Free P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern Page A

ago.”
    “Oh.” Holly was surprised. “I didn’t know they sold the place. So are you going to change it to Connolly’s then?”
    “Can’t afford all the lettering on the front, it’s a bit long.”
    Holly laughed. “Well, everyone knows the name Hogan’s at this stage; it would probably be stupid to change it.”
    Daniel nodded in agreement. “That was the main reason actually.”
    Suddenly Jack appeared at the entrance and Holly waved him over. “I’m so sorry I’m late, did I miss anything?” he said, giving her a hug and a kiss.
    “Nope, he’s just about to go on now. Jack, this is Daniel, the owner.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Daniel said, shaking his hand.
    “Are they any good?” Jack asked him, nodding his head in the direction of the stage.
    “To tell you the truth, I’ve never even heard them play,” Daniel said worriedly.
    “That was brave of you!” laughed Jack.
    “I hope not too brave,” he said, turning to face the front as the boys took to the stage.
    “I recognize a few faces here,” Jack said, scanning the crowd. “Most of them are under eighteen as well.”
    A young girl dressed in ripped jeans and a belly top walked slowly by Jack with an unsure smile on her face. She placed her finger over her lip as though telling him to be quiet. Jack smiled and nodded back.
    Holly looked at Jack questioningly. “What was that about?”
    “Oh, I teach her English at the school. She’s only sixteen or seventeen. She’s a good girl, though.” Jack stared after her as she walked by, then added, “But she better not be late for class tomorrow.”
    Holly watched the girl down a pint with her friends, wishing she had had a teacher at school like Jack; all the students seemed to love him. And it was easy to see why; he was a lovable kind of person. “Well, don’t tell him they’re under eighteen,” Holly said under her breath, nodding her head in the direction of Daniel.
    The crowd cheered and Declan took on his moody persona as he lifted his guitar strap over his shoulder. The music started and after that there was no chance of carrying on any kind of conversation. The crowd began to jump up and down, and once too often Holly’s foot was stomped on. Jack just looked at her and laughed, amused at her obvious discomfort. “ Can I get you two a drink? ” Daniel yelled, making a drinking motion with his hand. Jack asked for a pint of Budweiser and Holly settled for a 7UP. They watched Daniel battle through the moshing crowd and climb behind the bar to fix the drinks. He returned minutes later with their drinks and a stool for Holly. They turned their attention back to the stage and watched their brother perform. The music really wasn’t Holly’s type of thing, and it was so loud and noisy it was difficult for her to tell if they were actually any good. It was a far cry from the soothing sounds of her favorite Westlife CD, so perhaps she wasn’t in the right position to judge the Black Strawberries. The name said it all, though, really.
    After four songs Holly had had enough, and she gave Jack a hug and a kiss good-bye. “ Tell Declan I stayed till the end! ” she yelled. “ Nice meeting you, Daniel! Thanks for the drink! ” she screamed and made her way back to civilization and cool fresh air. Her ears continued to ring all the way home in the car. It was ten o’clock by the time she got there. Only two more hours till May. And that meant she could open another envelope.
    Holly sat at her kitchen table nervously drumming her fingers on the wood. She gulped back her third cup of coffee and uncrossed her legs. Staying awake for just two more hours had proved more difficult than she thought; she was obviously still tired from overindulging at her party. She tapped her feet under the table with no particular rhythm, and then crossed her legs again. It was 11:30 P.M. She had the envelope on the table in front of her and she could almost see it sticking its tongue out and singing ‘Na-na