Page 3 of Lumi

“No way, that’s close to mine.”

“No, it’s not. Our birthdays are nine years and three hundred and forty-nine days apart. That’s a total of three thousand six hundred and thirty-six days.”

He widened his eyes. “I’m going to take yer word for it, but I meant that with us both havin’ September birthdays, we’re only sixteen days apart.”

“Oh, yes. That’s true.” I sank back against the headboard.

“Look, Lumi. Charles and Liv told me that ye’ve been locked up in yer room a lot, and we all understand. But the thing is that no one can change what happened that night. If there’s anythin’ I’ve learned in my job with the Gardaí, it’s the importance of counterbalancing all the ugliness by doin’ things that feel good. Maybe ye need to get pissed and dance on the tables or sing Irish songs with yer friends.”

“What friends?” I stared at him. “The only survivors of my friends who are old enough to drink are Charles and Liv. Atlas, Nathan, Maximum, and River are all younger than me. I can’t believe a guard would encourage an underage person to get drunk.”

Damian scratched his neck. “All right, forget I said that. What works for me doesn’t have to work for ye. How about a walk in nature? Ye like nature, don’t ye? Or the cinema? There’s a new romantic movie that my girlfriend is tryin’ to drag me to see. Maybe ye’d like that one.”

I lifted the book in my hands. “I prefer to read.”

“Aye, I’ve heard. But ye can’t hide in books all day. Would ye walk down to the beach with me?”

“Now?” I lifted my brow.

Damian stood up and nodded. “Right now. It’s a fine day, and I know just the way to make ye feel better.”

I was skeptical and hesitated.

“Do ye trust me?” he asked and reached out his hand to me.

He looked impossibly tall from my position on the bed, and I could still remember how he had carried me in his arms like I weighed nothing that night. Damian didn’t have to be here, but there was such genuine warmth radiating from him that I nodded.

“Yes, I trust you.”

“Then come with me.”

He waited while I crawled out of bed, and then we walked downstairs together. It didn’t take Damian long to round up everyone in the house, and ten minutes later, I found myself on the beach, searching for the perfect stone for skipping.

“What about this one?” I asked and held up a small stone to Damian.

Behind us, Nathan was chasing River with seaweed in his hands, teasing her that she needed it as a new wig. River ran to Kit for help. She was Damian’s older sister and had no problem helping River gang up on Nathan.

“Damian, help me,” Nathan cried out as he ran past us with River and Kit on his heels. The whole thing distracted Damian, but when Maximum and Atlas came to Nathan’s aid, Damian turned his attention back to me.

“What did ye say?”

“I asked, what about this stone?”

Damian shook his head. “Naw, it’s too round. Ye want flat stones like…” He searched the ground. “This one.” Flinging his arm back, he threw it sideways, and I counted seven skips on the water.

“Wow. That’s impressive,” I exclaimed.

He smiled at me, and then he took me by surprise when he picked me up in his arms. “How many skips do ye think ye’d make?” he joked.

Damian’s masculine scent and playful grin took my breath away. I wanted to be as happy and carefree as he was in that moment, but as soon as my lips lifted in a smile, it felt like a betrayal of my mother and all the friends I’d lost. They would never see the water again or get to joke around.

I should tell Damian to set me down, but my arms held on to him, and I buried my head against his neck. He tightened his hold on me and pressed me against his firm chest.

“It’s okay, lass, I’ve got ye.”

“It’s not fair,” I cried.

His large hand stroked my hair. “It’s not fair at all.”