Page 18 of Played By the Fool

My Emilia will be here in a few hours. I can’t wait to see her and hold her in my arms. The last time I saw her in person, I kissed her goodbye. I can still feel her lips on mine.

Ciarán: Hey love, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Do you want to stay at the house with me? If you don’t, I can get you and Kali a room at the hotel

Emilia: You want me to stay with you?

Ciarán: Of course I do

Emilia: Then I’d love to

Ciarán: I can’t wait to hold you. I’ve missed you so damn much

Emilia: I’ve missed you too. We’ll be there in about three hours. Where should we meet you?

Ciarán: In town. We can meet at Precious Risings Bakery. I’ll be waiting

Three hours is dragging by like it’s three days. And the closer it gets, the more anxious I get.

“Are you okay?” Aisling asks.

I turn to look at her and she’s got a smirk on her face. I squint at her.

“Shush. I’m fine.”

My sisters start laughing. This is one of those times when I wish I was an only child. I look over at my brother and he’s snickering. Where’s the brotherly loyalty? Not here.

“You all need to be quiet.” I roll my eyes.

“Aww. Don’t worry baby brother, we’re on your side.”

Áine can’t even say that with a straight face.

I sigh and turn my back on all of them. For now? I’m an only child.

“You can’t ignore us. We’re like those voices in your head thatnever stop talking,” Aisling whispers.

“You sound like my kids.” Caitríona laughs. “Even now that they’re parents themselves, they still do this to each other. We’re definitely family.”

“We’ve never seen Ciarán like this. He looks like a little kid waiting for Christmas.” Aisling laughs.

“Love can make you do crazy things,” Giacomo Bastianini says as he kisses Caitríona.

It seems like this true love, soulmate thing runs in our family. I’ve met quite a few couples since being here that have met their person. And their stories are like mine. That instant attraction, that feeling of MINE.

“It’s only been a few weeks since I’ve hugged Emilia. But it feels like it’s been so much longer. How do any of you spend any time away from each other?”

“It’s simple. We don’t. At least not if we can help it. We do most things together,” my cousin Francesco says as he’s holding his wife and daughter.

That’s what I want. I want the family that so many of them have. I hope Emilia feels the same way I do. We’ve talked about what will happen when I go back to Ireland. But we’ll find a way to make it work. My first step is introducing her to my family here. Then, I want to meet her family before I go back to Ireland. Then we plan my move. Unless Emilia wants to move to Ireland. But I don’t think she will, she has her family here and I don’t mind moving to Lake Renegade. Especially if that means I get to spend the rest of my life with Emilia.

“She’s here.” Fionn smiles at me.

I stand up and walk outside the bakery. I see Kali parking and my Emilia is waving at me from the passenger seat. I walk over to the car and open the door for her. Before she can fully step out, I pick her up to hold her.

“I can’t believe you’re finally here. In my arms,” I say softly as I put her down and kiss her. She moans softly as she kisses me.

“I love being in your arms,” she whispers.

“Okay, it’s our turn to say hi,” Áine teases us.

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