Page 113 of Quiet Longing

It was nearing the end of the month, which meant Maeve, Barry, and I were holed up finalising payroll. By the time I got a chance to think about lunch on Friday, I was famished and craving one of the delicious sandwiches they made in the hotel restaurant. Deciding to treat myself, I headed out to make a to-go order so I could bring it back to my desk and work while I ate.

I went straight to the counter and put my order in. The girl on duty said it would be about fifteen minutes, so I nodded, perched on a stool, and pulled out my phone to catch upon emails. I’d just started scrolling through my inbox when a familiar voice called, “Charli, hello!”

I lifted my head and found Maggie seated at a nearby table. I hadn’t seen her since the day we’d shared lunch with Rhys and Shay a couple weeks ago.

“Maggie, how nice to see you again,” I replied, standing and stepping over to her table. She sat across from a handsome blond man who I estimated was a couple years older than her. He wore an expensive looking suit and was cleanly shaven. I had a hunch this was the half brother she’d mentioned the last time we’d met, the one she’d tried setting me up with.

I had to admit, if I wasn’t dealing with a bunch of intense and poorly timed feelings for Rhys, I might’ve been interested. Maggie’s brother hadn’t spoken yet, but he displayed confident body language, and there was an intelligent look in his eyes that was very attractive.

“You, too. This is my half brother, Jonathan,” she introduced. “Jonathan, Charli.”

“Nice to meet you, Jonathan,” I said with a polite smile and a nod.

“And you, Charli,” he responded in a low voice as he took me in from top to toe before his gaze settled back on my eyes.

“We’re just here to meet Shay for lunch,” Maggie said. “He seems to be running late, but you’re welcome to join us if you’re planning on eating. We have an extra seat.”

“Oh, I’m just waiting on a to-go order,” I said.

“Sit with us while you wait, then,” Maggie went on, motioning to the seat next to her and across from Jonathan.

I was eager to get my food and return to the office, but it felt rude to decline, so I nodded and took a seat.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to change your order and eat in?” Maggie asked. “This is such a nice table.”

“I would, but I’m planning to work through lunch today. It’s been a busy week for us in the accounts office, so I have to get back.”

Maggie made a sad face. “That’s too bad. I really enjoyed your company the last time we had lunch, and this one keeps telling me I need to make more female friends.”

“I just said you and Shay spend so much time together you’re in danger of becoming one another’s best friends, which can’t be healthy for the relationship,” Jonathan interjected.

“You’re just salty because you’re single,” Maggie shot back.

“Happily single,” Jonathan retorted, and their good natured back and forth made me smile. Rhys mentioned they’d only discovered they were related last year, but they had their sibling banter perfected already.

“My cousin, Nuala, and I are thinking of going to a resort in Spain this summer for a ladies’ vacation. You can come with us if you like?” I offered because I was in desperate need of more female friends, too, and Maggie seemed nice and super chill. Plus, Rhys seemed to like her a lot, and I trusted his judgment.

“Really? That sounds amazing,” Maggie said, taken aback by the offer. Jonathan cast me a smile like he appreciated me being kind to his sister.

“You should go. When’s the last time you let yourself take a trip?” he encouraged.

Maggie playfully narrowed her gaze at him. “You know good and well I’ve never been abroad. I don’t even have a passport.”

“All the more reason for you to throw caution to the wind,” Jonathan told her. “Besides, you’ve more than enough time to apply for a passport.”

Maggie looked to me. “I’ve only met Nuala a few times. Are you sure she’d be okay with me tagging along?”

“Of course. Nuala’s a more-the-merrier sort of person. Here, let’s exchange numbers so I can keep you updated. We still haven’t decided on our exact destination yet.”

“Sure,” she replied, looking genuinely excited, and there was something so pure about the reaction that warmed my heart and made me glad I’d impulsively made the offer. After we exchanged numbers, she frowned at the time on her phone.

“I’m really starting to worry about what’s holding up Shay. I’m just going to see if I can find him.”

“Sure,” I said then found myself alone at the table with Jonathan.

“That was very kind of you,” he said, his blue eyes, so pale they were almost grey, appraising me.

“It was nothing. I like Maggie.”

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