Recklessness

CH 2

Brittany hadn't felt this nervous in a long time. She was pacing outside a pub in Temple Bar, the lively heart of Dublin's nightlife, where the sound of laughter and music spilled out onto the cobbled streets. She glanced at her phone for the fourth time, trying to play it cool while secretly hoping Cian would show. She'd gotten used to casual flings and passing friendships in her busy life, but something about Cian made her feel completely thrown. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was something different.

"Miss me already?" The familiar voice made her whirl around, and there he was, hands in his coat pockets, looking at her with that same lopsided grin.

Brittany rolled her eyes, pretending to be unimpressed. "Well, if you hadn't shown up, I'd just have to wander Dublin alone. Big loss."

Cian laughed, a soft, easy sound that warmed her against the chill. "Ah, couldn't let that happen, could I? C'mon, let's get inside before we both freeze."

They stepped into the pub, a cozy, dimly lit place with wooden walls and a roaring fire that filled the room with a toasty warmth. It was quieter than she'd expected, which felt like a small blessing. There was something about this place that made her feel like she could let her guard down, like she could just be Brittany-no phone, no fans, no pressure. Just her.

Cian led her to a small table in a corner away from the main crowd, where they settled in with pints of Guinness. For a moment, they just sat there in comfortable silence, listening to the sounds of Irish folk music playing softly in the background, their glasses resting on the well-worn wood of the table.

"So," Cian said, breaking the silence and leaning forward with a teasing glint in his eye. "I know your tour guide secrets, but you're still a bit of a mystery yourself."

"Oh, am I?" she replied, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip of her drink.

"Well, I could Google you," he teased, "but where's the fun in that? I'd rather hear it straight from ya."

Brittany laughed, trying to downplay the sudden flood of nerves. "I mean, my life's pretty much all out there on the internet already. If you wanted the basic rundown, it's just a bunch of me being weird in front of a camera."

"Aye, but that's just what everyone else sees," he replied, his gaze holding hers with a steady, quiet curiosity. "There's gotta be more to you than that."

"More?" Brittany repeated, tilting her head in mock confusion. "Honestly, I don't know if there is. I mean, I'm basically just an internet jester. People watch me for a laugh and go on with their day."

"C'mon," he said, chuckling as if she was purposely underselling herself. "You didn't come all the way to Ireland just to be an internet jester. Why Dublin?"

She hesitated, looking down at her drink as she tried to find the right words. She hadn't really talked about it, not even with her close friends. She was good at being the funny one, the "cool girl" who was unbothered by fame or drama. But here she was, sitting across from a guy who could make her laugh with one look, and she felt like maybe-just maybe-she could let him in on the truth.

"Honestly?" She sighed, smiling a little in spite of herself. "I needed a break. Just a week away from... everything."

Cian nodded as if he understood completely, though his life was worlds away from the chaos of hers. "I get that. Everyone needs a bit of quiet now and then. Somewhere to breathe."

"Exactly," she murmured, grateful that he seemed to get it. "It's weird, though. The quiet is actually kind of... scary? Like, all I'm left with is my own thoughts. And that's... dangerous."

Cian laughed, and the sound of it was enough to loosen the tension she'd felt building. "Hey, nothing wrong with a little time with yourself. Besides, you've got me to distract you now, don't ya?"

They spent the next couple of hours swapping stories over their pints, laughing and talking like they'd known each other for years. Cian shared tales of his childhood growing up in a small village-how he'd once gotten stuck in a bog trying to "capture" a frog, and how his little sister had been the one to rescue him. Brittany, for her part, told him about the wild adventures she'd had in LA, the bizarre red-carpet events, and the random, late-night diner runs with her equally chaotic friends.

"So you're tellin' me you once did karaoke with a celebrity, then fell asleep in a booth?" he asked, eyes wide with amusement.

"Oh, it gets worse," she replied, laughing. "I woke up the next morning to about a hundred messages because people thought I'd actually passed out. Turns out, it only took, like, half a margarita."

He chuckled, looking at her with a warm, almost admiring look in his eyes. "Well, next time you're in Dublin, we'll see if you can last through an Irish pub night."

"Oh, is that a challenge?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"Aye, might be," he replied, a spark of mischief in his eyes.

Eventually, the pub began to empty, and they found themselves outside again, wandering down the rain-soaked streets of Dublin. The drizzle had turned into a steady rain, but they barely seemed to notice, the city lights reflecting off the wet cobblestones in a soft, golden glow.

"You know," she began, looking around at the peaceful city streets, "this is exactly what I was hoping for. Like, this moment. It's kind of perfect."

"Well," Cian replied, nudging her playfully, "I'll try not to take all the credit."

She gave him a gentle push, laughing. "Oh, don't flatter yourself. You're, like, half the reason it's perfect."

They continued walking, finding themselves drawn toward the banks of the River Liffey. They stopped at the edge of the river, watching the water flow beneath the streetlights. The sound of the rain, the murmur of the water, and the soft hum of the city around them made everything feel surreal, like something out of a dream.

"Dublin's got a way of sneakin' up on ya," he murmured, almost as if he was talking to himself.

She nodded, glancing at him with a small smile. "So, what's the catch?"

"The catch?" he repeated, looking back at her with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice softer than before. "I mean, no offense, but... you seem too good to be true."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Well, I do have my quirks. I'll have ya know I'm terrible at keeping plants alive. Tried once; the poor thing was gone in a week."

"Oh, a real heartbreaker," she teased, nudging him.

They both laughed, and then, as if the moment demanded it, they fell silent, each caught up in the quiet rhythm of the rain and the night. Brittany felt her pulse quicken as she looked up at him. For the first time in a long time, she felt completely at ease, as if this was exactly where she was meant to be.

"Stay a while longer," he said suddenly, his voice a little quieter. "Not forever. Just a few more days."

She looked up at him, searching his face for some kind of sign, some hint at what he was really asking. But all she saw was warmth and a gentle curiosity that made her want to say yes.

"Alright," she whispered, a smile forming at the corner of her mouth. "I'll stay."

They lingered by the river, just standing there in comfortable silence, letting the rain fall around them. It was simple, unhurried, and the kind of moment that seemed too perfect to be real. But as the streetlights cast their glow on Cian's face, Brittany realized that maybe-just maybe-she was exactly where she was supposed to be. And for the first time, she felt the thrill of anticipation bubbling up inside her, the feeling that maybe this was only the beginning.