Chapter 26
twenty-six
BéBHINN
“Come on, man. A handshake. Really? You helped me through the scariest night of my life, and I don’t mean the snowstorm. Give me a hug, you big brute, and mean it.”
Air whooshed out of her lungs when he did as she commanded, lifting her until her toes barely touched the pavement and crushing her to his chest.
The thump of his heart against her ear was Heaven and over all too soon. Once her heels touched the ground, she forced herself to take a step back.
Looking up into Dagr’s serious, intense expression had her stomach flexing. “Come on, Dagr. A hug shouldn’t put that look on your face,” she teased, when in reality, she was shriveling from embarrassment.
He made it clear that he considered her a friend, not girlfriend potential. She went and made it awkward. Damnit! Though he was the one who took the hug from casual to “I don’t want you to leave.” Confusing, after the friend comment.
He didn’t comment on the hug, moving past it with, “If you leave now, you’ll easily catch the four o’clock ferry.”
Ouch. She was pretty sure she’d just been dismissed. “Oh, right. Sure. I’ll get out of your hair, then.” She opened her Jeep door and slightly hopped to reach the seat before shutting herself in. Flicking the window button down, she waved as she backed out of her parking spot. “Safe travels, Dagr.”
She took several deep breaths as she left the park station, refusing to look in her rearview mirror to see if he was watching her drive away.
An hour later, Bébhinn was walking across the ferry’s deck to make her way inside and hopefully grab a drink and a calorie-laden cheeseburger before starting the arduous task of returning the innumerable texts from her friends.
She kept trying to get her elation back to what it had felt like to complete her first crazy solo hike, but her brain was stubbornly stuck on Dagr Griffiths.
She sat at the same table she’d occupied the first time and dug into her burger while she opened her texts. She’d called her mom on the drive to Holyhead. She would let her sisters, Bran, and Patrick know that Bébhinn was on her way home and would see everyone tomorrow for a mandatory family lunch.
She pulled up her friends’ group chat, Devils & Angels.
Daniel: I hope that prick with the sat phone kept his hands to himself, B.
Jonathan: Dad said he looked him up, and he is who he said. Still, when he saw that it was only Bébhinn in that cave, he should have bailed.
Mags: Love that you two think Bébhinn needs or wants your opinions.
Bébhinn grinned at the support.
Gray: I have a hot date tonight. Tall, dark, and Nigerian. I might be in love. Wish me luck.
Daniel: Has your dad vetted him yet?
Gray: Jesus, Daniel, you’re annoying. Blair—you never told me if you want to go on a double with us.
Mags: If I weren’t visiting my parents, I’d go. Your guy’s friend is a smoke show. I just found out the guy I’m seeing doesn’t read, AND he called my embroidery cute. Idiot. You should go, Blair, and stop fiddling with those Bell things.
Blair: Nettle-leaved Bellflower. Campanula trachelium, to be exact, and it will be part of my thesis. They’ll go extinct without help.
Mags: Which isn’t happening until next year!
Blair: Exactly! I don’t have time to waste on going out with someone I’ll never see again.
Gray: When I get home, I’ll help you babysit your green babies. Dad said he didn’t want you sleeping in the back garden anymore.
She laughed, knowing the rant that was sure to follow that comment.
Mags: I swear to God, between Uncle Colly and your dad, Gray, I’m going to lose my shit. I’m going to invite our sister to visit. Mirren is excellent at finding their hidden cameras. I’m tired of those two overprotective wingnuts spying on us.
Ciar: You girls need spying on.
Mags: And with that, I’m out.
Gray: Off to work.
Blair: See you soon, Bébhinn.
That conversation had taken place the night before. Her friends wouldn’t have been worried because her mom would have let them know she was safe. She was about to text the group when her phone dinged.
Ciar: Hey, Bébhinn. Figured you’re on the ferry. I forgot to tell you that Uncle Cormac and I are throwing my old man a birthday party tomorrow night at the pub. Hope you can make it.
She sighed. She would prefer not to go out, but she would never miss something to do with Ciar’s family.
Bébhinn: Sounds like fun. Maybe the girls and I can make his favorite soda bread biscuits with extra currants.
Blair: We knew you’d say that and made up a big batch today.
Gray: We knew you had a family lunch and would be tired. We put your name on it.
Mags: We even made a small tin for Ciar since they’re his favorite too.
Ciar: Damn. Score! I’m not sharing with my roommates.
Daniel: Dick.
Jonathan: I’ll ask Auntie Raven to make me some. Mom should never attempt baking.
Daniel: I want some, too, since it’s MY mom making them.
Bébhinn: Thanks, guys. I am worn out. BUT I DID IT! See you all soon.
Before she could add anything else, her phone pinged again but not from the group chat.
“No way,” she said, sipping her iced tea and staring at the name on her screen.
She almost didn’t want to open it in case it was bad news like, “Hey, glad we shared a cave, but lose my number,” or something equally as bad.
Dagr: Did you make it to the ferry on time? I just got to my flat in Carmarthenshire. I’m meeting Dad for dinner and then heading to London tomorrow.
Devastation avoided. He wasn’t friendship breaking up with her. She couldn’t explain it, but meeting Dagr Griffiths felt destined, and even if he wasn’t interested in her the way she wished, friendship was enough. It would be nice to have a friend that no one else knew.
Who knew she’d be so drawn to an older man. Maybe she was more like her mother than she thought. She needed to play this cool. She didn’t believe he was interested in her the same way—though she hoped she might grow on him—so she couldn’t scare him off with being too exuberant at hearing from him.
Bébhinn: I made it.