decided to change how I viewed myself. It wasn’t instant, by any means, but I worked really hard at it.”
“I imagine you work hard at absolutely everything,” Ronan said softly.
“I try.”
They followed the signs directing them to the Forever Falls main strip. Although not as busy as during peak season, the main strip was still bustling. People walked hand in hand, some eating ice cream from cones or cups. The patios of several restaurants were full, lit with glowing lanterns and twinkling fairy lights, and neat rows of cars lined the curb.
They continued past it all, with Audrey glued to the window like she was a child seeing another country for the first time. Was it a little pathetic? Definitely. But who knew how long it would be before she had a night out again?
A thought flickered in the back of her mind, a worry whispering that her dad would be pissed. But he was out tonight. It was his monthly poker game with his friends, and he never came home before one or two in the morning, often drunk. Always smelling of cigars. All she had to do was return before midnight; then she’d have a buffer to get into bed, and he’d be none the wiser. The kids were elated to have the house to themselves.
It was almost like fate had engineered what Audrey needed most—a night without responsibility, without duty. A night when she needed no more reason to do something than simply that she wanted to do it.
“Looks like you can park around the back,” Audrey said as they approached the town’s popular Falls Inn & Pub. The building was old, rumored haunted, and perched on a slight hill so that it overlooked the boardwalk and beach.
Ronan followed Audrey’s advice and pulled into a small driveway that cut between the pub and the building next door, leading out to a small parking lot at the back. They grabbed one of the only available spots and made their way inside.
That’s when Audrey spotted a chalkboard propped up against the wall near where staff waited to greet them. In pretty chalk lettering, the night’s events were spelled out: Pub Trivia—test your general knowledge skills and win big!
“Bar or bistro?” asked an older woman with curly hair and big earrings.
Audrey’s eyes lingered on the chalkboard, and Ronan placed a hand at the small of her back. “Where’s the trivia being held?” he asked.
“At the end of the bar. It’s almost full, but I’m sure we can squeeze you in.” She smiled and plucked two menus from a holder. “Follow me.”
Audrey beamed as she followed the woman into the crowded bar area. It was full of people young and old, families and couples and groups of friends. There were casual tables dotted around the room and people seated at a long, curved bar that ran the length of the room. At the other end, the space opened up somewhat, and Audrey could already hear the trivia host getting the night started.
“You got here just in time,” the woman said, setting the menus down at a small table jammed into a corner. There wasn’t even space for them to sit across from each other, so Audrey had to wedge herself into the side of the table, and her knees brushed Ronan’s as they sat.
“Latecomers!” The trivia host waved to them from the front of the room. He was a young hipster guy with circular glasses and a thick ginger beard. “Welcome, folks. My trusty assistant will get you some pens and paper to write your answers down. Make sure you put your names at the top.”
“Oh my gosh.” Audrey clapped her hands together. “This is going to be so fun.”
“Damn straight, and you’re my cash cow, okay?” Ronan nudged her with his elbow. “I expect that big brain of yours to help us take home the grand prize.”
“You don’t even know what the grand prize is,” she said.
“Don’t care; I just like to win.”
“Oh, you’re one of those guys,” she teased. “Win at any cost, huh? Who would have thought you were hiding a ruthless personality under those elbow patches.”
“You have no idea.” He leaned forward, and Audrey caught a whiff of his cologne. It was crisp and manly, like wood and lemons and a hint of something musky. “You don’t make it to Harvard without having a ruthless streak.”
Hmm, maybe Audrey needed a little more ruthlessness in her life. It wasn’t a quality she’d ever considered to be a positive