She nods and hands me her phone. I type it in quickly and give it back to her.
“Just give me a call or text me when you drop it off here tomorrow.”
“I will. Thanks again, Eamon.” She smiles sweetly at me.
I wait until she closes the door and buckles her seat belt before moving to the sidewalk. I watch as she cautiously backs out of the parking spot and drives away. I think back on the night as I head towards home, and I can’t be entirely upset with Paddy. Who would complain about spending hours with a beautiful girl like Norah? Even if it was doing dishes.
Chapter Six
Norah
My alarm rouses me from a delightful dream I’m having about walking around Temple Bar with Eamon. The thought makes those pesky butterflies come to life. Groaning, I roll over and shut off the offending alarm and check my phone. There are four missed calls and a ridiculous amount of text messages. All from my friends. Groaning again, I open up my inbox.
Layla:Whose SUV is that??? Do you have someone in there with you??
The next message is a group text with all of the girls. Oh lord, here we go.
Layla:Norie, please tell us whose black SUV is in your driveway!
Amelia:WHAT?! NORIE, WHAT IS GOING ON?!
Charlie:WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT?!
Myra:OMG! NO WAY! I NEEEEEEEED DETAILS!!
With bleary eyes, Itext the group.
Norah:Calm down. There’s not a man in my house. I’m here alone. Someone let me borrow it last night so I didn’t have to walk home by myself.
Amelia:WHO??????
Charlie:WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL ME?!
Myra:WHERE WERE YOU?!
A separate message from Layla pops up.
Layla:I’m coming over!
Sometimes having a best friend for a neighbor is annoying. I roll out of bed and head towards the bathroom. Layla will be here in about two seconds. Sure enough, just as I finish brushing my teeth, I hear the front door open. I regret giving out copies of my house keys to all of the girls now.
“Good morning,” I call from the bathroom. “Start the coffee pot, will ya?”
“Psh. You think you can just order me around before telling me who owns that SUV?” Layla has the audacity to sound offended.
“Yes. Yes, I do. You won’t get anything from me until coffee hits my veins.”
They all know that I don’t function without coffee. I will never turn down a cup, no matter what time of day it is. I shuffle to the kitchen to find Layla sitting at the island with an expectant look on her face, fingers tapping on the bar.
“Can I help you?” I ask, brow raised.
“You’re damn right you can, chica. Start talking.”
Rolling my eyes, I tell her, “You’re so pushy. Can’t I just explain it to all of you at once? I really don’t want to repeat it a million different times.”
“Fine. Get your laptop. We’re going to Face Time them all,” she replies.
Damn it.
