Page 43 of Ruck Me

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” she replied. “What really happened, Fi?”

“I fucked up,” I answered, the tears I’d thought had dried up springing forth once again.

“Ah, sweetheart. I’m sure that’s nottrue.”

“It is! I picked Declan overhim.”

“Okay, that’s new information,” she replied, her tone softening. “Why don’t you take it from the beginning?”

For the next 10 minutes I explained how I’d ruined everything, ending with, “And now I’ve lost his friendship, too.” My eyes were rimmed in red and my neck was a splotchy mess, but at least I’d finally stopped crying.

“I don’t think that’s true, sweetie. You’ve known Eoin your wholelife.”

“But he hates me!” I sobbed, my tears returning. “He kicked me out of his house.”

“Have you considered that he was hurting too and couldn’t be around you? I’m sorry if this hurts to hear, but maybe your apology wasn’t what Eoin needed. He needed you to choose him. You weren’t going to so what other choice did hehave?”

“I made a mistake.”

“You need to tell him that, notme.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I just don’t know how. I don’t know how to do any ofthis.”

“Come to the match tonight and we’ll go to the reception afterward. I’ll make sure Aidan puts us on the guestlist.”

“Can’t I just call him instead?” I asked, knowing it was the coward’s wayout.

“You could,” she answered, “but you want to do this in person. You owe him thatmuch.”

“I know,” I sighed. “But I look likeshit.”

“You’re gorgeous and you knowit.”

“I cut off all my hair. By myself.”

“You did whatnow?”

“Yup, hacked off my ponytail with a pair of sewing shears. I need to go to the hair salon.”

“There’s no time for that. The match starts in three hours and it takes you an hour to get in from Ballycurra.”

“I’m not taking the train. If this goes poorly, I don’t want to have to wait around for public transportation.”

“So, I’ll meet you at our regularspot?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I sighed with finality.

Like it or not, looking like shit or not, I was doing this. I was going to beg Eoin to give me another chance. I didn’t know what I was going to do about Declan, but I’d cross that bridge when I came toit.

* * *

With the soundof laughter and cheerful ribbing echoing from inside the ballroom, my feet stopped moving, my hand going to my hot pink head. Adding insult to injury, the pink dye I’d hastily applied after getting off the phone with Tanya had gone rogue. What was supposed to have turned out a lovely shade of cotton candy more accurately resembled the fluorescent highlighter at the bottom of my backpack. One thing was for certain, Eoin would have no trouble locating me in the crowd.

“Come on then,” Tanya said, nudging me through the doors, as I scanned the room, searching for my brother.

Reading my mind, Tanya said, “He’s not here. Aidan texted me before arrived to say Declan disappeared after glad-handling the sponsors.” Her eyes skimmed the room quickly, and I knew she was looking for the object of her unrequited affection. “What’s up with Declan, anyhow?” she asked, her chin rising when she spotted Aidan.

“What do you mean?” I asked, watching Aidan’s eyes turn warm when he saw her. Laying a hand on his companion’s shoulder, he stepped away, crossing the room to joinus.

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