Her friend sighed. “I know what I said, Toni. I guess I’m just relieved that we might have jobs. I still have those interviews, but wouldn’t it be nice to know we’ve got something to fall back on?”

She couldn’t believe Eddie’s hypocrisy. “But I thought that all we were doing was ‘falling back on’ something that was dragging us down.”

“I get it, Toni. But I have a lot to consider. I’ve got debt and I need a job. I can’t just run off to Ireland whenever shit hits the fan.”

“Baby, you’re being rude!” Megan chastised. Antonia didn’t want to hear it right now.

“I’ve gotta go, Ed.”

“Look, I’m sorry...”

She hung up on her friend and tossed the phone on her bed. “Fuck everything,” she muttered. Where did Eddie get the nerve to talk to her like that? He was totally backtracking on his own advice, making her feel guilty in the process. She hadn’t just run away to Ireland when the shit hit the fan.

Antonia sat back against her pillows. Well, that is exactly what I did. But Eddie didn’t realize how his words shook her foundation. She was reminded, once again, that Ireland wasn’t just a vacation from her worries. She had to make critical decisions about her future. Antonia just hadn’t counted on Aiden to act as a tornado in her life. Regardless of how she felt about him, the news of another job opportunity couldn’t be ignored. She had to go back to Chicago sooner or later, and she needed a job when the time did come. Publishing was safe. She knew the industry inside and out, and Sixpence was a great place to rise in the ranks. Antonia would have more responsibility, people under her, and a large pay raise.

But then there was the promise of creating something that was hers. Her character, Augusta needed her. Antonia was already molding her into something strong and powerful, a better version of herself. The thought of putting Augusta on hold, stagnant on the page, made her heart sink. And then there was Aiden. She was just getting used to the idea of following him to Galway. She truly wanted to see his world, a place where things were hopefully more normal than today’s events.

But she had no idea how he was holding up. When she left him, he didn’t look any better than when she’d pulled him off the Clifden sidewalk. Since their last kiss, she ached for his touch, some small measure of comfort in his arms that could tell her he was okay. Antonia kept reminding herself that he needed space. He needed time. Time that she was quickly running out of. Tired as she was, she needed him.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

After he left Antonia, Aiden had fallen onto his bed and slept for several hours. His nap was only interrupted by a quick meal of frozen shepherd’s pie before guilt tired him out and sent him back to bed. The night had been filled with fitful sleep and an empty space in his bed where Antonia should have been.