snoring his head off on my couch. He said the flight took a lot out of him. I told him if a one-hour flight takes a lot out of him, then he’s not going to last long in this world,” I paused to laugh. “Speaking of siblings, how’s Rosie? I think I spotted her commenting on my live stream the other day. She wouldn’t happen to be a librarian, would she?”
“Yes, she’s a trainee librarian. I actually had a call with her earlier. She’s been fretting about this new book club she’s hosting at the library where she works. She’s worried nobody’s going to show up.”
“Well, Billy and I can go if you like?” I offered impulsively. “Fill out the numbers. Plus, Billy can talk for Ireland, so he’ll be only too happy to fill any awkward silences.”
“Seriously? You’d do that for Rosie?”
I’d do it for you. I also couldn’t resist the chance to meet Neil’s sister in person and quiz her about her brother.
“Sure, I haven’t got anything else on this week, and I do love a good book discussion. Send me all the details, and I’ll be there.”
“Rosie might faint if you show up. She’s such a fan of yours.”
“If she faints, I’ll make sure to catch her,” I said with a chuckle.
Neil laughed again, and again, I loved the sound of it. “Right, well, I’ll give her a heads up that you’re planning on going. Hopefully, that way, we’ll be able to avoid any fainting.”
“Hopefully. Good luck with your lads’ night,” I said, though somewhere deep down, I didn’t entirely mean it. The idea of Neil hooking up with a random woman didn’t sit well with me at all. God, I really needed to get a handle on this silly crush. Maybe if he’d quit being so adorably self-deprecating, I could manage it.
“Thanks,” he said, a hint of foreboding in his voice. “I need all the luck I can get.”
Neil
The bar Callum selected was too loud, too busy, and far too stylish for my liking. I would’ve much preferred a quiet little pub somewhere, but Cal insisted I’d have a better chance of meeting someone in a place like this.
Actually, if I were being honest, I’d much rather be back in my hotel room video chatting with Afric.
“Can you get your head in the game?” Callum asked, nudging me with his elbow where we sat by the bar drinking our pints. “You look a million miles away.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking about work,” I lied.
“Well, that’s the first thing you need to knock on the head. You’re already in danger of becoming a workaholic. Don’t let it cock block you, too.”
“Didn’t you say Paul was going to join us?” I asked in an effort to change the subject.
“Yeah, he begged off, though. I think he’s got some secret hook-up going on here in New York. He’s been disappearing every night this week and won’t tell anyone where he’s going.”
“Definitely sounds like he’s seeing someone,” I agreed. “What about Leanne? Does she mind you going to a bar without her?”
“No, she thought it was a great idea. You know Leanne loves you, and she’s well aware I wouldn’t stray.” He paused, eyeing me a moment as he took a sip of his drink. “She did mention something about a girl back home who you’ve been texting.”
Right. I’d forgotten Leanne caught me sending selfies to Afric that day. “Yes, I have been texting someone, but she’s just a friend. It isn’t romantic.”
“You sure about that?”
No, especially not if she really is the woman from my hazy sex dream.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Good. That means we can put operation ‘Get Neil Laid’ into action. Have you seen anyone you like?”
I gave the bar occupants a cursory glance. The place was full of attractive women, but I just wasn’t interested. I wasn’t sure if it was due to a fear of being turned down or because my thoughts were already focused on someone else.
Worryingly, that someone wasn’t Annabelle. I still hadn’t messaged her back, and I feared she might be angry at me, or well, angry at fake Callum, but I just couldn’t think of what to say to her, how to let her down gently. I’d realised that I wasn’t as invested in meeting her as I had been the day I confessed everything to Afric in the empty cinema. The day she’d promised to help me. She hadn’t wanted anything in return at the time. Was that because she found my