Page 41 of An Irish Summer

Then I was crashing into the water, water was up my nose, it felt impossible to figure out which way was up, and it wasn’t until my head broke the surface that I realized I was in Collin’s arms, which was likely how I’d gotten to the surface in the first place.

“I did it!” I shouted entirely too loudly for how close I was to his face.

“Told you you could,” he said, pushing a wet lock of hair out of my eyes. Outside of this moment, that gesture might have stolen the breath from my lungs, but in this case the breath was hardly there in the first place, so it was easy to cope.

“Only you would use my moment of glory to brag,” I said.

“Old habits die hard,” he said. “But you’re right. This was all you. Fair play to ya there, Chelsea.”

“Thank you,” I said. “For your help too, I mean.”

He flicked water into my face, and I was finally able to let out a laugh for real.

“We should probably—”

“Are you two done?” a voice called from the platform. “Or am I going to have to jump right onto your heads?”

“—get out of the way,” Collin was laughing as he finished his thought. We called apologies to the man on the platform, and I wondered how long we’d been floating there and how many others noticed.

Just before the man plunged into the water, I felt Collin’s hands circle my waist once more, pulling me toward him and out of the way. Even under the cool water they were warm, and since they were just out of view of everyone on the sand, the gesture felt more intimate than it should have.

But that didn’t stop me from being disappointed when he let go.

And it didn’t stop me from wondering if those same hands had been on Rhiannon, either.

We swam to the shore, side by side, breathing heavily as we shook water from our hair and rejoined our friends at the bottom of the platform.

“I’m going to give you one more chance,” Flo whispered as Collin caught up with Lars.

“Save it,” I said before she could finish. She tittered and tossed me my clothes, and together we watched the boys rejoin the rest of the guests at the top. Rhiannon included.

“Clock’s ticking,cara,” Flo said, following my gaze. “If you don’t make a move, someone else might.”

“Then it’s a good thing I don’t plan on making a move,” I said.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself,” she said. “Come on. Let’s get back and into the showers before the boys can beat us to it.”

I let her drag me by the arm back to the Promenade, forcing my eyes from where Collin stood with Rhiannon overlooking the sea.

If Flo was right, I worried I really didn’t have much time left. And if everyone else who jumped was right, maybe there was something to be said for taking risks after all.

Chapter 12

Dear Ms. Gold,

We thank you for your application and your interest in the concierge position at Lakeland Inn. We regret to inform you, however—

Damn it. I didn’t even need to read beyond the second line to know what the rest of the email said. Hell, I didn’t even need to read beyond the first.We’ve filled the role, a more qualified candidate, an internal transfer, please keep us in mind in the future, etc. etc.

I leaned across the desk and scratched this job from my list of applications, resisting the urge to rip the entire thing to shreds. I tried to remind myself I still had plenty of time, but it didn’t stop the heat from pricking the back of my eyes.

Since having graduated from college, I’d tried to do everything right. I’d gotten a good job, moved out of my parents’ house, worked hard, and made my bosses proud. And where had it gotten me? Not a single mistake along the way, and forwhat? What was the point of working so hard, or planning my future, if it didn’t even matter in the end?

“Are you Chelsea?”

I looked up from the reception desk at a smiling couple, the ageless kind that looked like they could be in their early twenties or their late forties depending on the lighting.

“I am,” I said. “Is there something I can help you with?”

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