Lucky This Isn't Real: MacBride Brothers Series St. Patrick's Day Fake Fiance Romance by Jamie Knight (digital e reader .TXT) 📕

“Language!” Aunt Tricia chided, giving them both a loving smack.

“Sorry,” they chorused.

“It’s fine,” Maggie said, trying not to laugh.

I’d been the recipient of our aunt’s hand a few times myself, but it was nowhere near abuse. I could barely feel it, not that I was going to say so. I seriously doubted she was really trying to hurt us. It was just a gentle reminder of the rules in her house.

We were free to act as we pleased out in the world, but she was the queen within those four walls. Not even Dad talked back to her. If it wasn’t for her, our family would have fallen apart after our mother passed. She was the backbone the six of us needed.

“Honestly, I’m happy you and Darcy got along so well,” Maggie said, “and you’re welcome to come back and stay with us any time.”

“I definitely will, and soon,” I said.

I was already itching to get back to the States— and to Darcy.

Chapter Seven - Sean

Three Months Later

Nerves chomped at my stomach. Today was the day. A few weeks ago, I’d decided I wouldn’t wait any longer. I had people I trusted to take care of the shop.

I had to see her.

I had to be with her.

I hadn’t told Darcy any of this this, hoping to pleasantly surprise her with my reappearance.

Gavin and Maggie thought I was coming to visit them, but the reality was, it was all about Darcy.

Most respectable physicists agreed that time was a relative concept, and each individual experienced it a bit differently. Several factors could affect this, and the theme was also relative.

I tried to remember that. Darcy was always on my mind as I did. Sitting in the same corner of my inner realm, waiting for me to look her way, always smiling. It was almost like we were ordained by fate to be together.

There was something almost spooky about our connection. Not only when we were together but even when we were apart. It was becoming more and more obvious as we emailed each other.

I, of course, didn’t think to ask Darcy for her email before leaving, and I didn’t ask Maggie before she and Gavin left to return stateside. I’d gotten it eventually by texting Gavin and asking him to ask Maggie.

The problem with us both working so hard was that it didn’t leave much time for regular emails, with us sometimes going a week between messages. Still, every instance was a little bit of heaven. Seeing her name attached to a new message gave me a jolt of excitement unlike almost any before.

With the eight-hour time difference between us, Facetime didn’t always work out. I’d toyed with the idea of asking her for some intimate photos, but I didn’t want to be that forward.

I was also pretty old-fashioned in some ways, preferring that when I saw her naked, we’d be in the same room. It felt more personal that way and allowed for all sorts of fun activities to do together.

As usual, with impossible situations, I tried to put things into perspective by comparing the time I had to wait to see her again with the time I would have with her when I got back to California. Not only in terms of length of each period but also in terms of the happiness each would bring. Quality over quantity and all that.

At least I hoped that saying was true because while it looked like it would be a good long while before I could hold Darcy in my arms again, I also felt it would be more than worth it, the time apart melting away as soon as I was able to see and touch her.

I hoped she would want to kiss again. There was no guarantee. Perhaps I’d built the entire thing up in my head. I truly hoped not.

Through some truly sterling tactics and maneuvers that would put Baby Driver to shame, I made it to the airport just in time to get molested by security before boarding the multi-hour, one-stop flight from Belfast to LAX. I crossed not only the divide of the Atlantic but the whole of the North American continent as well, certainly not swimming the seas or walking a thousand miles but instead via the modern, millennial equivalent of doing everything I could to get to my love.

Chapter Eight - Sean

It had been three months since I’d first flown to L.A., but I still remembered almost every detail, particularly of the airport, which was nearly as sad as it was odd. Getting a taste of the excitement I’d felt waiting for them in Belfast, Gavin and Maggie were there to meet me as I emerged from the walkway into the arrivals area.

“Welcome back!” Maggie enthused, giving me a big hug.

“Thanks, sis.”

“Not necessary,” Gavin grumped.

“I think that’s up to her, don’t you?”

That shut him up immediately. I would have thought he’d be happy for me to think of Maggie as my sister, which I was actually starting to, so I hadn’t only said that to make her feel good or him feel weird. Since they were married, and he was my brother, that would make her my sister of sorts.

“Get over here, you.”

Maggie released me from her warm embrace, and I immediately switched gears to bro mode, giving Gavin the hug version of a handshake.

Then we grabbed my bags and left the airport. Once we were on the street, I realized I’d forgotten how insane L.A. traffic could be, particularly on the freeway, that first word of the compound phrase taken a bit too literally, as well as liberally, by the locals.

The odd structure of the thing didn’t help much. Had I to drive myself, I’d be lost or dead. People on