15
Niall leads us through the garage, sorry…car park, ultimately stopping at a blue Toyota Corolla.
“Here we are,” he says, popping the trunk and grabbing my larger suitcase. “Good thing you packed light. Not a lot of room in these.”
I slide my carry-on in the trunk and throw my backpack on top. “It’s gotta be hard driving a big car in the city. Hartford isn’t exactly a good comparison, but I know what driving in Boston’s like.”
“Ehh the city’s fine. It’s the countryside where things get dicey.” Niall slams the trunk shut, I go to head right and run into Niall. His eyebrow goes up, and he gestures to the left side. Right. Because the steering wheel is on the right.
Soon we are out of the airport and on the highway heading towards the city center. It might be my imagination, but everything seems much greener here. It also could be the lack of sleep and just thinking everything Irish is green.
“How long is the drive?”
“Ermmm,” Niall says, looking over his shoulder to change lanes. “Probably thirty minutes, give or take. Traffic can sometimes be a bit rough this early in the morning.”
I pull out my phone and check my messages, but nothing received from Aidan.
Daniel: Hey Aidan. About to get into Dublin
Daniel: Are you around to meet up and exchange keys?
“Everything all right?” Niall asks. His fingers drum on the steering wheel, not at all to the beat of the music. Nervous habit?
“Ahh maybe. I was just texting the guy I’m swapping apartments with to see about getting the keys.”
Aidan: Oh shit you’re a bit early?
Aidan: I thought you were getting in later in the day
Aidan: I just boarded my plane out to the States. I was going to text later and say my sister will meet you at the apartment once she’s off work to get you the keys.
Fucking hell. I just wanted to take a nap and then spend the day unpacking and settling in. Cocoon a bit before having to go back to work.
Daniel: No problem. What time do you think she’ll get off work?
Aidan: 5…maybe 6? I know she specifically got annoyed because her schedule was busy today
Daniel: OK. Have her text me when she’s on the way
Daniel: Safe travels
I lean my head back and slump in my seat, closing my eyes. I need about a gallon of coffee and something to eat.
“Take it not what you wanted to hear?”
I open one eye and look at Niall. “Not particularly. He’s already on the plane heading to Connecticut and his sister doesn’t get off work until like six. And she has the keys.”
Niall nods, taking a quick glance behind me before switching lanes again. “Well, lucky for you I’ve got the book pub covered today so I am at your service.”
I sit up. “Really? You didn’t have to do that.”
“I can play your knight in shining armor. We actually talked about this awhile back, if you remember. I was going to spend the day showing you around, walk around Trinity College, get some pub food and beer in you. Unless that sounds awful to you.”
“That sounds great. Can we start with some coffee?”
“I know just the place.”
* * *
After we’ve parked the car, Niall and I walk along the River Liffey, my attention being pulled in multiple directions. He was purposely keeping me off the main part of Temple Bar, that he wanted me to not be half asleep and experience it with my full attention and appreciation.
We pass multiple coffee places, some I don’t recognize and some being a Starbucks, but Niall keeps us walking along the road. I know we are slightly off the center of Temple Bar, but even here the pubs are plentiful.
“I see you eyeing that Carrolls store. I can tell you that day one you don’t need souvenirs. You’re also practically a resident really and not a tourist. Save that for when you’re leaving.”
I was staring at the displays in the window, and thinking about how much I liked one of the sweatshirts. “But—”
“And if you are going to buy anything, let’s start with something from the Trinity College shop. At least you will look the part and maybe someone will mistake you for a student.”
I laugh. “No one is mistaking me for a student at this point.”
We turn left and cross a short bridge. There’s a man sheltered against the railing on the lefthand side, a banner stating he’s in the middle of a seven-day hunger strike.
“Someone is always doing something here, some of it legit and some not. Best to avoid making eye contact and keep walking. Otherwise, they suck you in or start following you.”
We cross the street at the end of the bridge. Niall stops just past a Starbucks at a donut shop called The Rolling Donut. Through the window I can see a display of, what looks like, two dozen different flavors of donuts. My stomach growls as I lean in to study them closer.
“You’re more than welcome to get coffee next door at Starbucks, but they make pretty decent coffee here. I make it a point to come here at least once a week for the donuts.”
We walk in and join the queue. The sheer number of delicious options is almost overwhelming. Lemon & Poppy. Kinder Bueno. Hell, even the Raspberry Jam looks better than anything I’ve seen at home. “Since you’re the expert, what do you recommend?”
Niall glances at the case. “Since I remember you don’t have any allergies, or that you haven’t mentioned them.” I nod in agreement. “How about I’ll order a few and we can share them?”
I watch Niall talk to the cashier, pointing at various donuts in the case, also ordering two caramel iced lattes. He didn’t ask what I wanted for coffee, and thank God he went cold because I’m through and through an iced coffee drinker year-round.
They call Niall’s name, so he goes to collects the donuts while I grab the coffees. Just as we step out the door a couple gets up from the closest table, which Niall immediately snags. I pass him one of the coffees while he sets about cutting into a few of the donuts.
“I got a few of my favorites to try,” Niall says, spinning the box my way. He selected a total of four donuts, with some having their innards spilling into the box. “I got the Apple Crumble because it’s delicious. I also think it’s like the most American flavor on the menu.”
“Rude,” I say, which Niall chuckles at.
He points to the second donut. “It probably seems basic, but I’ve never had a better raspberry filled donut than what they have here.
Then you have the two on the right, the Lemon & Poppy and the Pistachio Vanilla.
I’m not going to tell you which, but two of these are vegan donuts.
I can almost guarantee you won’t be able to tell which are which. ”
“Shockingly, these aren’t the first vegan donuts I’ve had.
There’s a place in San Diego, Donut Bar, that has a gluten-free, vegan crème br?lée donut.
On paper it makes no sense, but it’s still the best donut I’ve ever had.
” I pick up one half of the Lemon & Poppy and, upon taking a bite, let out an audible moan.
“Good, right?” Niall grabs the other half and finishes it in one bite.
“Practically orgasmic. Lemon poppyseed muffins are one of our go-to items at—” And, like most days, the weight of grief out of nowhere envelopes me.
I can feel the tears coming. I look away from Niall, trying to direct my attention on the river.
A few seagulls are flying low, just a few feet above the water.
I always found it odd to see seagulls when not at the beach.
Which, in hindsight, is a weird observation because seagulls really are everywhere.
“You can talk about him with me, you know,” Niall says, reaching across the table and placing his hand on mine. “I’m not going to break, and it might help to talk about it.”
“I know,” I say, grabbing the Pistachio Vanilla. I place it on the napkin in front of me, tearing it into smaller pieces. “I just haven’t been able to really talk about it to anyone.”
“It’s—”
“Wait,” I say, looking up from the now crumbled donut.
“I never apologized for how I acted. Niall, I’m so sorry I ghosted you.
I know it doesn’t make it right, but know it wasn’t just you.
” I pick up a piece of the donut crumb and toss it inside my mouth, the frosting melting on my tongue.
“I literally shut down and barely left the condo up until coming here. Michael was my best friend, and these past few months I felt I had no one left.”
“You know that’s not true, right?” Niall says, gesturing towards himself. “I’m not going to leave you to fend for yourself in a new country. I also hope you realize how brave it is that you still decided to go through with all this.”
I laugh, wiping the tears from my eyes. “I’m not sure we can go with brave. I think we’ll go with I didn’t want to get fired.”
“Fair.” Niall takes a sip of his coffee, leaning back in his chair. “But I think we both know the universities would have been understanding.”
“Wait, aren’t you tea people here? Why are you drinking an iced latte?”
Niall rolls his eyes. “Stereotype much? We aren’t the Brits.” I look over at the two tables next to us, where almost everyone is drinking tea. Niall throws his hands up in the air. “Fine, we’re tea people. I just got a coffee because you needed one. This thing is fucking terrible.”