Page 72 of Thanks for Coming Along
Of course, she didn't want it. But it was what was best for him. That Iran position was waiting for Ronan to fill it. He had worked so hard to get to where he was, and she couldn't stand in the way.
"I saw that he was going to Iran," Eden blurted out, the statement flying out of her mouth before she could stop it.
"Iran? No, he doesn't want to go back overseas," Sadie replied, her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.
"Why?" The question lingered in the air. Was it because of her? This was the very reason she had chosen to end things. She didn't want to be the one holding Ronan back. She'd learned the hard way that humans are fickle, their feelings shifting like the wind, sometimes from love to resentment within weeks. What if Ronan gave up his overseas work and then resented her for it later? She couldn't bear the weight of that uncertainty again; it was a surefire path to heartbreak.
"He told me the moment he landed back from Yemen eight months ago that he didn't want to go back overseas," Sadie continued, her voice softening as she relayed the information. "Even before he started working on the documentary, he said he had lost his passion for fieldwork and how it had worn him down. That's why he took your project; he saw it as a chance to explore something different."
Eden's heart pounded in her chest. This was news to her. She had assumed that his desire to stay in the U.S. was temporary, that he would soon miss the fulfillment of international reporting.
"Within the first week of the documentary, he was looking into opportunities in the U.S.," Sadie continued, her eyes locked on Eden's. "He was offered a permanent position at the Los Angeles office, with a prime-time show," Sadie continued.
He wanted to stay in Los Angeles.Hope bubbled in Eden's veins, and her heart thumped excitedly in her chest. She quickly extinguished that spark of hope. It still didn't change the fact that he would risk his reputation being with her. She knew that their relationship meant he was guilty by association. The media would undoubtedly cast him as a villain alongside her, and Ronan's reputation as a serious journalist could be at stake. She envisioned the potential of him losing his position at BNN, and with that, their relationship turned bitter and resentful.
"I care about him enough to shield him from my reputation," Eden admitted, her voice thick with emotion. "He almost lost this project because of me. Being with me is social suicide." Sadie shook her head.
"That isn't true, Eden. Even if it were, Ronan doesn't care. Don't you get it?" Sadie urged, her eyes reflecting genuine concern for her. "He.. cares about you. Deeply. And he's willing to face whatever comes with that."
Eden looked down, embarrassed by her insecurities and the impact they had on her decisions. "But what if being with me ruins his career? What if he loses everything he's worked so hard for?"
Sadie sighed, her expression softening. "You're underestimating Ronan and the strength of his convictions. Also, everyone on social media is loving the two of you together. You should see the memes; people are making these slow-motion videos of the two of you. There's even a trending hashtag, 'Roden,' dedicated to you both. That counts for something," Sadie said, playfully rolling her eyes as she settled on the couch beside Eden.
Eden blinked in surprise. "Roden? Really? It sounds way too close to Rodent for my taste."
"Yes, really," Sadie replied with a chuckle. "People are rooting for you two. And that kind of public support can influence how BNN and others perceive your relationship. It could even work in your favor."
Eden wondered if it could influence BNN's stance on their relationship if people supported them. The idea was comforting, but it was still hard for her to shake off the fear of the unknown.
"I just don't want to be the reason he loses everything," Eden whispered, her voice breaking.
"And you won't be," Sadie assured her. "But you will be the reason he loses something far more important if you keep pushing him away—his happiness. Ronan is a grown man. Let him decide what's best for him. You owe him that much."
"You two are one in a million, a love that happens once in a blue moon. You found each other, the hard part is over. You can still fight for him. Don't wait and live to regret losing him," Sadie said with a reassuring smile. "Screw the media, screw BNN. Forget everyone else and think about what you want," she added quietly.
So she did.
As Eden thought about the past few weeks, memories of Ronan flooded her mind. She could remember the first time she made him laugh, how his face lit up with a smile that made her heart skip a beat. She thought about their debates over the best albums or movies, and how they could argue for hours. She could almost taste the bowls of pasta he’d made for her, those quiet nights when everything felt easy. The memory of his touches still gave her chills, and those sweet kisses that left her breathless lingered long after. His warmth made her feel secure in a way she hadn’t known she needed.
Feeling overwhelmed by the wave of emotions, her eyes filled with tears. The longing she felt was so strong, so intense, that it settled in her chest like a deep ache—an undeniable need to be with him, to feel him beside her, and to build a life together.
In the quiet corners of her heart, she recognized the truth: shelovedhim. Truly, undoubtedly loved him with her entire heart. The thought didn't scare her as she expected it might, it was a simple and undeniable fact, a truth etched deeply into her soul.
She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Ronan was worth fighting for. Despite her efforts to end their relationship, she realized she had only been deceiving herself. Her intentions were pure—she genuinely wanted what was best for him. The last thing she wanted was to become an obstacle on his path to a successful career. But now, she could also admit that she had been scared, completely petrified, of the intensity of her feelings for him, of him leaving her just like everyone else had.
But Ronan wasn't everyone else. He was the one who listened to her without judgment, the one who knew her to the depth of her soul. He had borne witness to her every flaw, every recess of her gnarled heart, and remained at her side despite all the imperfections she carried.
It was a resolute determination that straightened her spine, she wanted to fight for what they had. Because the thought of losing him, of his absence from her life for an eternity, felt like a fatal blow to her heart.
She felt a huge sense of relief knowing that he didn’t want to go back overseas. As much as she had convinced herself she was prepared for him to leave, the thought of it would have devastated her. But the idea that she might be the reason he was staying—it tore her apart. She didn’t want to be the thing that held him back.
She knew their relationship might impact his professional life. But if he was willing to take that risk, maybe she should be too. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he had the strength to handle whatever challenges came their way. And if he felt even a fraction of what she felt for him, then maybe it was a risk worth taking.
Ronan might hurt her, and their relationship could take some unpredictable turns, but she still wanted to take that leap of faith. She was ready to face the uncertainty, because deep down, she knew it was worth it. Thathewas worth it. Because what if it worked out? The possibility made her heart swell with hope—something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in so long, maybe ever.
All of these emotions swirled together in her mind, alongside a melody that had been bouncing around in her head. It was something evocative, something she needed to express. The melody had been there ever since Colm played the fiddle for her, but the perfect lyrics had always eluded her. Now, though, there was a fire of determination in her heart—one she couldn’t ignore.
Eden shifted her gaze to Sadie and spoke softly, "I need to visit your grandad."
