“I didn’t know you were involved, K,” Rory told him. “One of Pop’s guys told me about the gambling happening, and the street fighting, and so Pops told me to shut it down. None of us knew you were part of it. It was just bad on the business to lose so many of the gym’s talent to street fighting, with them getting hurt and no regulations to keep order. Plus, all the lost income not having those fights under our roof, and then losing so many of the fighters to injuries. It was a clusterfuck for Legends, Kieran.”
“Yeah, I know. I never thought about how much it affected the family.” Kieran nodded stoically. “It was stupid. I was stupid. Thought I was being all badass going rogue.”
“You were never badass,” Rory teased.
Kieran punched him lazily in the arm. “Fuck you.”
Rory reached a hand out to him, and Kieran took it. They shook firmly, then pulled in for a half hug as their shoulders bumped together and they patted each other on the back. The tension melted away and the apologies were accepted—it was that simple. It always had been with the Kavanagh men.
They fought hard but forgave easily.
“Think Pops will forgive me?” Kieran asked as the two men walked back toward the front with the big black-and-white dog on their heels.
Rory nodded. “He already did a while back. He’s just being a hard-ass to keep you in line.”
Kieran rolled his eyes. “Of course.”
“The question is if Fiona will forgive you,” Rory added.
“That ship has sailed,” Kieran said adamantly. “She’s been pretty clear that she doesn’t want me.”
“Well, get your shit together and maybe she’ll change her mind. Get a job, a place to live…Be someone she would like to have as a role model for her little sister. I think that’s probably all she’s worried about. Yeah, sure, you lied and did some stupid shit, but you’d be surprised how much women are willing to forgive. I did something sort of similar with Clare, and she forgave me. Eventually.”
Kieran gave him a pointed look. “But she made you eat shit for a few days first, right?”
“Felt like longer than that.” Rory laughed. “Speaking of my woman, though, I want to ask your help with something I want to do on Friday.”
“Whatever you need, man.”
“Thanks.” Rory nodded, and Kieran clapped him on the back as they reached the front desk, where Casey was looking up at them.
“Do I sense a truce?” She smiled as she looked from one to the other. Both men shrugged but didn’t admit to anything.
“Is Pops here?” Kieran asked as he headed toward the back office. Casey just waved him on back because there was no point in answering when he could now see Seamus sitting at one of the large desks in the office.
“Hey, kid,” Seamus said.
“Hey, Pops. Is that director job here still on the table?” he asked as he plopped down in a chair next to his father’s desk. There was no point in beating around the bush with his father, or easing into the request. Seamus liked everything straightforward, and Kieran loved that about him.
“Depends.” His dad lowered a pair of reading glasses on his nose. “You still arsing around with your life?”
Kieran smiled at his father’s wit and shook his head. “I’m shaping up, Pops. I’m trying, at least.”
“Hmm, I guess we can work something out, then.”
“You won’t regret it.” Kieran shook his hand, making the promise not only to his father but also to himself. Things were going to be different; he was going to be different.
He finally understood that he was the only one who could give himself that.
Chapter 22
“Is this a joke?” Fiona gaped at the letter in her hands.
“What’s wrong?” Casey peered over her shoulder, her long red hair brushing against Fiona’s skin. Fiona held the letter in front of Casey’s face.
Casey took the paper and scanned it. “Oh, I’ve heard of that school, they’re really great. Not far, either.”
“You don’t understand. I didn’t apply for this. I couldn’t afford the application fees, and they said Shea wasn’t a candidate anyway because we live outside of Woodlawn. Well, we used to before we moved here.” Fiona paced back and forth, trying to contain her excitement.
“Well, then, call them. Double-check.” Casey shrugged, handing back to her the letter that stated Shea had been accepted into the elite, private special-needs school and was receiving a full scholarship to cover the tuition as well.
“Good idea.” Fiona glanced at the letterhead, focusing on the phone number as she pulled out her cell and dialed.