Page 24 of One Night Only
She fidgets with a brooch on her jacket, still looking a little ashamed. “I thought if you two sat at that table you’d only want to talk to each other. Not that there’s anything wrong with Trevor,” she adds hastily. “It’s only that he can be very insistent when he gets talking about politics. And Eileen, she’s my second cousin on my father’s side, you wouldn’t find the likes of her on my mother’s side but that’s a whole different story. Now, she isn’t too fond of—”
“It was a clever plan,” I interrupt. “And I’m sure it would have worked if we didn’t already…know each other.”
“You’re not angry with me?”
“I was surprised. That’s all.”
She smiles, relieved. “Well, then,” she says. “I guess, that’s that.”
“It is,” I say firmly and she inclines her head, showing she understands. No more matchmaking.
“It’s probably for the best,” she adds as I follow her up the narrow stairwell. “Although if I may ask, did you and Declan not get on or…” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Was he not very good?”
I stumble on the step, almost falling flat on my face.
“In bed, I mean.”
“I understand,” I say hastily. I’m grateful she’s ahead of me and can’t see my blush. “I’m just…I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”
“Ah.” She sounds glum. “Focusing on your career.”
“It’s not that, I—”
“Ladies?” The guide appears halfway down with a matronly look on her face. “Let’s all keep together if we can. The steps are very steep.”
“Coming, coming,” Mary says and thankfully seems to forget our conversation as we reach the next floor. There’s more sunlight here and I soon see why as half the wall is missing, the stones crumbling into nothing. The rest of the group is standing precariously close to the edge, taking pictures. I ignore them, sticking to the stairs, and try to catch Annie’s eye, but it’s Connor who’s waiting for me.
He smiles as soon as I appear and breaks away from the group.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he says, gesturing to the view as the rest of the party shuffles into the next room. He doesn’t seem to notice the sheer drop to the bottom. I get a funny feeling in the back of my knees as he leans over the edge.
“Come see.”
I stay where I am. “I’m not great with heights.”
“It’s not too high.”
“High enough for me.”
He laughs. “I’m pretty sure they have taller buildings than this in New York.”
“They do. With concrete walls and finished ceilings and glass windows several inches thick.”
Connor seems disappointed, no doubt imagining us side by side, gazing out over the vista, but I turn to join the rest of the group, sticking firmly to the walls until we’re back on terra firma. Never have I been more grateful for mud. But that feeling vanishes as soon as I take one look at the bus and know I’m a doomed woman.
“I think I’m going to walk back,” I announce as the others start to board. “I need the air.”
“It’s too far,” Annie protests.
“It’s forty minutes.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
I shake my head. “You’ll be late for the hairdresser.”
“Then maybe Connor—”
“No,” I say firmly. “I’m a big girl and it’s one long road. It’s not like I’m going to get lost.”
