"I don't know how long this trip we're going on is supposed to be," Keira said as she got into the passenger side of Shane's car and fiddled with her seat belt. "But I need a coffee ASAP. And if you could get me back with a few hours to spare before the festival kicks off that would be great. I need to get in some solid writing hours." She finally got buckled in. "So, where are we going?"
When she received no response from Shane she looked over to see him wearing his characteristic amused expression. She folded her arms. "What?"
He gave her a shrug. "Well, it's hardly the weather for sunglasses, that's all I was thinking."
Keira pushed her sunglasses resolutely against her nose. "There might be early morning glare," she replied, cringing at the haughtiness she heard in her voice. "And anyway, you're hardly one to judge someone else's attire. Did you even use a mirror to dress this morning?"
Shane tipped his head back and laughed with abandon. Keira felt her lips twitch with satisfaction, then checked herself. She'd just allowed herself to take one step closer toward flirting with him, which definitely was not part of the ain't nothing wrong with looking philosophy!
"I thought I would take you somewhere nearby to start off with," Shane told her as he accelerated onto the main street. "So I've chosen the Burren, which is only a twenty-minute drive. It's a national park. You heard of it?"
Keira shook her head. "I can't wait," she said as a mental picture formulated in her mind of a beautiful Irish scene.
She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw Shane smirk. When they pulled up in the parking lot of the Burren twenty minutes later she realized why. There wasn't a blade of grass in sight! The Burren was made of bleak, gray rock.
She turned to Shane, frowning. "Is this a prank? I thought you said it was a national park."
Shane started laughing. "It is! One and a half thousand hectares of protected land, consisting almost entirely of limestone."
Keira let out a sigh of exasperation. "So of all the places you could have taken me to show off the majesty of Ireland, you chose this."
"I picked up on some snooty vibes back at William's place," Shane said, raising a combative eyebrow. "I figured this would be the best place to take you to get you off your high horse. Ireland isn't some fantasy land filled with leprechauns, though there are some parts that play up the stereotypes for the sake of the tourists. But if you dig a little bit beneath the surface we're a country with real heart, real romance. We have a rich and interesting history, if you let yourself give us a chance."
Keira folded her arms. Everything he'd said about her was right, of course, but she wasn't about to admit that. "I'm not snooty," was all she said.
Shane just shrugged. "Come on, this way. The view from the top of the hill is incredible."
Keira followed. "I don't really have the appropriate footwear for a hike," she complained.
"Don't worry, I won't take us on the three-hour mountain trek, although it's breathtaking and a shame to miss out on." He gave her a withering look. "Think you can handle a half hour loop? It'll take us through meadows and some amazing woodland."
"Yes, I think I can I manage thirty minutes," Keira muttered.
"I meant without killing me," Shane laughed.
He seemed to enjoy winding Keira up.
"I feel like we've gotten off to a bad start," Keira said as she tried to keep up with his brisk pace. She wasn't used to hilly walks. "Have I said something to insult you?"
At first, Shane ignored the question. Instead, he pointed to a wooden stake in the ground with several colorful arrows on it. "We're following the orange trail, okay?"
Keira nodded. They continued ascending the gray hillside. The landscape was so barren Keira felt as if she were walking on the surface of the moon. The craggy craters on either side of her added further to the illusion. When she saw a tuft of grass-somehow growing through a crack in the rock-it gave her a bit of a shock to think that grass could grow on the moon. She had to remind herself that this place was actually on Earth.
"Well?" Keira pressed. "You didn't answer my question."
"About whether we got off on the wrong foot or not?" Shane said. Then he chewed his bottom lip in contemplation. "Why does it matter?"
"Because we have thirty days to spend together so we may as well get along."
Shane fell silent again. Keira couldn't help but feel frustrated by the amount of time it took him to answer a question. She wasn't comfortable with the silences he was constantly bestowing on her. It made her feel awkward.
"I wonder," he said finally, "if you just don't like the idea that someone might not like you."
"Excuse me?" Keira felt instantly insulted by his comment and immediately put up a defensive front.
"You have one of those nice-guy complexes. You expect everyone to find your quirky Americanness charming and I don't."
"Me charming?" Keira scoffed. "You're the one with the whole cheeky Irish chappy thing going on!"
"That bothers you?"
"It's an infuriating stereotype."
Keira could hear herself growing snappy. In complete contrast, Shane's tone hadn't changed at all. He was completely neutral, as though the conversation wasn't even remotely irksome.
"I think you're finding a lot more than just me infuriating," Shane said. "I mean, you weren't that nice to William."
"And?" Keira scoffed. "I'm here to work, not make friends. And I feel no obligation to be nice to someone with such old-fashioned ideas about love. It annoys me when people think they know exactly what men and women want from one another."
Shane raised his eyebrows. "For someone who says they're happy in their long-term relationship you seem very hostile towards the concept of love."
Keira shot him a look. "It's not love that's the problem. It's this idea that it's a picture-perfect thing. That some old man who's never met you in your life can just match you to someone else he doesn't know from Adam, and then you'll fall instantly in love and stay that way forever and ever. Real life isn't like a novel."
Even as she spoke, Keira could tell that Shane was enjoying her reaction. He was deliberately winding her up. Two can play that game, Keira thought.
"So you're a romantic then?" she said. "Is that what you're telling me? I suppose you've only ever been with your high school sweetheart and plan on marrying her."
Suddenly, Shane fell silent, and Keira could tell she'd accidentally spoken out of turn. She snapped her lips shut, knowing not to press it any further.
They reached the top of the hill and an incredible view opened up before Keira. It was like looking at the cooled lava of a volcano, or the surface of an asteroid. Keira had never seen anything quite like this alien landscape, and never had she felt so small or insignificant.
For the first time since arriving, Keira felt a new sense of humbleness. Maybe Elliot had made a mistake sending her to Ireland. Joshua would never have come over all sentimental at the sight of a beautiful, mystical landscape. He'd remain cynical and cold just like Elliot needed him to be. But Keira herself could feel something in her core softening. For the first time since arriving in Ireland she felt as though something in its bleak barrenness had touched her.
"Come on," Shane said, his voice lacking all of the joviality she'd become accustomed to. "Let's go."
"Can we stay a bit longer?" Keira asked.
"I thought you needed a coffee."
"It can wait."
They stood side by side, silent, watching the world. There was no one around for miles, not another living soul. Keira couldn't recall any other point in her life when she'd been in such a remote location. Back home in New York City she was always surrounded by people, by noise and civilization. But here there was just nature in its starkest form.
"Did I say something to upset you?" Keira asked Shane.
It had been a good ten minutes since he'd uttered a word. It felt so strange to not hear him taking a swipe at her.
"Actually, yes," Shane said finally.
"Oh." Keira hadn't been expecting such candor. In some ways it was refreshing. But the brutal truth could be just that: brutal. "I'm sorry for whatever it was I said."
Shane looked at her for the first time in a long time. "I'm not sure you are."
He began walking again, descending now, leaving Keira standing, floundering on the precipice of the world. She finally pulled herself together and followed.
"That's not fair," she said, stepping up beside him, swinging her arms in wide arcs in order to keep up.
"Oh?" was all Shane deigned to give her.
Keira felt that now familiar sense of irritation. "You can't accuse me of not being sorry."
"Well, you don't know what you need to be sorry for," Shane replied. "So how can you know if you're sorry about it?"
Keira frowned. Shane was talking in riddles again. "I can know I'm sorry for hurting your feelings even if I don't know how I did it!"
Shane shrugged. "Maybe."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Keira challenged. Then in her best Irish accent, she mimicked, "Maybe."
Shane burst out laughing. "Wow. I knew Americans were bad at accents but that was exceptional. You could win an award for that."
Keira let out a frustrated exhalation. At least Shane was back on form. Back to his predictably irritating state.
They reached the car. Keira could feel the warmth in her cheeks. Her breath came in short puffs.
"You're not very fit, are you?" Shane joked as he opened the passenger door for her.
"I'm just not used to hills," Keira replied testily. "But let me guess, you're some kind of Olympic hiker?"
Shane let out one of his deep laughs and Keira felt a tingle inside of her; she liked making Shane laugh like that, it made her feel good about herself, confident.
"Olympic hiking, now that's an idea," Shane said, shaking his head. "No, not quite. But my dad taught me how to box. And I grew up beside a lake so I'm not too shabby at swimming, either."
As she got into the car, Keira pretended to be unimpressed, but a mental picture had formed in her head of Shane's muscular body emerging from a lake, his boxer's biceps glistening with water. It was hard to imagine a firm, muscled body existing beneath his ill-fitting shirt and jeans combo, but now that Keira had done so she couldn't seem to shake it.
Shane came and sat in the driver's seat beside her. Keira was never going to get over how small the cars were over here, and how close it made her feel to whoever was in the car with her.
"So you're strong?" she said, noting the completely unintentional flirtatious lilt in her voice that she hoped wasn't too pronounced.
She half expected Shane to pull up his sleeve and flex, but instead he just gave one of his nonchalant shrugs. "You could say that."
He gunned the engine and reversed them out of the Burren's parking lot. Keira gave it a long, wistful look as they drove away, knowing that she'd experienced something profound there, something that would stay with her forever.
*
They returned to find Lisdoonvarna festival in full swing. The streets teemed with men and women alike, all dressed up to the nines. Shops and bars had opened their doors and turned on their lights, making the town a disco ball of color. Everywhere Keira looked there was another musician, another band surrounded by a crowd of people singing and dancing, beer-filled glasses raised to the sky.
It all looked quite fun, but Keira had a brief to stick to, so when she pulled her notebook out of her purse and began scribbling down some descriptions, they were all scathing-gaudy lights, a poor-man's Vegas, nothing more than a nightclub spilled onto the streets.
"What are you writing in there?" Shane asked as he parked.
Keira snapped her notebook shut guiltily. "Nothing."
Shane looked suspicious. But he didn't press it further. "We may as well get some food," he said. "This way."
Keira followed Shane through the throng of party-goers, some wearing crowns and sashes, all very drunk despite the fact it hadn't even fully gotten dark yet.
They stopped at a long picnic table that had been set up in the middle of the road beside a smoking barbecue. Plates of half eaten chicken and burgers lay strewn across the table.
"We're eating here?" Keira asked, raising an eyebrow at Shane.
"What's wrong? Too messy for you, Princess?"
Keira wasn't about to take the insult. In an attempt to prove herself, she sat down at the picnic bench, pushing a plate with crumbs and ketchup away from her. "I'll have a burger, thanks," she told Shane. "Well done."
He smirked and went off to order.
While he was gone, a group of young women came and sat at the picnic bench, sort of surrounding Keira. They were very loud. It was the perfect opportunity, Keira realized, to conduct some interviews. She turned to the girl next to her.
"Hi, sorry to interrupt," she began. "I'm a writer, working on a piece about the Lisdoonvarna Festival of Love. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
"Ask away," the woman said with a laugh and a hiccup. She was clearly tipsy. "I'm a seasoned pro here so a good person to ask!"
"Oh?" Keira said. "A seasoned pro? You mean you've been before?"
The woman leaned in and whispered loudly, "I come every year!"
"So you've never had a successful match?" Keira asked, pleased to have evidence to back up her position.
"Oh I've had a successful match, all right. I get a successful match with a new fella every year." She winked and nudged Keira. "Works quite nicely for me."
Keira started making some quick notes. That someone would use the festival like a dating app was very interesting to her.
"So you come every year just for a fling?" Keira clarified.
"That's a good way of putting it," the woman replied.
"Then you don't believe in The One?" Keira pressed. "In a perfect love match?"
"Of course not," the woman exclaimed. "It's the twenty-first century, there's no such thing anymore. The way I look at it, there's seven billion of us on this planet. What are the chances that you'll even find The One, supposing there is such a thing? Best to have the one, two, three, four…you get my drift." She started laughing again.
This was perfect, Keira thought. If even the attendees at the festival were critics the piece would practically write itself!
Just then, Shane came back with two burgers and a pitcher of beer.
"Not more beer," Keira groaned. "I can't handle this much alcohol."
Shane grinned. "You'll build up your tolerance soon enough. I bet by the end of the month you'll be drinking me under the table."
Just then, the woman Keira had been talking to leaned over.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" she said, flashing seductive eyes Shane's way.
Keira couldn't quite comprehend the sudden surge of jealousy she felt. It was almost animalistic, instinctive. So powerful it was scary.
Shane leaned over her and offered his hand to the woman. "Shane Lawder," he said as he shook it, his eyes twinkling.
"I'm Tessa," she replied. "It's very nice to meet you."
"And you," Shane said with a wink.
For the first time, Keira got a flash of a side of Shane she hadn't yet been exposed to; the playboy side. She could see it in his eyes, in the way his pupils dilated. Shane got as much out of this festival as the rest of them. He probably had a fling once a year just like this woman did.
Keira leaned back as the two flirted over her, feeling a whole host of unsettling emotions, from generally grossed out to downright rage. She grabbed her phone, seeking a distraction.
On Instagram she found yet more pictures of Ruth's wedding. For the first time she felt somewhat lonely, and a little homesick. As she scrolled through the beautiful pictures, she stopped on one with a sudden jolt of surprise. There in the background was Zachary dancing with Ruth's friend Julia. And not just dancing, but dancing. His hands were on the small of her back, which was bare thanks to the slinky, sexy dress she was wearing. Julia was leaning into him with a coquettish expression on her face. They looked like a couple, rather than just a couple of people dancing.
Keira felt instantly furious. Zach knew she'd see these photos. He'd purposefully done this to piss her off.
She fired off a message to Zachary, attaching the picture with the caption: Jealous boyfriend grabs first available floozy.
Then she grabbed the pitcher of beer and filled a glass. She took a deep swig. It was to become the first of many that night.
*
Keira wobbled her way down the street toward the B&B. She'd lost count of the number of beers she'd had, and the number of pitchers that had been purchased. It was a lot, and yet still not enough to numb her anger at Zach.
"Hey, wait up!" Shane called, following her along the street. "It's my job to make sure you get back in one piece."
He seemed remarkably sober for someone who had kept the drinks flowing all night.
"I'm fine," Keira mumbled. "It's not like I can get lost. There's only one road."
"Oh, it's like that, is it?" Shane laughed, taking her elbow to help steer her. "Are there not enough roads in Lisdoonvarna to satisfy Princess Keira?"
"I'm not in the mood to be mocked," Keira replied. The picture of Zach and Julia was still burned into her brain, still making her upset.
Shane backed off. "Okay," he said, his tone now more serious. "Well, here we are anyway."
They'd reached the door of the B&B. Keira fumbled with the latch.
"See you in the morning," Shane said as she walked inside.
She didn't reply, just wobbled her way through the heaving pub and up the rickety staircase to her room. Once inside, she flopped down onto the bed and sighed loudly. She kicked off her shoes and rubbed her sore ankles. It had been a long day. But it had also been inspiring. From her meeting with the matchmaker to the gray landscape of the Burren, from Shane and Tessa's amorous display at the festival to Zach's blatant attempts to make her jealous at the wedding, Keira wasn't low on snarky things to write about. Elliot was going to love this piece.
She just had to survive the rest of the festival.