Page 102 of Twist of Fate
“Well, it is all sort ofodd—how she ended up working for your family business.”
I admit, it’s completely mental. But that’s been the definition of our relationship from the very beginning. I don’t know how we keep running into each other over and over, but Ash is right. We are idiots to keep ignoring it.
And I’m an even bigger idiot thinking I’m going to be able to walk away.
“Her mother’s last wish was for her to spread her ashes in Ireland,” I explain, recounting what Ash told me the other night. I drew a bath and held her as she spoke about her mother’s illness and the months after she passed away. “She thought taking a tour to remember her mom would be a good way to do that. When she went on the website to book it, she ended up on the employment page, and well?—”
“Damn,” Niall breathes out. “That’s crazy. And she had no idea you were?—”
I shake my head. “Given how I left things, I doubt she would ever step foot on an O’Connell bus again if she knew.”
“That’s bonkers.” Damien shakes his head. “I’ve heard some mad stories, but that one—” He suddenly stops, with his pint halfway to his lips, and turns to Rian. “Wait. Did you know?”
Rian just grins.
“So, when we all gathered at that pub that night, did you already know each other?”
“Not exactly,” Rian shrugs. “Ash and I had never met in person before, but we weren’t strangers. I was very much aware of her—” He pauses mid-sentence as his eyes drift to the bar where a tall redhead stands. She turns, catches him staring, and offers a coy smile. His face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I think I’m needed elsewhere.” He then turns to Niall and gestures toward the woman next to her. “Looks like she has a friend. Want to join me?”
“Fuck, yes.”
I turn back to Damien and sigh. “He honestly lasted longer than I thought he would.”
“Sweet of him to take Niall under his wing.” He laughs. “That guy needs a good shag.”
I glance over just in time to see Rian and Niall hitting it off with the redhead and her friend. Rian leans against the bar while she gazes dreamily into his eyes. Though he may be a tech nerd, he has an ego and good looks. Plus, he’s rich. He’s never had trouble attracting women. Niall isn’t doing half bad either, as the brunette tilts her head back and laughs at something he said.
“Looks like he’s well on his way.”
“Cheers to that.”
“Sláinte.” We clink our glasses and laugh. I glance at Ash and meet her gaze. Her cheeks are pink from the sip of wine she indulged in. The hue reminds me of how flushed she gets when she’s panting beneath me.
And now I’m shifting in my seat. Grand.
She smirks as if she knows exactly how much she affects me.
“Hey, I’m sorry for Niall and me interrogating you earlier.”
I scoff. “You consider that an interrogation?”
“Well, we kept it a bit light. You are our boss.”
I let out a laugh. “Fair, but I appreciate it—the interrogation, I mean. Ash deserves friends who genuinely care about her and look out for her, even from me.”
“You’re a good guy, Finn.”
I don’t respond because sometimes I’m unsure. Have I done anything in my life that warrants the title? I’ve certainly done a lot of foolish, selfish shite. But good? I’m not so sure.
“You mentioned that Ash’s mom wanted her ashes scattered?”
I nod, feeling a tightness in my chest. The night she told me, she had sobbed in my arms for what felt like an eternity, and I hated myself for it. For leaving her. For not being there when she needed me.
And then I hated myself all over for knowing I’d have to do it all over again.
“Has she done it?” he asks cautiously. When I thought about how this night would go, I never imagined I’d be sitting in a speakeasy, listening to live jazz, discussing my girlfriend’s deceased mother.
“Ah, no,” I respond curtly, because I’m not entirely sure why he’s bringing this up, here of all places. “She hasn’t been in the right frame of mind, I think. And I’m not sure she’s picked out a place.”
