“Like what?”
Beth raised one eyebrow and put her hand on her hip in reply. All she left out was tapping her rhinestone buckled foot.
No matter how sorry Aidan was, and he was sorry all the way down to his toes, he couldn’t stop the hurtful, and if he would get real, jealous, words flying at top speed from his lips. “Fine! The other day you said you were miserable and leaving so obviously you move pretty fast! So you must be having a good time now!”
Beth’s eyes grew wide and dark as she leaned in, scolding him. “I do not! Roan invited me and I said yes! I’ve never been out with him before or anybody else here!” Why was she defending herself? No matter, she wasn’t finished. How dare he! “And you wouldn’t know a good time if it fell on your head!” Whoa! Where did that come from?
Her sudden outburst turned him on. Beth had all but stomped her foot when she said it and Aidan had to fight the smirk that wanted so badly to curl. He cleared his throat and softened his tone. Beth really was painfully adorable when she got angry. “I seem to bring out the worst in you.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.” Any other time she would have been mortified at her outburst but all she could think was how satisfying it was to drop the gauntlet.
“It’s all right, I had that coming. I’m sorry too. Can we be friends?”
She avoided making eye contact and instead, stared at the twinkling fairy lights draped in the splendid vase of white with the palest of pink and peach roses displayed on the sideboard in front of them.
“Come on. Please?” He stuck out his bottom lip. Sure, it was childish but he was desperate and would pull any straw necessary to get her forgiveness. “Just think, you would be friends with your favorite author.”
“Your ranking is quickly declining.” She clamped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry! I don’t know why I said that either!”
“Like I said, I bring out the worst in you.” He smirked and she grinned. “I’m sorry your flight got cancelled.”
She nearly said, “Why, because you want me gone so badly?” but the puppy-dog face he was now giving her was too pitiful for words. She couldn’t stay mad at that face. “Of course, we can be friends.” Not that it mattered, really. After this, she wouldn’t ever see him again. So why not part on good terms? Beth exhaled and leaned back, shoulder to shoulder, against the wall beside Aidan, her purse dangling between her knees.
“The bride is my sister,” he said in an easier tone.
“If you must know, Roan is my landlord.”
Oh, right. Aidan forgot. Now, if it were possible, he was even more sorry.
He shared a look with Beth. Of all the towns in all of Ireland …
Seeing Aidan calm down, Beth relaxed. “I’m here because Roan needed a date, and he’s nice, and I kind of owe him.”
“Why do you owe him?”
Beth looked sideways to all of the guests, smiling, dancing, dressed in their party clothes and pursed her lips. “It was an accident,” she muttered. With her it always was. “I sort of hit him with my car.”
Oh,thatkind of accident! A Bethany Anne Spinner Ride or Die accident. Just as Aidan’s jaw dropped open, Roan appeared, cautiously, carrying three glasses of whiskey. After the daggers the two had had in their eyes he didn’t know whether to expect bloodshed or to find them making out in the corner. He was relieved it wasn’t either.
“So, are we all friends now or do I need to fetch another round?”
“No need.” Aidan accepted the glass Roan offered him and held it.
“But you may need to erect a ring.” Beth half-smiled at Aidan and he smiled back, laughing in his throat with a nod. Arguing had never been so satisfying.
Roan looked from Aidan to Beth wondering what on earth was going on. When they didn’t offer an explanation, he held his glass out in front of him and gestured for them to clink their glasses together in a toast “To new friends and new beginnings.”
“Cheers.”
“Sláinte.”
While Aidan and Roan only took a sip, Beth downed her double shot in one gulp with a small gasp from the burn. That was really smooth whiskey! Within seconds she was blissfully lighter. “I’d better not drink anymore. That’s going to my head already.”
“Oh no. You’re not going to sing again, are you?” Aidan teased.
Beth blinked her eyes a few times fast. “When did I sing? Did I sing?”
Aidan was about to take another sip but lowered his glass from his lips. How could she forget singing? “How much do you remember of the plane ride?”