Free Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon Page A

meeting us. Killian is finally going to ask Caitlin out.”
    “That’s awesome! I’m glad I left them alone so it could actually happen!”
    “Yeah, well, it’s about time. Now with her sorted it’s just you we have to worry about. Are you still hankering after Adam?”
    “I don’t think I was ever hankering after him.”
    She gave me one of her withering looks.
    “Okay, so I did some hankering,” I admitted. “I don’t know; I guess I still am, but as you’ve all pointed out, he’s a no-go.”
    “Listen, if Adam DeRís showed even the slightest bit of interest in me I’d snap him up. When a guy’s that gorgeous, he could sprout wings and sport a tutu and I’d still have a bit of him.”
    “I’m just not big on making the first move … and he doesn’t seem too hot on it either.”
    “Oh, dear Lord. It’s like the Caitlin/Killian fiasco all over again. Just grow a big pair of cojones and ask him out. The Halloween party is the perfect opportunity. Now, come on. We need to do something about that wardrobe of yours.”
    I pressed the button at the crosswalk and waited for the little red man to turn green. Then I heard a caw.
    I glanced up in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    “What did you say?” Jennifer said.
    “Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself.” That crow really was following me! Now that I had noticed him, I saw how he shadowed our movements from shop to shop. This is crazy .
    Later, Caitlin texted for us to meet her. She and Killian were standing outside the café waiting for us, and her face relaxed when she saw us walking toward her.
    “Finally!” she exclaimed.
    I noticed Caitlin and Killian had their fingers linked casually. I made no comment, but winked at Caitlin when I knew Killian wasn’t looking.
    “Are you ready to go?” she asked.
    I nodded and she turned to Killian. “So, I’ll see you Monday?”
    “It’s a date,” he replied. “I’d better check in with Darren.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Jennifer said, linking her arm through his. “See you guys later.”
    Once they were out of earshot, I spun around to Caitlin.
    “Tell me everything! What happened?”
    “Oh, Meg,” she said breathlessly. “Wait until I tell you! He is mad about me, has been for ages. He’s taking me to the Halloween party.”
    “I’m so excited for you!”
    She gazed dreamily ahead and sighed. “And, my God, that guy can snog.”
    “You kissed him?”
    “Oh, it was so yummy. My lips are still tingling.” She giggled. “Would you listen to me? I sound like such a pleb.”
    “I’m not sure what a pleb is, but I’m sure you don’t sound like one. It’s sweet.”
    Up ahead our bus was pulling into the stop. Laughing, we ran the last couple of yards, jumped on, and made for the backseats.
    Once we sat down, I noticed Caitlin looked a little sheepish. I nudged her. “What’s up?”
    “So, the Halloween party next Saturday, it starts at eight thirty. Would you mind terribly if, instead of walking together, I meet you there? It’s just that … well, Killian wants a little rendezvous beforehand. I don’t have to meet with him, but I’d love to. Don’t hate me,” she added.
    “Why would I hate you?” I laughed. “I’ll be fine.”
    “Are you sure? It’ll be dark.”
    “It’s Kinsale, not the Wild West. Here, lemme show you what I bought to wear.”
    “Oh, that’s divine,” Caitlin said, holding my new top out in front of her. “You’ll have him walking into trees wearing this.”
    “Who?”
    “Oh, don’t play innocent. You know very well who.”
    “Do you think he’ll be there?”
    “Of course he’ll be there. He’s always lurking somewhere when you’re around.”
    My stomach fluttered a little. Saturday night couldn’t come quickly enough.
    My stomach was in knots as I opened the door to my house. I’d been playing out different scenarios in my head on the walk up from the bus. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, but I had decided I was