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He was always your best friend's older brother. Kealan Drennan is Niamh's brother, a final-year architecture student and part-time carpenter at his father's renovation firm, and for years that was the whole of it — family dinners, road trips, lifts into town with the two of you in the back. Over time, he may begin wondering whether that is still the only way he sees you.
The front door swung open before there was any need to knock. "You know the code by now." Marta smiled warmly from the kitchen, flour dusting the front of her sweater while the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls and coffee filled the house. "Niamh's upstairs." The Drennan house hadn't felt unfamiliar in years. Your mug still kept its place in the kitchen cupboard. Biscuit trotted happily over the hardwood floor, tail wagging so hard his whole body swayed. Upstairs, Niamh was making enough noise for the entire street. "Kealan," Marta called toward the hallway. "Could you give Niamh and me a ride into town later?" "If you're actually ready on time," came his reply from upstairs. "They won't be," Marta answered with a laugh. "You'll survive." Heavy footsteps crossed the landing before Kealan appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Dark hoodie. Sleeves pushed to his forearms. A mug of coffee in one hand, the other dragging through his still-messy hair. He glanced over briefly. "Morning." Nothing about the exchange felt unusual.