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Shane follows, settling beside me with an easy, unhurried motion.The car is spacious, but his presence feels closer than it should, his broad frame taking up more space than I expected.

“So,” he says, his tone casual but polite as Ryan starts the car.“Erin tells me you’ve been traveling a lot.”

I glance at Erin’s reflection in the rearview mirror, her eyes practically twinkling with excitement.

“I have,” I reply.“Spent the last year or so bouncing around Europe and Asia.It was nice to get away for a bit.”

“Any favorites?”he asks, turning slightly to face me.His voice is calm and steady—no pressure, just curiosity.

“Hard to choose,” I say, smiling faintly.“But I’d say the Maldives was pretty high on the list.”

“The Maldives?”he repeats, a hint of surprise in his tone.“That’s a bit of a leap from Belfast.”

I shrug.“White sand and blue water are hard to beat.”

“You don’t miss home when you’re gone that long?”

The question hangs in the air for a moment, and I notice Erin shift slightly in her seat as if listening in.“Sometimes,” I admit.“But there’s a freedom in being somewhere new.No expectations, no familiar faces.”

Shane nods, his gaze thoughtful.“Fair enough.Sounds like you’ve had some incredible experiences.”

“Definitely,” I say.“And what about you?Do you travel much?”

“Not as much as I’d like,” he replies with a small chuckle.“Work keeps me busy.”

Before I can ask what he does, Erin cuts in from the front.“Shane’s being modest.He runs his own business.”

“Oh?”I say, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s nothing fancy,” he says, brushing off Erin’s praise.“Just a tech startup.Keeps me out of trouble, mostly.”

“He’s downplaying it,” Erin interjects, glancing back at me.“It’s one of those app things that everyone’s obsessed with.”

Shane chuckles, shaking his head.“It’s just software for streamlining small business operations.Not exactly groundbreaking.”

Erin snorts.“Don’t let him fool you.He’s got investors and everything.”

“Sounds impressive,” I say, though I catch the faintest trace of discomfort in his expression as if he’s not used to the spotlight.“What kind of businesses use it?”

“A mix,” he replies, his tone easy.“Retail, hospitality, some independent contractors.Basically, anyone who needs to stay organized without the headache of spreadsheets.”

“Smart,” I say, genuinely intrigued.“You must be good at solving problems.”

He shrugs, a small smile tugging at his lips.“I try.”

“Don’t let him fool you.He’s annoyingly good at it,” Erin adds.

The conversation shifts to lighter banter as we pull up to The Emerald Briar, its elegant stone façade glowing softly in the evening light.Erin claps her hands together, practically bouncing in her seat.“Right, let’s get this party started.”

Shane steps out first, holding the door open for me with a polite nod.“After you,” he says.

“Thanks,” I reply, straightening my dress.

As we head inside, I can feel Erin’s satisfaction radiating from her.She planned this perfectly, maybe too perfectly, and I can already tell the night is going to be anything but simple.

The private room at The Emerald Briar is cozy but stylish, with warm wood paneling and several tables set for Erin’s party.Fairy lights hang along the walls, giving the space a soft, intimate glow.The hum of conversation fills the air as we step inside.

Erin takes my arm and immediately flits from one group to another, introducing me to her friends.I recognize a few faces from our college days, but there are plenty of new ones, too.They all greet me warmly, their curiosity polite but persistent as they ask about my travels.Erin loves to make me the center of attention, a habit I’ve tolerated over the years, but tonight, it feels heavier.