . . and I had a date.
We went into the tavern together, had a few drinks, and talked for a little while. Before long, the talking changed to flirting, and I was feeling confident, when he said, "I don't think this is going to work out between us. Kylara, you're a beautiful, intelligent young woman with her whole life ahead of her, and I'm old enough to be your father."
"Actually," I responded, "you're twenty-four years older than I am, which makes you ten years older than my father and stepmother, but I don't care. And neither should you."
"People will talk--"
"People always talk."
"I'm much closer to death than you are, Ky--"
"Which means that you should stop wasting time arguing with me," I interrupted firmly. "Do you want to be my boyfriend or not?"
"Of course I do. Do you think any man would turn down the offer to be your boyfriend?"
I smiled, leaning close to him. "Good night, Quinn."
"What, not even a kiss?" he teased.
"It's improper to kiss on a first date."
