Page 36

The door creaks open, and I glance up to see Bridget, concern etched on her face.“You’re packing?”

I nod, folding a dress and placing it neatly on top of the other items.“I need a change of scenery.”

Her frown deepens as she steps into the room.“You can’t just take off every time you and Ruairi fight.You’re home now.”

I sigh, turning to face her.“I’m not running away.”

She glances at the half-packed suitcase.“Where are you going?”

“Dublin,” I say, zipping the suitcase closed.“Erin, my flatmate from college, is turning twenty-six.She’s throwing a big party, and I promised I’d go.”

Bridget relaxes slightly, the tension in her shoulders easing.“Good.I was worried you were planning to disappear again.Ruairi wouldn’t handle that well.”

I let out a short laugh.“Oh, please.He’d probably be glad if I disappeared and stayed out of his hair.Less for him to micromanage.”

“You think so?You’re his favorite person to boss around, you know.”

“Don’t remind me.”

Bridget exhales, leaning back on her hands.“You know he’s just trying to protect you, right?He’s worried about you.This isn’t some power play for him.It’s fear.”

“I know,” I say, pausing to meet her gaze.“But I’m not a child anymore.I’ve traveled the world and learned skills he doesn’t even know I have.I’ve prepared for this.I need him to see me for who I am now, not who I was when we were kids.”

Bridget’s brow furrows slightly, her tone softening.“I get it, Evie, I really do.Please don’t let this trip make things worse between you two.You leaving might feel like you’re walking away from him.”

“I’m not,” I insist, shaking my head.“I need some time, and so does he.Maybe if I give him some space, he’ll reconsider letting me have a role in the Syndicate.”

She watches me for a moment, then nods.“Alright.Just don’t push him too far, okay?”

I smile faintly.“I won’t.I promise.”

Bridget hesitates, then leans forward slightly.“Okay, enough about Ruairi.Is there something you're not telling me?”

I blink.“Like what?”

Her eyes narrow just enough to be playful.“Have you met anyone interesting lately?”

I let out a small laugh, shrugging.“Not exactly?”

“Not exactly,” she repeats, arching a brow.“That sounds like there’s a story.”

“We met while I was in the Maldives,” I admit, fiddling with the edge of the duvet.

Bridget perks up instantly.“The Maldives?That already sounds romantic.Go on.”

“It wasn’t anything serious,” I say quickly.“It was just something fun without all the baggage and expectations.”

Bridget watches me carefully.“And what about the guy?What’s his story?”

I shrug.“All I know is his name’s Eamon.We didn’t exchange numbers or talk about our lives.No strings.No questions,” I murmur.

Her mouth drops open slightly.“You’re telling me you spent how long with this man, and you don’t know his last name or where he’s from?”

I laugh lightly, the sound hollow.“Yeah, well, we weren’t exactly sitting around swapping life stories.It was fun while it lasted, and now it’s in the past.”

“Except you didn’t leave it behind,” she says softly.

The statement lands harder than I expect, and for a moment, I don’t have an answer.