Page 75 of Twist of Fate
PAST
I am literally bouncing in my seat.
“You do know we’re going to the Cliffs of Moher today, too, right?”
“Yep, you told me.”
My mother sits next to me, just staring. “But you’re more excited about this?”
I glance over and smile. She looks adorable today in a fitted pair of yoga pants, hiking boots, and a Patagonia jacket. “Um, yes. Have you met me?”
“Well, hell, if I had known it would get you this excited, I would have mentioned this particular excursion in my ploy to get you here months ago,” my mom says with a light chuckle.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” I tell her. “I kind of like not knowing exactly where we’re headed or what we’re doing. It’s like unwrapping a present every day. The surprise is half the fun.”
“That’s not what you said before we left,” she huffs. “I believe you said something like, ‘As long as I’m anywhere but here, I don’t care what we’re doing, Mom.’”
Yeah, that sounds like me.
“Don’t make me say it.” She looks at me with her brows raised, an expectant look on her face. She’s going to make me say it. “Okay, fine.” I let out an exhausted sigh. “You were right. Getting away was exactly what I needed, and I feel a hundred times better. Are you happy now?”
A warm smile spreads across her face. “I’m just glad to have you back.”
A stray comment from someone behind me draws my attention to the window and the view beyond. The bus navigates the tiny, winding roads with a surprising ease that feels almost impossible given our size. Collin, our bus driver, appears completely unfazed, singing to himself as classic Irish music plays in the background.
I’ll never complain about Chicago traffic again.
This morning, we stopped by the road to explore the rocky landscape of Burren National Park. I stood on a flat stone at the top of a hill, and when I looked down, the view seemed nearly endless. Just stretches of gray and green for miles. I jumped from one rock to another, wondering what ancient civilizations thought of places like this.
Now, we are headed to Kilcorney in County Clare, and I can’t help but feel like a five-year-old heading to Disney World for the first time.
“Finn, how much longer?” I ask for the millionth time. Mom and I are in the hot seats today, and while I’m enjoying the unobstructed views that the front seats provide, I’m enjoying the close proximity to Finn even more.
He turns in his seat across the aisle and grins. “Nearly there.”
“You said that last time.” Now, I sound like a five-year-old.
He presses his lips together, stifling a laugh. “While this is usually one of our more popular excursions, I honestly thought you’d lean toward some of the more historic experiences considering?—”
“They have dogs, Finn! Dogs!” He finally lets out that laugh. My mom joins in. “Please tell me we get to pet them?”
He doesn’t answer right away, and I swear he’s getting off on withholding the information from me. Finally, he nods. “Yes, after the presentation, he typically brings them out to say hello.”
I let out a loud whoop of excitement. “This is the best day of my life.”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t know you were such a dog lover.”
“Why?” I scoff. “What do you have against dogs, Finn? Are you a cat person?” I feign disgust, dramatically placing a rigid hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry, Mom. The wedding is off.” The irony isn’t lost on me that today was supposed to be my actual wedding day.
My mom rolls her eyes, yet I can’t help but notice the faint smile tugging at her lips as she points to her earbuds and pretends she can’t hear us due to her audiobook.
“I love dogs. I’ve never had one, but I like them.”
My brows lift. “You never had a dog as a kid?”
He shakes his head, leaning back against the stiff bus seat. With his long legs stretched out in front of him and broad shoulders jutting into the aisle, he looks like a damn giant. “My parents weren’t really into pets.” He doesn’t elaborate, but I can’t help but notice a shadow of something lingering in his gaze. Pain? Regret? Whatever it is, it vanishes in an instant, and his happy, carefree smile is back seconds later. “What about you?”
I resist the urge to push him on the subject, but I hope he will eventually feel comfortable opening up about his family with me. However, right now, on a bus full of people, isn’t the right time. “Yes, well—after my dad—” I pause, meeting his gaze. “You know.” I shrug, and he nods, understanding my meaning. “Just one, though. A pit bull named Princess that we rescued from a shelter.”
