Page 1 of Destined Lovers

PROLOGUE

Dublin,Ireland

Nora

I’m tucked safely in the arms of Declan, my best friend andboyfriend.As I reluctantly watch my parents pack the last of our belongings into the car, signaling it’s almost time to leave for the airport.

I glance one last time at my childhood home in Dartry, the home I’ve lived in my whole life but quickly divert my eyes. I’m not sure I can handle another emotion other than anger right now. So I’ll stick to my safe haven in Declan’s arms until the very last second.

Today we move to America.

My da’s been a lawyer at the same firm since I was a kid. Recently he’s wanted to make some changes, and since he’s still registered in New York to practice law, his best friend suggested he come work for him. Unfortunately, since I’m sixteen, I had no other option than to move with them.

“It will go by so fast. We’ll barely even get a chance to miss each other,” Declan utters into the top of my head.

The anger and annoyance I’m trying to keep at bay ramps back up to full force. I’m two seconds away from throwing a tantrum like a child and stomping my feet. They say my quick fuse is from my red hair, but I say they’re all eejits.

How is any of this okay?

How can my parents move me away with two years left of secondary school? I don’t want to make new mates and start over. I only want Declan and anyone in my position would feel the same.

I clench my jaw and take a deep breath before I answer. “I’m glad you’re okay with me leaving, because I’m not.”

He glances down, and I can see the anguish laced through his deep brown eyes, and I instantly feel bad for snapping at him. He won’t mention it because that’s Declan. “Just because I choose to deal without letting my emotions get in the way doesn’t mean I’m okay with it. It’s two years, Nora. We’ve been apart longer when I was in boarding school, and even if you were staying in Ireland, I would barely see you. You know that.”

Ugh, I hate it when he’s right.

I live in Dublin, and he lives up north. Well, he did until he moved to America for boarding school, then came home only to move to England straight away for university.

So, we barely see each other as it is.

But at least if I were living in Dublin, he could come home on the weekends. Now with me being so far away, we won’t ever see each other, other than on holidays.

I can’t ask him to visit me.

He has to focus on his future. He has too much on the line.

Professional rugby teams have approached Declan to join them when he graduates, so these last two years at Uni for him are of the utmost importance, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. He deserves everything he has worked so hard for so I won’t dare interfere.

Although, it’s funny sometimes thinking about Declan playing a sport like rugby. I guess he’s not the timid ten-year-old I met when I was only six all those years ago.

That was the day I developed my first and only crush. It was also the day I beat that crap out of Cian McCarthy, the biggest bully in the north, who had Declan cornered right next to my granny’s house.

We’ve been best mates ever since, even though I’ve always wanted more. I wanted him to be my first boyfriend, even at six. And I wasn’t shy about it.

So you can imagine my excitement once I hit my teens, and Declan noticed me in a not-so-friendly way. He couldn’t hide his eyes, they told me he liked what he saw. Only to my dismay, that’s where it ended.

He’s four years older than me and respects my mam and da too much. He wouldn’t dare make a move on me.

Besides a few stolen kisses and hand-holding, he’s waiting until I turn eighteen to do anything more, which is the most frustrating thing on the planet.

So, I have to suck it up and wait two years while being the last virgin of all my friends.

After a few seconds pass, I glance up at him to answer. “Yes, but it wasn’t the same when you were away. Things are different between us now.”

He raises his eyebrow and smirks. “Aye, Pip, how is it different?”

“Ugh, don’t call me that name!” I roll my eyes.

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