Page 21 of Knot My Luck

“Right,” Josh nods, clearly thinking it’s not a big deal. “Well, if you do see him, tell him he’s needed. I’m sure he’s somewhere causing trouble as usual.”

I force a smile, nodding, but my thoughts drift straight back to Devlin. Ihaveto see her. She’s here somewhere, I know it. I can’t let her slip away again.

The last time we spoke, I wasn’t brave enough to fight for us. I was stupid, thinking I needed to follow the plan, the one everyone expected. But every day since, all I’ve thought about is what I threw away. And now...she’s here. Right in front of me, somewhere, and I can’t find her.

My hand tightens around the glass of whisky in my hand, the warmth from the alcohol doing nothing to settle the storm brewing in my gut.

I make a beeline for the bar, hoping that maybe – just maybe – she’ll be there, but my heart sinks when I don’t see her. I push through the crowd, looking desperately for any sign of her.

But nothing. She’s gone. Again.

I pull my phone from my pocket and shoot Lorcan a quick text.Where the hell are you?I’m running out of options here.

The response comes quickly:Taking care of something. Stall the speeches for a bit.

I frown at the screen, trying to make sense of his cryptic reply. Taking care of something? What the hell could that mean? I know Lorcan’s a man of few words, but this is pushing it.

Frustration bubbles up inside me, and I clench my jaw. What’s more important than being here? The whole thing is supposed to be wrapping up soon, and I still haven’t found her. I can’t just stand here waiting while she –God, why can’t I focus?!

I glance over at Tadhg, my twin, who’s standing at the other end of the bar chatting with some of the guests. He’s a calming presence, and right now, I need that more than anything.

I walk over to him, trying to mask the urgency clawing at my insides.

“Tadhg,” I say, cutting through the chatter, my tone sharper than I intend. “Lorcan’s gone off to deal with something, and he told me to stall the speeches. I don’t know what the hell he’s doing, but I need help.”

He raises an eyebrow, sensing the tension in my voice. “What’s going on, Cathal? You look like you’re about to lose it.”

“I can’t find her,” I admit, my frustration pouring out. “She’s here somewhere, and I...I need to talk to her.”

Tadhg doesn’t need any more explanation. He knows. He’s always known how much Devlin meant to me. Hell, he’s the one who watched me fall apart when we walked away.

“You’re not the only one looking for her,” he says, his voice calm but laced with something I can’t quite pinpoint. “But if Lorcan’s dealing with something, we’ll have to hold tight a bit longer.”

I glance around the room again, helpless. “I’ve already waited too long. What if she leaves before I get the chance to fix things?”

Tadhg sighs and places a hand on my shoulder. “You won’t get another shot unless you calm down and figure out how to handle it. Running around like this isn’t helping anyone, least of all you. You need a plan in place for when you do see her anyway, so take a breath and have a moment.”

He’s right, of course. But the thought of losing her again...it tightens my chest.

I nod, pushing away the panic, trying to hold it together. “I’ll wait. Just...keep an eye out for me.”

He gives me a reassuring smile. “You got it.”

As he turns to speak to someone else, I grab my phone again, checking the time. Lorcan’s still nowhere to be found. I just need a damn break –and her.

FOUR

Tadhg

I glance at Cathal as he storms off, the frustration radiating off him like heat. He’s restless, torn between staying here and hunting for her. I can feel the tension rolling through the air, a storm waiting to break.

I pull out my phone, shooting a quick message to Lorcan.

What’s going on? Where are you?

The response comes almost immediately:

Are you with Cathal?

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