While Rory was in Dublin, grieving her father's death, she hooked up with Malachy, a lovable starving artist. At the end of their one day together, they wrote a contract on the back of a napkin stating that should they ever meet again, both would drop everything and be together. Eight years later, Rory has a photography job she likes, a boyfriend she likes, an entire Manhattan life she likes and then she meets up with Mal again. This time, he's not a starving artist, he's a world-recognized superstar.