Page 105 of A Second Dawn

“Fine, but you realize you can’t stay for long. One night max, and then you must return to Dublin or London.”

She opens her mouth to argue with me, but I raise my finger to stop her. Haven’t I done that already today? Women…

“It’s not negotiable,” I tell her sternly.

I won’t argue about this. If need be, I’ll drive her to the airport myself. She glares at me but says nothing.

“Here is your order, mate,” Joseph calls out, and I go to pay for it. “Enjoy your time on the mountain. I’ll see you in a few months.”

Yeah, let’s hope our plans didn’t get derailed by Ella’s firecracker of a friend.

The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach hasn’t eased up, and I wonder what’s in store for us next.

One thing is for certain, until Rhia has left, literally anything could happen.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Ella

IwatchasAidenand Rhia cautiously but swiftly leave the café.

She’s really here, isn’t she?

I didn’t dream her up because I’ve been missing her so damn much? I pinch my arm to make sure she isn’t a Fata Morgana. The sharp pain I’m inflicting on myself tells me it’s not my imagination… unless pain feels real in dreams. Hmm?

Rhia’s unmistakable red locks glimmer in the sun. She’s as radiant as ever, and her excitement is emanating from her in waves.

My heart pounds in anticipation with each step she takes.

Tears prick my eyes, and I struggle to maintain my composure.

As she approaches and spots me through the windshield, her eyes lock with mine. She stops dead for a moment and just stares at me, before dropping her bag and running toward the RV.

The intensity of our separation hits me like a tidal wave, and I can’t hold back any longer. For the second time today, the floodgates burst open, overwhelming me.

On unsteady legs, I swivel my seat and jump up, rushing to the side door. It flies open and Rhia nearly falls in.

Stumbling, we embrace, clinging to each other.

My tears are in free-fall now like there’s no tomorrow. There’s no stopping them.

“Holy shit, El. I’ve missed you so much,” Rhia hiccups, struggling to keep it together.

I try to say something, anything, but my voice abandons me. My throat is too tight, constricting my words, leaving only sobs to escape my lips.

Rhia disentangles herself from my hold. Reaching out and gently touching my cheek, her voice trembles with concern as she asks, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying like this?”

Her question only makes the tears flow harder. The lines of worry etch deeper on her face, and all the emotions I’ve bottled up spill out uncontrollably.

“Ella, can you please say something? You’re freaking me out.”

I try to compose myself, I really do, but the tears continue to flow unabated.

Why can’t I stop crying? Is this some sort of catharsis? A purging of all the stress?

Rhia is the only person in the world who knows all of me and accepts me exactly as I am. Is her presence allowing me to let it all go?

“El, you’re scaring me.”

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