Page 27 of One Night Only
I close my eyes, count to five and mouth every curse word I know before turning around.
They’re both staring at me, Mick with a kindly expression like I’ve lost my mind and Declan… Declan like he’s just seen a ghost.
“And you’ll need to pay for that,” Mick adds.
I glance at the forgotten magazine in my hand.
“Right,” I say. “Sorry.”
I smile my brightest smile and walk briskly up the aisle, my sneakers squeaking with each step.
Declan regards me silently before popping two white tablets into his mouth. I can only imagine how I must look. Probably as bedraggled as I feel.
“Have you met Declan yet, Sarah?” Mick asks when neither of us acknowledges the other. “Paul’s younger brother.”
“We’ve met,” I say, pleased at how normal I sound. I reach the counter and have no choice but to stand beside him. No choice because Declan doesn’t move. He doesn’t give me so much as an inch of breathing space even though he’s already paid and has no reason to remain—and why won’t heleave.
“Just the magazine, is it?”
“Yes,” I mumble, laying it on the counter. Declan shifts beside me and I risk a glance at him to find him staring at the cover. I follow his gaze to issue twelve ofThe Modern Irish Tractor.
Mick at least makes no comment.
“That’ll be two fifty.”
The money is slippery in my hands, gold and silver coins I can no longer make sense of. I hold out my palm numbly and Mick peers into it, taking what’s needed. Even though only a few seconds have passed, the whole transaction seems to take an exceptionally long time. All I can smell is the sickly-sweet scent of Declan’s sports drink.
I should make small talk. I should make small talk and he should make small talk and we should act like adults. If not for us, then for Annie and Paul. But I can’t seem to force any words out. I don’t know why he’s acting so cold. LikeI’mthe one who did something wrong. I stiffen at the thought, annoyed. He’s the one who left me to clean up his mess last night.
Mick dings open the register.
This time when I glance at Declan, I find him watching me.
I snap my eyes back to Mick and grab my new issue ofTractor.
“Nice to meet you,” I say as I spin on my heel. “See you at the wedding.”
“Mind the—”
Declan’s hand shoots out as I slip on the wet floor, grabbing my upper arm with a firm grip as he hauls me upright. Before I can shake him off, he lets go of me and takes another swig of his drink.
“I’ll get some towels,” Mick sighs as I walk more carefully toward the exit.
I step outside and immediately cringe from the roar of the rain overhead. But knowing if I stay, I’ll only make more of an idiot of myself, I let the door swing shut behind me.
The magazine is good for something at least. I hold it above my head, walking as quickly as I can before breaking into a run all the way back to the hotel.
7
The next few days pass by in a blur as I throw myself into the packed itinerary of everything Kilgorm has to offer, determined to distract myself. I power my way through archery, sip attentively at beer tasting and finally succumb to a very long bubble bath in the freestanding tub. I don’t speak to Declan again. I don’t speak to him because I barely see him. He comes briefly to the wedding rehearsal, hitting his marks and saying his lines but other than that he seems to have been let off the hook of any family commitments and appears neither for the activities during the day or the dinners at night. And though no one else remarks on it, it’s noticeable. And I can’t help but think it’s because of me.
It’s only when I corner Annie at lunch one day does she confirm that I’m right.
“He said he’s going to stay in the village to make things easier for you. Youandhim,” she clarifies as we sit in a couple of large leather armchairs in the lounge. She bites into her sandwich and a handful of lettuce and tomato falls to her plate. “Apparently when his mom gets something into her head, she doesn’t let it go. Declan says he doesn’t want to run around after her while she plays matchmaker.”
“Mary and I already cleared the air about that. She said she’d stop.”
“I know but he doesn’t believe her. Paul said he’s not a big fan of family gatherings anyway so it’s not a big deal.” She wipes a dollop of mayonnaise from her chin, looking at me curiously. “Is that okay with you?”
