Maybe I couldn’t do all the things I wanted in my short life, like travel and go to school, but God, if I had to pick just one, I figured the best history degree I could get was a firsthand experience visiting all the exotic places, seeing them with my own eyes, touching relics of a long-lost past.
I leaned against the sink and grabbed my phone, calling up Darragh, because I missed her and wanted to hear her voice again to make sure she was truly okay. Because I still couldn’t get over that weird feeling I’d gotten when I’d spoken to her earlier. I placed my phone to my ear and let it ring, scanning the outdated kitchen and living room I’d called home for too long.
“Evelyn? Are you okay?” Darragh’s voice came through after the third ring, her voice carrying a note of worry.
Yeah, I couldn’t blame her for wondering why the hell I called.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Although I felt elation for the first time in a long time, I didn't want that darkness that burrowed deep in me to rise and threaten to take it all away again.
She exhaled in relief, and I hated that I was so clearly a head case that she’d jump to conclusions that something was wrong. Could she see how I didn’t really have a grasp on my life?
“Good. I got worried hearing from you again so soon.”
“No, everything is fine. I guess I was just feeling a little clingy because I’ve been so worried about you for the past couple of days.” I exhaled and turned to make some coffee, the headache behind my eyes blooming, because I hadn’t given my body the caffeine fix it was roaring out for. “So yeah, that’s my excuse to call you, which isn't an excuse at all.”
She laughed softly. “I’m glad you called. But this phone call is going to cost a fortune.”
I took a seat and set my mug down in front of me, going right away to the little piece of laminate that was peeling up from the table. It was my turn to start laughing, because yeah, it sure as hell was. I’d push that worry away until I got the bill. “I don’t care about that, although maybe I should since I finally quit Bosco’s.”
There was a beat of silence before she said, “Good. That place is a shithole anyway.”
“Yeah, it really is a shithole. I was sick of the assholes and the sexual harassment.” I stood and started walking around the kitchen, unable to sit still.
“I thought Ritchie said he was going to put a stop to all that?” Darragh asked and I could practically hear the frown in her voice.
I snorted. “Please. He doesn’t give a shit about that. He’s all talk. And half the time he’s the one delivering the sexual harassment to the waitresses.”
“You should still be sleeping. I know you didn’t get home until late, and then I woke you up with the phone call.”
“I’m fine. I’d been staring at my ceiling for so long that my eyes burned. Then I couldn’t fall back to sleep, so I said screw it and got up to bug you. But enough about me. Did you finally get to that guy’s house who’s going to help you find your father?”
“I wish I could show you this place,” she murmured in this whimsical voice.
Well hell, if a sight could put a sound like that in a girl’s voice, I had to see it. I pulled the phone away and connected the video chat, waiting until she finally answered. A second later the video call was accepted, and I grinned as Darragh’s face popped up on the screen.
“Hey, you,” I said and sat back at the table, getting comfortable for this virtual tour I’d demand she give me. I lifted my mug and took a long pull of the too-bitter coffee but felt that instant caffeine hit my bloodstream. “So, show me how incredible this place is.”
She turned the camera around right away and faced it at a grand, gorgeous staircase. She swept the phone along what was clearly the front entrance of a massive home—a mansion that screamed old-world culture. She showed me the most gorgeous library, the spines of the books looking leather-bound and aged with history. It had my heart speeding up.
Once the mini tour was done, she turned the camera back to her, and my grin widened. “Where is this dude who brought you to that house that screams ‘loaded’?”
Even though her image was pixelated, I could see her blush clearly and cocked an eyebrow, wanting to probe for that information, because it was clear even mentioning this dude had her flushing fiercely.
“He had to step away for a bit.”
I wanted to press, but for once in my life, I kept my mouth shut. She’ll tell me when she was ready.