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“Naw, let me walk you back.”

A swarm of butterflies took off in her chest. “Oh, I don’t want to make you stay up any later,” she said, motioning toward his friends.

“They can wait,” he said. “Can’t you all?”

They all nodded, no jokes abounding then, as if they wanted Finn to walk her home.

“Okay, great,” she said.

After another wave goodbye to Finn’s friends, wondering if she’d ever see any of them again, Maisie followed Finn through the still-teeming crowds at the pub. As soon as they reached the door, however, Finn paused.

“Boys a dear, I forgot me jacket,” he said, looking over his shoulder.

“I’ll wait here,” she said.

He nodded, then promptly disappeared into the crowds once again.

Maisie stood off to the side of the doorway, shifting instead to an empty table covered in half-filled glasses with lipstick marks and lingering condensation on the sides.

She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to her dad.

Maisie

Just wanted to let you know I’m leaving the pub. The tour guide is walking me back to the hotel. Don’t worry, he’s super trustworthy. I’ll text you when I’m back. Love you!

Dad

Thanks for letting me know. Show him the moves I taught you if he tries anything.

Maisie smiled, shaking her head in amusement before tucking her phone away.

“You’re the girl who sang with Finn, aren’t you?”

Maisie whirled around to the sound of a woman’s voice behind her, and the smile on her lips froze as she faced Fiadh, the woman from the ice cream truck, standing in front of her, an empty tray in her hand and a rag thrown over her shoulder.

She was the last person Maisie had expected—or wanted—to see.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Maisie tried to settle her tightening nerves. “Yeah, that was me up there,” she responded lightly, though she felt anything but carefree.

Fiadh smiled. “You did great.”

“Oh, thank you. I was totally out of my comfort zone, as I’m sure you could tell.”

She knew some Europeans weren’t crazy friendly, but after being with Finn’s friends, the conversationalist inside her remained. Anyway, if this was one of Finn’s friends, Maisie was still on trial, right?

Or was Fiadh more than a friend? No, Finn had already clarified that.

“You looked like a natural up there,” Fiadh continued, placing a few of the empty glasses from the table onto her tray. “But that’s easy for anyone standin’ next to Finn. He always helps everyone feel comfortable.”

Maisie nodded, unsure of how to respond.

She looked around the pub, praying Finn would hurry up and rescue her from this encounter. The woman wasn’t cold, by any means, but she certainly wasn’t as approachable as Finn’s other friends.

“So are the two of you together, then?” Fiadh asked.

“Just friends,” Maisie responded for what felt like the hundredth time that night.