Page 131 of Twist of Fate
“What? Fuck no, we’re not happy at all. We want details, right, Niall?” Niall nods eagerly. They’re children, both of them. “Did you kiss? Was it like extra hot cause it was forbidden? Oh my god, please tell me you let him ride you on that bus.”
This is why I should have never introduced Shea to romance novels. Now, she’s hooked. She recommended a dark romance to me the other day that even had me blushing.
“On the bus, Shea? Are you kidding? When? When would we have time for that?”
“Uh, when it’s parked. Duh.”
Okay, she has a point, I guess. “No, we didn’t.” I roll my eyes. I can’t say it. The Irish and their weird ass slang. “We never hooked up. Finn kept it professional…” My voice trails off. “Mostly.”
“What’s that? You got a bit quiet there at the end.”
“We may have kissed.”
“Knew it!” Shea and Niall fist-bump as if their favorite team just scored a goal. “Remember, I used to know what he was like before he turned into the saintly tour guide.”
Saintly? Sure. I snicker to myself, recalling all the unholy things Finn did to me last night.
“Plus,” Niall adds, “you guys have been at it like horny bunnies in the office for months. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that he might have stolen a kiss or two when he wasn’t supposed to.”
Are all friends like this? I’m a little out of practice, so I can’t remember.
The other day, when we went out for drinks, Shea and Damien had a lengthy discussion on the art of cunnilingus. He just sat there, wide-eyed, as Shea offered him pointers and even provided a visual demonstration.
At that point, I buried my head in my hands and started laughing my ass off. Because I think my friends are kind of weird. I also think I love it.
And that makes the idea of leaving ten times harder.
“It was only once,” I quickly add as if I’m trying to safeguard his virtue. “And it happened on the last day.”
“See? Just couldn’t help himself.” Niall grins. “Nice.”
“Don’t say it like that.” Shea shakes her head, giving his shoulder a playful shove. Niall chuckles, and I can’t help but appreciate the bond they’ve formed over the past six months. They couldn’t look more different standing next to each other, with Shea’s black-on-black vibe and Niall’s preppy, boy-next-door style. “You sound pervy.”
“So, that’s it? Just one kiss, and you went back home? I gotta tell you, I was hoping for more. I thought this was a grand, epic love story.”
I start to answer him, but Shea interrupts. “Nora is here!”
We all turn our heads as our boss arrives. The crowd is growing. Since this is a private event, we each invited a few extra people from work in hopes of filling the room and covering a few key guests.
“Should we go say hi?” Shea asks.
I bite at my lip. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know,” she answers honestly. “On one hand, yes. But also, no? What if it’s bad news? I’m already feeling nervous enough.”
I place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I doubt it will be bad news. You and Niall are shoo-ins. She’d be an idiot not to choose you.”
All four of us have been agonizing over this for days, even since we got wind that our team would most likely be cut down. The idea that I won’t be working with Damien, Shea, and Niall every day is heartbreaking.
What’s more heartbreaking, though, is the thought that I could be out of a job. Without a job, I don’t have a reason to stay in the country.
If I don’t have a reason to stay in the country, then I have to leave—my friends, my flat. Finn.
I could apply for a six-month travel visa, but once it’s up, then what?
She offers me a sympathetic smile, as if she’s reading my depressing thoughts. “I hate this.”
“I know. Me too.”
