Page 80 of Beneath the Quiet

I suppose there’s only one way to find out.

Chapter Twenty

Maeve

The nerves are gruelling.

I’ve been pacing up and down my kitchen for half an hour, and I still don’t have a clue what I’ll do if Aidan does turn up on my doorstep tonight.

I’m not even sure I’ll let him inside if he does.

Now that I’ve had hours to think it through, I’ve thought of texting him so many times to cancel. I even came up with several scenarios while I was in the shower.

Sorry, Aidan. I changed my mind.

I don’t like to lie, and that one only made me accidentally swallow some soap bubbles, and I needed to brush my teeth for a full five minutes to get rid of the awful taste in my mouth.

Umm, sorry, I can’t. I’m busy reading a monster romance.

Technically, that’s true, but my raging hormones almost wept.

Or my personal favourite: Nope, I’m washing my hair.

That was just so pathetic that I had to stop shaving my legs to roll my eyes at myself.

But a very small part of me still whispers doubts in the back of my head, telling me that I’m getting into waters so deep that I’ll drown.

I should tell him that we shouldn’t risk our friendship to act like horny teenagers. We’re responsible adults, for goodness’ sakes.

Or, at least I’m one, and Aidan even told me about his rule not to get involved with anyone in the village because it has the potential to ruin things for more than just him.

What am I even doing, waiting for someone who may or may not go through with his promises?

I stop at the kitchen counter and pick up my phone. Five-fifteen.

On a whim, I swipe the screen and find Roísin’s number. This situation warrants girl talk.

She picks up almost immediately.

“Hi, Maeve.”

“What I’m about to tell you has to stay between the two of us.”

“Ooh, really? What are you up to?”

“I’m not up to anything, but you can’t tell your grandmother, either. It’s important.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

I tug at the messy bun on the top of my head and blow out a loud huff. “A man is on his way to my cottage right now to have what I hope will be absolutely earth-shattering sex with me, and I can’t decide if I should cancel on him or not. I need help.”

A loud cackle in my ear makes me almost lift the phone away from me. “Say that again?” She laughs.

I deflate and lean on the counter, burying my head on my arms. “Don’t make me repeat it,” I beg.

“Sorry, but this doesn’t sound like the Maeve I’ve gotten to know over the past few weeks.”

“This isn’t a joke, Roísin.”