Page 7 of Destined Lovers

One being when Nora had just come home from Spain with her parents.

She had been away for afew weeks, and luckily, they were driving her right to her granny’s from the airport, where she would spend the rest of the summer.

So, like any other teenage boy. I waited like a lovesick puppy all day on her granny’s porch until I saw her parent’s car driving down the road to the house. I got up so quickly that I sent my chair flying back into the house and by the time I picked it up, Nora was already busting out of the car door and running as fast as she could toward me. Her long billowy floral dress was half in the air, her hair flowing in the wind, glistening from those small blonde highlights intertwined in her red hair. It was there and then that I knew I was a goner.

Because what teenage lad fancied a girl’s hair?

That would be a big fat no one.

I shake my head to rid my thoughts of the memory. What am I even doing? I’m officially going crazy. I’m comparing random strangers to Nora now.

But for some reason, my eyes continue to wander toward this strange girl in the back of the pub. She’s yet to turn, so I still can’t see her and just as I’m about to turn my head back to the group, my breath catches, and my heart stops.

ThatisNora.

“Riley,” the bartender calls. She turns and shoots him a smile while grabbing the drinks off the bar.

She works here? And why the hell is she going by her middle name?

“What happened to your good mood, mate?” Wills asks from beside me. I can’t even answer him because the shock has not worn off.

My eyebrows furrow with confusion, my stomach twists into instant knots.

“Earth to Declan,” Wills says again, and when I turn toward him, his face drops.

“What’s going on? Everything okay?” he asks, concerned.

I’m not in the business of lying to my friends, but I can barely speak at the moment, and it would take too long to explain. I look down at Sadie, praying maybe she has woken up. But as luck has it, my prayers go unanswered.

I glance back at Wills. “Nothing’s wrong, sorry. Long day.” He nods, mollified for now.

Luckily, I overhear him asking Marco, one of our friends, if he’s ready to leave. Thankfully, I won’t have to explain tonight.

“I’m going to stay here and finish my beer and head back to my parent’s house. I told Maeve I would be there when she woke up.”

“Okay, you’re flying back with us tomorrow?” Wills asks.

“I’ll see how Maeve is, and I’ll let you know in the morning.”

“Sounds good.” He pats me on the back, picks up and cradles a still sleeping Sadie, heading toward the exit, leaving Jackson and me behind.

He’s still with the two girls in the corner.just as I called it.

I turn my attention back toward the bar, and I don’t see Nora anymore. Feck, where did she go?

Every scenario known to man is racing through my mind like a fecking highspeed raceway. What’s with all the changes—different hair, different name, and the waitress job doesn’t suit her.

My Nora was the most loyal person you could know, but I wouldn’t say she exactly had a bubbly personality. So, I can’t imagine her serving food and drinks to a bunch of drunk blokes.

It hits me then that I keep referring to her as “My Nora,” but it seems like my Nora may have changed.

My Nora would never leave me. Period, end of.

My Nora loved her crazy red hair as much as I did.

My Nora wouldn’t choose to live in a small little village in the middle of Ireland.

My Nora would never change her name to Riley.She hated her middle name.

---