“They can Legally kick me out of their house if I don't obey them."

“Then you can move in here." I spread my arms out.

“It's not Like we're short on room."

“You're talking crazy now."

I grinned. "You're telling me it's not tempting to live here twenty-four/seven? We could fuck all day and cuddle together all night, every night. And hey, I'm pretty sure I physically wouldn't be able to maintain an erection the entire time we'd be together, so there would be plenty of opportunity for that intimacy and romance you were complaining about us Lacking."

Naimh stared at me incredulously, frowning but blinking and apparently giving it some honest thought.

“I realize it's super drastic, but even if you aren't ready for that kind of commitment or anything and don't want to take the nuclear option of walking out on your family," I continued. "Maybe just the threat of doing it would make your parents relax and compromise -- meet you in the middle. Maybe they would at least let you meet up with your boyfriend on weekends and Friday nights like... you know... NORMAL parents?"

Taking a deep breath, Naimh closed her eyes and covered her face with both hands. "Matty..." she groaned, sounding in a Lot more anguish than

I would've expected over this sort of hypothetical conversation.

Confused, I cocked my head to the side and gave her a curious look

“What ?"

Dropping her hands away, Naimh exhaled slowly and opened her emerald-green eyes. She stared at me with a mixed apology on her face as well as fear. And after pursing her lips and taking another deep breath, she exhaled slowly and said, "I can't do that to my parents."

She shook her head, sighed, and added, "Not again."

-- CHAPTER 32: Valentines II -—

At first, Naimh just fidgeted with her fingers, but after a minute of trying to gather her thoughts, she had to get up and start pacing around the family room instead. Once on the move, she glanced back at me, explaining, “Dad got this job here in the States and told me we were moving. But I was in Love and impetuous and I didn't want to leave

Conor. So I told my parents they could fly off to America and I'd stay behind to live with Conor's family." Naimh paused and grimaced at me.

"They didn't take the idea very well."

“I'LL bet."

Naimh sighed and continued pacing.

“Dad said I was still his daughter and I had no choice in the matter. When they made it clear we were moving to America whether I liked it or not, I told them, ‘Imigh leat!'. Not verbatim, but you get the idea.”

I nodded.

“I packed a bag and stormed out of the house." Naimh sighed. "Conor's parents were surprised and, honestly, rather sympathetic to my parents.

But he and I threatened to BOTH move out and find an apartment together, and they agreed to let me stay for a while... at least until we got things sorted. At the time, I was convinced I was going to stay with him forever."

I frowned, thinking about what Mari had told me about Naimh still missing her boyfriend back in Ireland. I used to think he was just another teenaged boy she'd dated for a while. To realize how close they'd actually been made me stop and think about the strength of my own relationship with her.

“Dad wanted to get the authorities involved," she continued. "He was all about barking orders, citing my age and how I had no legal right to refuse him. I insisted that even if he somehow forced me to come home and move, I'd fly back to Ireland as soon as I turned eighteen and never speak to him again for the rest of my Life. Mam wanted to talk to me though, and she got through to me in a way Dad couldn't. I missed my family. Dad could be hard, but he's still my dad. I loved being with