Chapter Forty-Four
Sleep wasn’t happening. Not properly.
Kieran had tried herbal tea, a breathing app with a voice like warm syrup, even a podcast about the history of toilets. Nothing worked. His brain refused to power down. It kept replaying Jacob’s laugh, Heather’s gentle teasing … and Beth’s face every time he closed his eyes.
Prom had eventually given up on him and stalked off to the spare room, tail flicking in feline disgust.
‘Traitor,’ Kieran muttered, staring at the ceiling.
He lay there another minute, restless, his mind stubbornly orbiting Beth – her laugh, her steadiness, the quiet strength she wore so lightly. The faint scent of good food and her distinctive perfume seemed permanently embedded in his memory.
He grabbed his phone. The screen lit the dark.
6:15 a.m.
That’s when he remembered.
His laptop charger. Still plugged in behind the bar at the Jekyll and Hyde after the app meet-up.
He did have a spare.
But still.
A slow smile tugged at his mouth. The perfect excuse. Not that he needed one.
He shoved on a hoodie, grabbed his keys, and stepped out into the thinning dark.
The village was hushed, wrapped in mist. A fox slipped across the road ahead of him, fluid and silent. Somewhere, an owl called once. The world felt paused, like it was waiting for something.
As he approached the pub, he noticed a faint glow through the downstairs windows. Not the full blaze of bar lights, but a soft amber pulse.
Someone was awake.
Hopefully Beth.
His heart gave a small, traitorous leap.
He hesitated outside, debating whether to knock or turn around and pretend he’d changed his mind. Then he heard her voice.
And another.
A man’s?
No, lighter than that. Musical. Oddly familiar.
Kieran frowned.Who is she talking to at this hour?
There was a flicker of laughter, then silence.
He pushed the door gently. It wasn’t locked.
‘Beth?’ he called quietly.
She spun around, eyes wide. ‘Kieran! You scared the life out of me.’
‘Sorry.’ He lifted a hand. ‘Didn’t mean to barge in. I left my charger behind the bar after the app night. Thought I’d grab it before I run out of juice.’
Her shoulders eased, though a faint flush lingered in her cheeks. ‘Right. Of course. It’s over there.’ She gestured behind the counter.
