“So we’re doing this?”Nathan asks.His voice is the one vibrating with suppressed emotion now.
“There’s no one I’d rather take a leap with than you, Nathan Holbrook.Let’s go to Ireland and dream up the most beautiful future together.”
The words are barely out of my mouth before Nathan wraps his arms around me and lifts me off my feet.My squeal of surprise turns into delighted laughter as he peppers my face with kisses.I catch his chin and hold his face still so I can look into his eyes.So beautiful, so familiar.
Fireflies continue to dance around us as I close my eyes and bring my smiling lips to Nathan’s.
EPILOGUE ~ NATHAN
2 months later
I’ll never grow tired of the sight of Fiona on the cliffs of Ardmore, pink-cheeked and laughing as the wind whips her hair around her face.I’ve heard so many stories about the fae folk since we’ve been here that sometimes, when the light hits her just right and she glows from the inside out, it’s easy to believe Fiona is one of them: ethereally beautiful and full of magic, with an indomitable spirit.
I chuckle to myself at this train of thought.The magic of Ireland is rubbing off on me.Fiona jokes that I sound more and more like Murph, and I’m okay with that comparison.These last two months have left me feeling like a new person, and I know Murph would be unspeakably proud of me.Of both of us.
I take out my phone and snap a picture of Fiona.Never in my life did I expect to become a ‘social media boyfriend’, but here we are.I love capturing candid and behind-the-scenes photos for Fiona to use on her BeSocial account.It took me a while to warm up to the idea of having my own face on social media, but after Fiona accidentally included me in the background of a couple of her videos, people wanted to know more about her so-called mystery man.
Most of the photos Fiona takes of us together are just for us, but the ones she shares online do really well, which is baffling to me.Mila has warned me to avoid reading the comments, claiming they’re ‘thirsty’ and would make me uncomfortable.So far, I’ve heeded her advice.
Fiona turns toward me, and I snap another picture, then another as a bright smile flashes across her face.She has a yellow flower tucked behind her ear that somehow managed to stay put despite the wind.
I see her lips moving, and I know she’s whispering into the wind.I caught her doing it one day shortly after we arrived in Ardmore, and she confessed she was talking to Murph.She told me how close she feels to him here, and that she likes to think the wind will carry her messages to him, wherever he is.Ever since then, I’ve whispered my own brief messages to him when I’m alone.I love you.I miss you.Thank you.
Fiona comes running, and I catch her, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.She buries her face in my neck, and I can feel the vibration of her laughter against my skin.When I set her down, she kisses me, then takes my hand as we set off toward the cottage.
Mila is in the garden when we arrive, wearing a comically oversized sunhat and gardening gloves.She hums to herself as she snips flowers and adds them to the basket at her side.
“Hey, you two,” she says when she spots us.“I thought I’d make a few bouquets so the place looks extra special when our guests arrive.”
“Great idea,” Fiona says.“I’ll help.”
I check to see that Mila has gone back to her task, and then I haul Fiona toward me and cover her mouth with mine.She melts against me instantly, clutching at my T-shirt, and letting out a soft moan when my tongue sweeps over her bottom lip.She tastes like summer sunshine and the ripe berries we ate earlier.I can never get enough.
“Maybe we should go inside and take advantage of our last few hours of quiet,” I say.
I can hear you,” Mila says in a sing-song voice.
Fiona and I both laugh, and then she makes shooing motions at me before shoving me toward the front door.
* * *
FIONA
“You look like you’re having another pinch-me moment,” Mila says.“If my gloves weren’t filthy, I’d take out my camera and capture that dreamy look on your face.”
I drop to my knees beside her and pluck a weed from the flowerbed, tossing it in her direction.She catches it and adds it to the small pile I hadn’t noticed before.
My entire life has been full of pinch-me moments.I’ve been blessed to travel the world, see things that defy description, experience countless moments of pure awe that have taken my breath away and brought tears to my eyes.But none of them compare to life with Nathan.
We’ve explored much of Ireland and have even ventured to Scotland twice to apartment hunt with Mila, but coming back here to the cottage always fills me with a warm sense of comfort.I’m finally beginning to understand what my dad meant about having both roots and wings.I can see planting roots in Ardmore, making this sweet little cottage our base, and then spreading our wings—both together and separately—and seeing where the wind takes us.
After some quality time with her family in Prague, Mila joined us at the cottage four weeks ago.She’ll be leaving next week to move into an apartment in Edinburgh.We plan to meet up often, knowing each of us has a home with the other, and we can run the business via phone, text, email, and video chat.
“Everyone will be arriving soon,” I say.A surge of excited butterflies takes flight in my stomach at the thought of having Mum, Liam, Joss, Thea, and Rex at the cottage for the first time.Hopefully, the first of many.I wanted to greet them at the airport, but Dad’s tiny, ancient car would never hold everyone, so Mum rented an SUV.She texted when they arrived in Dublin, and then again an hour ago when they got their rental car, so they should be here in about two hours.
Mila offered to stay at a nearby hotel since we only have two spare rooms, plus a pull-out couch in the office.When Mum found out, she insisted Mila could share her bed if she was comfortable with that arrangement.“It’ll be like one big slumber party!”Mum had said, and that sealed the deal.It’s going to be absolute chaos having eight people in the small cottage, but I’m looking forward to it.Mila, Nathan, and I have planned a full itinerary so we won’t all be cooped up in the house.
After helping Mila for a few minutes, I go inside to make some tea.Nathan’s laptop is open on the kitchen table, although he’s nowhere in sight.I glance at the screen and see the familiar compass logo of Take a Leap Adventures.
