Page 21 of Dylan
Normally, Aunt Cass and Uncle Joe would let us stay with them. However, we knew the drive would be long and we didn’t want to be a bother.
When I can’t stand under the spray any longer, I wrap a towel around my waist and walk into the bedroom. As exhaustion setsin, my mind continues to race. I sit on the edge of the bed, my thoughts going right back to that girl.
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sleep tonight. Those eyes keep flashing in my mind. What if she was real and that was really Ciara?
I could be walking away from the girl I’ve devoted my life to finding? I run a hand through my damp locks. Frustration fills me as I’m too tired to make sense of any of it.
Do I know you?
Her words have been ringing in my ears on repeat. If that fight hadn’t broken out, I would have told her I believe she does. Her lips, they were the same heart shape I remember.
I wanted to press mine to hers and savor the feeling I’ve been dreaming of for the last twelve years. I groan as I realize how crazy my thoughts sound.
That couldn’t have been her. When I find Ciara, I will know right away it’s her. I’m sure of it.
“Go to bed, Dylan. You have a ton of shit to do when you get back home. You’ll find her soon.” I sigh and go to climb between the sheets to try to get some sleep.
Ciara
“Ugh, my stomach hurts,”Ciarán groans.
“I bet it does. Alice said she made enough cookies for the both of us. A dozen each. Where are my cookies, bro?”
“They were so good and we’re leaving. When am I going to get a chance to have them again?”
“Really, Ciarán?”
He gives me that adorable smile. This kid has me wrapped around his finger. Thankfully, Alice said she knew he would eat mine, so she made me another batch.
“I’m all packed. Can I help you with anything?”
“No, I’m all good. I’ll make you some warm water and lemon so you can go poop those cookies out.”
“You’re the best. I have ninjas in my stomach. I’m never eating that many cookies in one sitting again.”
He stands up from the couch and comes to kiss my cheek. I pull him into a hug and kiss the top of his head. My little brother is going to be much taller than me.
I’m only five two. He’s already about three inches taller than I am. I haven’t forced him to continue training as Theo had.
Ciarán is a good boxer, but he’s not in love with the sport like I am. He’d rather tinker with building things and playing games on his computer. I think it would be different if he started the sport under someone else. Theo tried to force it on him.
“I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you too, Cee.”
I watch as he disappears in the direction of his room. With a smile on my lips, I get up and go into the kitchen to heat up some water for him. My sketch pad on the counter catches my attention.
I place the kettle on the burner and turn it on then go over and open the sketchbook. It opens right to one of the pages of the boy from my dreams. It’s one I used colored pencils to draw.
My mouth falls open as I look into his eyes. The guy from the bar comes to mind. His eyes were a pretty intense blue as well.
I shake my head to clear it as the whistle of the teakettle pulls me back from my musing. I swallow hard and close the book.Some random in a bar has nothing to do with the boy in my dreams.
“You need to go to bed, Cee-Cee. It’s time to start fresh. Ciarán deserves better,” I murmur and turn to fix my brother’s lemon water.
CHAPTER 10
New York
