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She hesitates for a moment before she begins to make her way over, her steps quick and deliberate.

“Is everything okay?”Erin asks, stopping in front of us.Her eyes dart to mine before settling on her friend.

Aoife hesitates.“I’m sorry,” she says quickly.“But I need to leave early.”

“What?”Erin’s face falls.“You’re leaving?But?—”

“I’ll explain later,” Aoife says, her voice soft but urgent.“Please, apologize to Shane for me.”

Erin looks like she wants to argue, but then her gaze shifts to me, suspicion clouding her features.“Who is this?”

I step forward, extending a hand.“Eamon,” I say smoothly.“Aoife’s boyfriend.”

Erin blinks, her mouth opening slightly in shock as she looks back at Aoife.“Boyfriend?”

Aoife gives her a tight smile.“It’s complicated.I’ll explain everything later, I promise.”

Erin looks uneasy but nods reluctantly.“Okay.But your suitcase is still at my apartment.”

“I’ll handle that,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.“One of my men will get the address, and I’ll have it picked up tonight.”

Aoife looks at me but doesn’t argue.Erin, however, steps forward, her unease now edged with desperation.

“Wait, Aoife,” she says quickly, glancing between us.“Are you sure about this?Maybe you should call your brother first.Doesn’t he usually?—”

“He already knows,” Aoife cuts in, her tone calm but firm.“He’s aware that my plans have changed.”

Erin’s eyes narrow as doubt clouds her face.“You’re certain?Because I could?—”

“Erin,” Aoife says softly, reaching out to touch her arm.“It’s fine.Really.Don’t worry about me, okay?”

The girl looks anything but reassured, her gaze shifting back to me.“And you’re just going to take her without any explanation?”

I smile, though my patience is wearing thin.“She doesn’t need to explain herself to you.Or anyone else, for that matter.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but Aoife steps in again, her voice more insistent now.“Erin, please.I’ll explain everything later.But I have to go.”

Erin hesitates, clearly torn, before stepping back, her shoulders slumping slightly.“Fine.But you better explain this, Aoife.Allof it.”

Aoife nods once before turning toward me, her expression unreadable.Erin stands rooted to the spot, her confusion and unease heavy in the air as she watches us.

We’re nearly at the door when I pause, turning back to Erin.“I’ll cover the cost of the party,” I say, my tone casual but deliberate.“Consider it my contribution to the celebration.”

Erin’s eyes widen slightly, her lips parting as if to respond, but I don’t wait for her answer.I guide Aoife out of the room, my hand firm but not harsh at the small of her back.

As we walk through the quiet hallway, I glance down at her, my voice low and simmering with unresolved anger.“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do,Eve,” I say, the old name slipping from my tongue like a warning.“And I’m not going anywhere until I hear it all.”

Aoife

There’sa tense silence between us as Eamon leads me through the hallways of The Emerald Briar.His hand rests at the small of my back, steady and unyielding.I can’t decide if it’s meant to guide me or keep me from running.

I still can’t wrap my head around it.Eamon.Of all the places, all the people I could’ve crossed paths with.How is it possible that I just happened to walk intohishotel and bump into him?My chest tightens as the realization settles in.

This isn’t chance.It can’t be.

I’ve spent so long thinking about him.Dreaming about him.Wishing I hadn’t left like I did.And now he’s here, and I’m following him like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

We reach the elevator, and he pulls a sleek black card from his pocket, swiping it before pressing the button for the penthouse.