Page 15 of Destined Lovers

“You’re going to rot your teeth with all that sugar.”

She better leave my honey alone. “Oh please,” I scoff. “Honey is healthy for you. It’s not going to rot my teeth.”

“Maybe not as much as those sweets you used to eat, but sugar is sugar. Now go brush your teeth, and then you can tell me why you slept up here last night.” This woman never misses a beat, I swear. She barely gives me a second before patting my behind to get moving.

Wishing I could put up a fight, but knowing I wouldn’t get away with it, I choose the easy route and head downstairs to my apartment to get ready for the day.

I take extra long, hoping to avoid the Agnes inquisition, knowing that when she wants to find out something, she’s like a dog with a bone.Relentless.

I have time off from the pub for close to two weeks—tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and then I’m off until after the new year, so I can finally wear whatever I want. I hate having to wear the freaking bar shirt day in and day out. And since I’ve been working non-stop lately, knowing I had all this time off, I’ve lived in the thing.

I push through all my clothes, but It’s not hard to pick an outfit since it’s filled with all the same things, with an occasional “sexy” dress sprinkled in.

I pick a long floral dress paired with a chunky wool jumper, a tiny heeled bootie, and an oversized floppy hat so I don’t have to conquer the rat’s nest atop my head.

I attempt to cover the bags under my eyes from my lack of sleep but give up quickly, not wanting to deal with that right now, either. Instead, I put more effort into picking my perfume.

Agnes and I have been making our own perfume for years, and the collection has grown through the roof. It’s hard to pick what to wear some days.

We recently made a batch I love, and I think today would be a perfect day to try it out, then head back upstairs before Bennett gets here. If Agnes is going to pepper me with questions, I need it to be with me and her alone.

I won’t lie to her, but Bennett, I will if needed.

Agnes sits on the couch waiting for me once I make my way upstairs with two cups of tea. She pats the spot next to her, and I have no choice but to join her,just as I figured.

She leans in and takes a big whiff. “That’s just lovely. Is that the new batch we made with the bergamot?”

“Ah, you still got your senses intact, I see,” I say through my smile, and she hits me playfully. I’ve been making fun of her age, as a joke, of course, since I can remember.

I think the more I kid around about it, the less of a reality her old age becomes. After my parent’s death, I’m not sure I could lose her too.

“So are you going to tell me what’s going on, or should we wait for Bennett?”

“No!” I snap quickly. I take her hand in mine so she can understand how important this is to me.

“Agnes, what I tell you stays between you and me. Ben is not to know until I’m ready to tell him. You have to give me your word.”

She stays silent, eyeing me, concerned.

“Child, if this will put you in any danger—”

“Agnes, this is between nan and Nora. I want to talk to my nan….” My voice cracks, and I can’t finish the sentence. I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk about this until now. Agnes tries to call me Riley as much as possible so she doesn’t slip in front of strangers, but when I go out of my way to call myself Nora, she knows it’s serious.

I usually keep everything so bottled up that I’m constantly full of stress. I promised Agnes I would be more open with the turmoil I typically bury deep down, and this is me keeping that promise.

“Nora,” she whispers and brings my hands to her lips, letting them linger for a second as she eyes me. “My lips are sealed, I promise.”

I take a shaking breath, roll my lips, then whisper, “I-I saw him.”

Her eyes crinkle with confusion, not understanding. It’s so hard for me to get this out. I don’t know why I get all emotional whenever I talk to Agnes.

“Declan,” I croak. “He found me, but he wasn’t looking for me. He was at the pub with his mates the other night. It was all by chance.”

I see the exact moment it hits her. Her eyes bulge, and her mouth falls open in surprise. “This is why your nightmares are back?”

I nod to confirm.

“I ran after I saw him, and he came back last night. He wants to meet today.” I confess. She still doesn’t say anything. I shocked the woman into silence. Something I thought could never happen. So I keep going. “But, I’m not sure I can meet him. I don’t want to see him until my life is back on track. Everything is such a mess now.”

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