Page 38 of Bound By Darkness

I laugh, hugging her back.“Told you I wouldn’t stand you up.”

She pulls back, giving me an exaggerated glare.“Yeah, after about a million,I swear I’ll visit soon texts,I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.And video chats don’t count, you know.I need the real Aoife experience.”

“I don’t think it was quite a million,” I say with a smirk.

“Come on, lunch is ready,” she says, looping her arm through mine and steering me toward the door.

The moment we step inside, the warm, savory aroma of butter and scallions fills the air, rich and comforting.It’s the kind of scent that wraps around you, making the entire apartment feel like a hug.There’s a faint hint of salt and cream in the mix, and my stomach growls in anticipation.

“You made champ?”I ask, grinning as I drop my bag near the couch.

“Of course,” she says, puffing up with mock pride.“It’s an Erin specialty.Potato perfection, thank you very much.”

A pot of mashed potatoes sits on the stove, still steaming.Fresh rolls rest on a cutting board nearby, their golden crust dusted lightly with flour.Two plates and cutlery are already laid out on the small table.

“Help yourself,” Erin says, gesturing toward the pot.

I scoop a generous helping of champ onto my plate, the creamy texture practically inviting me to dive in.The smell of the buttery scallions wafts up as I serve myself, making my stomach rumble again.

“Don’t hog all the butter,” Erin says, nudging me with her hip as she grabs a roll.

“Can’t make any promises,” I reply, but the laughter between us makes everything feel light and comfortable.

While we eat, Erin peppers me with questions, zeroing in on one location in particular.“Okay, so, the Maldives,” she begins.“You said it was going to be a quick layover before you went back to Paris.But you stayed for almost two months.”She raises an eyebrow.“Anytime I ask about it, you barely tell me anything.What gives?”

I shrug, taking a bite of champ to buy myself a second.“What’s there to tell?White sand, blue water, postcard perfection.Just as amazing as I imagined.”

Her eyes narrow, and she sets down her fork.“Uh-huh.You went from sending me constant updates, pictures of your meals, your beach reads, and even random sunrises to radio silence halfway through.Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened,” I say too fast.“I decided to take advantage of island life and unplug for a bit instead of documenting every second of it.”

She arches an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.“The queen oflook at this amazing viewphotos wanted to unplug?”

I laugh, keeping my tone light.“Even queens need a break sometimes.”

“Right,” she says, drawing out the word, her eyes narrowing as suspicion settles in her gaze.

I deflect with a joke, pointing at her plate.“You’re going to overthink this so much you’ll forget to finish your champ.That would be a tragedy.”

“Fine,” she says, rolling her eyes, but picks up her fork again.“But I will get the full story eventually.”

“Good luck with that,” I say, taking another bite and steering the conversation to safer territory.

The afternoon passes in a haze of laughter and stories, the kind of easy companionship I hadn’t realized I’d missed.By the time Erin’s boyfriend, Ryan, arrives, the apartment is alive with warmth and energy.

Ryan is tall and broad-shouldered.His solid, athletic build, paired with an easygoing smile, immediately puts me at ease.Beside him stands another man, slightly shorter but no less imposing, with sandy hair and sharp blue eyes that seem to take everything in.He carries himself with quiet confidence, his presence calm but undeniably self-assured.

Erin ushers them in, all smiles.“Aoife, you remember Ryan.And this is Shane, his flatmate.I thought you might appreciate some extra company tonight,” she adds.

I shoot her a look that sayswe’ll talk about this laterbut manage a polite smile for Shane.“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” he says, flashing me a smile that reveals a faint dimple.

Before I can say much else, Erin grabs her purse, announcing, “Let’s get moving.I refuse to be late to my own party.”

Ryan laughs, shaking his head as he follows her out the door.

Shane and I trail behind, his gaze briefly meeting mine before he looks away without a word. When we reach the car, Ryan takes the driver’s seat, and Erin slides into the passenger side.I hesitate for a split second before climbing into the back.

---