Page 72 of Verses Of Us

“That’s not my date,” he chuckled, his eyes glued to her. “That’s my sister.”

“Oh.” The remnants of her tart became mesmerising, and Alexis stabbed her fork into it.

“How long is not long?” he asked. She looked up, confused. “You said you weren’t here long.” He propped his chin on his hands, his penetrating gaze disarming. “I’d love to take you out for a drink or something. To catch up.”

“Oh,” she repeated, hating her monosyllabic replies, but she worried anything more might open a can of worms. “Thanks, but I can’t. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

A deep, disappointed frown transformed his optimistic face, and he nodded, wringing his hands together. “That’s too bad.”

He sat up. Her traitorous eyes skimmed over his appearance. Tanned, his skin was smooth but well-hidden behind his beard. The space around his eyes was a bit more drawn and the thin lines that had always hinted at the corners were deeper, more pronounced. He’d aged, but well. She ran a quick calculation. He was forty-three. Ciarán looked great for forty-three. Better than he did in his twenties. Or maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

She glanced back, searching for Julie, spotting her at the bar, chatting with a tall man with tattoos.

“And what are you doing after dinner? Why don’t I order another bottle and we can top you—”

“Ciarán, you’ve had fifteen years to catch up.” Her voice sounded hoarse, insecure, and she hid behind another sip of wine.

“Fifteen years…” he whispered, as if confirming something to himself.

Julie returned, cheerful, but sensed the tension rolling between them and halted in her steps.

“I’ve paid the bill,” she said to Alexis. “Whenever you’re ready to go…”

Grateful for her friend’s impeccable timing, Alexis knew if she didn’t leave now, it would only get harder.

“Well, it was nice seeing you, Ciarán.”

She put her coat on, then reached for Julie’s, which hung on the back of the other chair. Ciarán pulled away only enough to let her take it, then stood up. It was impossible, but he seemed larger. From up close, with his frame mere centimetres away, their connection returned.

Her eyes swept up his body. He stared down at her, giving her a closer look at his face—a face that reflected a life well-lived, but filled with harshness, too. Faint white hairs blended with the brown beard on his chin. The slight darkness under his eyes didn’t affect the blue hues in them and didn’t stop the corners from crinkling the way they used to. Those eyes, the ones she’d fallen so deeply into. The ones that had cut her deep. Deeper than anyone before or since.

“Take care, Lex.”

Without missing a beat, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, stealing her breath as he walked away. He returned to his table across the restaurant and she urged her feet to flee before she revealed her emotions to an entire establishment of strangers.

The tepid summer night hit her the second she stepped out, gasping.

“Woah, that was… what was that?” Julie was by her side, rubbing her back. Alexis fought the urge to keel over and grip her knees. “By the looks of things, I’m guessing you didn’t get your closure, did you?”

Irritated, Alexis glanced at her friend, then shook her head and pressed her lips together. “No, Jules. I didn’t.”

When her legs gained more strength, she stepped to the curb and hailed a taxi.

“Oh shit, I forgot something inside.”

Before Alexis could ask, Julie was running back into the restaurant. Alone, and growing cold even with the heat, Alexis wrapped her arms around herself.

Julie returned a few minutes later, out of breath and wearing a smile. “Sorry. Let’s go.”

“What did you forget?”

“My coat.”

Alexis glared at her as Julie stepped into the awaiting cab. “I gave you your coat before we left.”

“Exactly.” Julie laughed and smacked her forehead. “I’ve had way too much wine.”

Suspicion gnawed at her insides. Julie was up to something, and Alexis prayed it wasn’t something she’d regret.

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