Page 119 of The Rebound
“He’s not a wizard, Andrew.”
“It’s fine,” Cormac says. “We get that a lot. I’ll just go get my things.”
“Yes. Great, off you go.” Andrew sighs, irritable, as Cormac the Druid heads to his car.
“You should have hired the guy you got to play the Easter bunny,” I say.
He shoots me an exasperated look. “I thought you were just visiting.”
“I’m staying a little longer.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I’d like to start seeing you at our Tidy Towns committee meeting. I need everyone in this village to pull their weight this year. Those good-for-nothings in Knockshannon think that just because—”
“Andrew?” I interrupt, nodding toward the street. “I think your Druid is parked illegally.”
“What? Oh, for the love of— you can’t park there!” he calls, hurrying after him. “The buses need to turn! They need toturn!”
I reach for my phone to take a picture of them only to yelp as familiar hands land heavy on my hips.
“There you are.”
I twist around, Luke’s arms sliding with me until he’s almost embracing me. His hair is already growing back from his recent cut, but he shaved earlier, his face smooth and tanned from the summer sun.
“You look like you’re in an advert for orange juice,” I tell him.
“Excuse me?”
“Fresh white shirt, smiling healthy man. Orange juice.”
“You say like it an accusation.”
“Or laundry detergent.”
He laughs, pulling me closer. “I think you look nice too.”
“Yeah?” I glance down at my yellow sundress. I even wore my black strappy heels for the occasion. “I’m the sun.”
“You’re perfect.”
“And you’re supposed to be studying,” I say.
“My brain is fried. I spent twenty minutes looking for a book before I found it in the fridge. Did I miss the party?”
“The Druid’s just about to plant the tree.”
“The Druid?”
“Andrew hired a Druid. He drives a Honda. He doesnotwear a cloak.”
“See? Who needs big-city lights?”
“They don’t know what they’re missing.” I hesitate as he smiles down at me. “Luke—”
“No,” he says. “I can’t. I’ve barely seen you in days and I need a break. At least let’s watch a movie. Beth’s in Connemara for her cousin’s birthday. It’s just us.”
I waiver, looking back to the party, but the idea of spending more time with him is too strong. It’s only been forty-eight hours but it might as well have been months with how much I miss him already.
“Okay,” I say. “If you’re sure you don’t have to study.”
