Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“Do I know you?” I ask.
He opens his mouth to say something, but a loud commotion breaks out. People begin to shove and scream. The guy laces his fingers with mine to pull me with him, but Daliah grabs my other hand and tugs me in the opposite direction.
I release his hand because I don’t know him. Daliah and I race out of the bar as fast as we can through the side door. We don’t stop moving until we’re a few blocks away from the bar.
“Ugh, I was just starting to have some real fun,” Daliah says.
“Want to head to another bar?”
She pouts. “No, I broke my shoe.”
I look down and burst into laughter. This would only happen to us. I guess it’s for the best.
My mind goes to the blue-eyed guy at the bar. It was dark, so I couldn’t really take him in fully, but there was something about his eyes. I brush it off.
We’re leaving in a few days. Besides, I never have time for guys. My last date was supposed to be right before I left Seattle.
Because of that asshole Sean, that never happened. Austin had asked me out for about six months before I said yes. I’ve never been focused on guys.
I’ve always had too much going on in my life to date. In seven years, when Ciarán is eighteen and I’m twenty-seven, then I can think about myself and a love life.
CHAPTER 9
Go To Bed
Dylan
“Are you okay?” I say to Connie as we make our way back to our car.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just cheesed that the bar I decided to go to broke out in a brawl. This day has been shit.”
I look back toward the entrance of the bar and stare. I have to be dreaming. That girl looked just like Ciara. An older, sexy-as-fuck version, but she could be her doppelgänger.
When I first saw her, I thought I was seeing things. It was like a magnet drew me to her. Once I got my hands on her and she looked up into my eyes, I was blown away.
I tried to pull her with me, but she let go. What are the chances I would run into her here at some bar?
“Are ya all right? Ya look like ya saw a ghost. What was that about?”
I shake my head clear and look away from the entrance as it seems people have stopped coming through it. It couldn’t have been her.
“Nothing. Let’s get back to the hotel. This night is a bust.”
“Ya can say that again. I feel sorry for Felix. I know how much he wanted to propose tonight.”
“It will work out. Kaye is crazy about him. When this all blows over, it will be fine.”
“I hope yer right. I’ll get ya back home and then I’m off to help with our wee love,” Connie says with a smile.
“I don’t need you to babysit me. I can get back to New York on my own.”
“Aye, I’m sure ya can, but no little brother of mine will be traveling all about without me.”
“You do know I’m twenty-two, right?”
“And?”
I shake my head and snort, throwing my arm around her shoulders as I lead the way back to the car we came in. My mind goes back to that girl. I have to tell myself again there’s no way.
***
We get back to our hotel room and I jump into the shower. The hot water goes a long way to burn through my jumbled thoughts. I can’t shake that girl from my head.
Normally, Aunt Cass and Uncle Joe would let us stay with them. However, we knew the drive would be long and we didn’t want to be a bother.
When I can’t stand under the spray any longer, I wrap a towel around my waist and walk into the bedroom. As exhaustion sets in, my mind continues to race. I sit on the edge of the bed, my thoughts going right back to that girl.
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to sleep tonight. Those eyes keep flashing in my mind. What if she was real and that was really Ciara?
I could be walking away from the girl I’ve devoted my life to finding? I run a hand through my damp locks. Frustration fills me as I’m too tired to make sense of any of it.
Do I know you?
Her words have been ringing in my ears on repeat. If that fight hadn’t broken out, I would have told her I believe she does. Her lips, they were the same heart shape I remember.
I wanted to press mine to hers and savor the feeling I’ve been dreaming of for the last twelve years. I groan as I realize how crazy my thoughts sound.
That couldn’t have been her. When I find Ciara, I will know right away it’s her. I’m sure of it.