Before she could reply, he continued typing.
CONNER: I mean it. Stay with me, sis. Or stay at mom and dad’s. We all want you back home.
Tears trailed over her cheek, and she wiped them away. Pff. There she was, crying all alone on a worse for wear bench near some stinking city park. But leave it to Conner to go in for the kill.
CONNER: If it wasn’t for our sisters settling down south, we’d have hauled all yer arses back a long time ago.
Only when worked up enough, he’d let his Irish brogue out. Even via text. Errin gave a watery smile and replied.
ERRIN: I know. But just like I miss you guys back home, I would miss Kayla and Kate here too. I might as well keep trying to get a gig here.
CONNER: Hm.
She’d followed her sister Kayla to Austin last April after Kayla survived an attack by some psycho co-worker. While Kayla was lying in a hospital bed, Errin and Kate promised they’d move to Austin so the three sisters would be together again. She wasn’t going back on their pact just because she was homesick. Now, if she’d landed a big role in New Jersey, it would be a whole different story. She was sure that Kayla would even help her pack her bags so she could follow her dreams.
Errin glanced up from her phone and laughed at the sign on the building across the street.
She snapped a picture of the business, grinning. ‘Pawty Hard.’ She texted Conner..
ERRIN: Let me send you a pic real quick...
She zoomed in on the ‘help wanted’ sign in the dog kennel’s window. She might as well have a look inside, even though she hated dogs with a passion. Okay, she was scared shitless of the barking and biting mongrels. But her latest trip back home reduced her savings to nil, so beggars couldn’t be choosers. Right? Her phone vibrated.
CONNER: A man, his son, and a dog walk into a bar…
ERRIN: ?
CONNER: “Ow” “Ow” “Whoof”
She snickered.
ERRIN: Dork.
CONNER: Talk later? I’m with Evan, having a beer at Calum’s.
A pang of jealousy stabbed her stomach at the mention of her three brothers sitting together, having beers and talking shit.
ERRIN: Say hi for me, will you?
CONNER: Will do. Keep ya chin up, okay? Talk later.
CONNER: Or is it chins up? Since you need to lose 10 pounds?
ERRIN: Fuck off
CONNER: Whaha love you sis.
ERRIN: hm
She paused, thinking of her goofy brother.
ERRIN: Love you, too
Brennan looked over the worn oak bar at Ed, a regular. He showed up tonight in a ridiculous horse suit and sat hunched over his dark ale.
Next to Ed leaned Brennan’s youngest brother, Ronan, dressed as Hugh Hefner. Already drunk halfway through the night, but somehow he still signaled for another round.
“Last one. Take it easy, bro,” Brennan said while walking over to the tap and glancing over his shoulder as a half-dressed nurse and stewardess fell off of their bar stools. Their Halloween costumes were almost as over the top as their cackles on their way to the floor.