Page 72 of A Winter Wish

“I asked for two rooms,” Theo said pointedly, before Lexie could jump in. At her shins, Simon nudged her for attention.

“Ah no, we’ve only got the one room, I’m afraid. But she’s a beauty.”

Lexie opened her mouth to protest, but Theo pulled her to his side and wrapped an arm around her side. He gave her a very un-Theo-like smile. “What do you think, honeybee?”

She narrowed her eyes up at him as the scraggly-haired man laughed, then came over to envelop Theo in a hug. “Mate! It’s been too long.”

Lexie couldn’t help noticing that his Irish accent was less thick now. So, this was the friend Theo had mentioned. She wondered if Theo had put him up to the joke.

Theo clapped him on the back. “Good to see you. Lexie, this is Kieran. Kieran, Lexie.”

“Um…hi.” She gave a sort of awkward half wave, and then used Simon as a way to distract from that, bending to scratch him.

“Nice to meet you, Lexie,” Kieran said. He tipped an imaginary hat to her.

“So—do you have two rooms?” Lexie asked, looking up at him.

Kieran laughed. “Yeah. I’ve had them on standby since Theo told me you were coming a few weeks ago.”

A few weeks? Lexie straightened and shot him a look, but he studiously ignored her gaze. So, he’d been planning this then. Her stomach flipped with a weird combination of anxiety and pleasure.

“Or one room, if you prefer,” Kieran said, with a sly grin for Theo.

Theo glanced at Lexie and shrugged. “We’ll figure it out later.” And oh God, the awkwardness. “But first, I figured we’d go into Dublin—you’ve never been, right, Lex?”

“No, I…”

Kieran raised his hand in the air, grimacing as he did so. “I may have something that interferes with your plans.” He lowered his hand and tugged a little nervously at his beard as Theo waited for him to elaborate. “Your mam may have found out you’re here.”

“Kieran! Did you call her?”

“Nah, of course not. But, like, you know how it is. I stuck something on Facebook, her friend saw, she found out, she called me. And you know how I am—can’t lie, can I?”

“Do not tell me she’s coming here, Kieran.” Theo’s tone was full of warning.

“I don’t think so. But she asked me what time you were expected and, well…”

Seemingly on cue, Theo’s phone rang. He got it out, glaring at Kieran, while Lexie returned to stroking Simon, unsure of what to do. Simon licked her ear as Theo answered.

“Hello, Mam.” It was the most Irish she’d ever heard Theo sounding. “I’m sorry, but it was a bit of a last-minute thing.” There was a pause. “Only one day—we’re flying tomorrow.” Another pause. “Lexie.” He shot Kieran an evil look. “No, I can’t come today. Because I’m with Lexie. Right.” He pulled a hand through his hair as his mum continued to talk at the other end of the line. “Right. Look, I’ll let you know.” He hung up, tugged a hand through his hair. “She wants us to go for lunch. For fuck’s sake, Kieran.”

Kieran winced.

“We can go for lunch with her,” Lexie said, trying to be diplomatic.

Theo shot her a look, but she couldn’t quite read it.

“And do Dublin later? I’d like to meet her.”

“I’m not sure you would,” Theo said dryly. But she was thinking of her own dad now, and of the fact that she’d brushed him off the last time he tried to reach out. Thinking of how these chances were limited—and how you have to take them while you can.

“I think we should go,” said firmly.

Kieran clapped Theo on the back. “The room will be ready by the time you get back.”

“Rooms,” Lexie said, keeping her firm voice in play.

“Ah, sure. Rooms. That’s what I meant. And I’ll have a pint waiting for you.”