“Oh, dear heavens. Have mercy.” She closed her eyes.

“I don’t want you to lay awake at night worrying,” I told her. “I’m sure everything is going to be fine. I’m not getting involved—I’ll stay far away from her. McKale will deal with her and fix this.”

I hoped.

“It’s my job to worry about you, Robyn! Och, you’ve been holding this inside yourself this whole time? Do you have any idea how that grieves me so? I’m going to worry no matter what, so you may as well be open. Sometimes you have to rely on others for help. It’s not just about you and McKale. Your father and I, and Brogan, too, we all need to work together. If the Fae comes again—if there’s another altercation, no matter how small, come to us. Immediately. Swear it.”

I nodded. “I will. I swear.” Her grip tightened on my hand. She pulled me into a firm hug, mumbling something Irishy in her motherly way. Her accent had returned with a flourish since we’d been in Ireland.

As we turned to walk up for dinner together, the burden on my soul felt much lighter having confided in someone I trusted. When we got to the table, Dad was already there, sitting with Cassidy and McKale. Mom gave Dad a meaningful look and he nodded. They’d talk later.

Days passed with no visits or “altercations” as Mom called it. McKale was sweet to me, and I felt a rush each time I caught him gazing my way.

I tried to keep Cassidy busy and spend as much time with her as I could. I felt guilty for how self-centered I’d been and I wanted to make up for lost time. McKale showed my sister and me where we could find wild berries growing. We spent afternoons gorging on sun-sweetened strawberries and blackberries until our fingers were stained deep red and violet. Her spirits lifted, but with each passing day mine grew heavier with thoughts of my family leaving me and wondering when the FFG would show her perfect face again.

McKale and I went to the waterfall with Cassidy and Rock one week before my birthday. The weather was hazy and warm that afternoon. I spread out a blanket, but McKale and I ended up scouting the forest floor for different edible mushrooms while Cass and Rock swam. The two of them were a loud pair, screaming with laughter and splashing. At least she wore a bathing suit this time. I had mine on under my sundress, but didn’t feel like swimming.

We made our way back to the blanket with handfuls of morel and oyster mushrooms.

“We’ll give them to Leilah,” McKale said, sitting next to me. “She does this thing with venison and butter and ‘shrooms. ‘Tis amazing.”

I crossed my ankles in front of me and smiled at him. Maybe I’d learn to cook some things with Leilah’s help. So far I’d avoided the kitchen as much as possible, intimidated by the lack of a microwave and easy-to-use stovetop. But I was beginning to feel comfortable enough to give things a try.

Cassidy and Rock walked up from the stream, shaking off excess water before lying on the blanket next to us. Rock tickled the underside of Cass’s knee and she laughed, curling into him until they were kissing. They embraced and rolled, bumping me.

“Uh, guys, I don’t think there’s enough room on the blanket for that,” I said, staring intently at the pile of mushrooms between McKale and myself. Rock looked up at me with a lazy grin, not moving away from my sister in the slightest.

“Always room for a bit o’ snoggin’. Perhaps the two of ye should give it a go.”

He bent his head to kiss her again and my face flamed.

“Rock!” Cassidy chastised, pushing him back a little. “Don’t embarrass them.”

“They could use a bit of proddin’, is all. McKale’s ne’er properly been—”

“Rock…” McKale’s low voice oozed warning. I wondered if Rock knew about the peck with FFG.

Cassidy’s head sprung up and she turned to look at McKale sitting at the edge of the blanket. “You’ve never kissed anyone? Awww! That is so cute!”

I cringed and he shifted, glaring daggers straight at his friend.

“Don’t worry, McKale,” Cassidy said. “Robyn has a little experience. She’ll teach ya.”

I frowned down at her. “Not cool.”

“What?” She shrugged and laughed, so I gave her a hard shove with my foot.

Rock exclaimed, “Oho! An experienced lassie, eh?” His eyebrows danced at me.

Before I could respond, McKale asked, “Have ye been with another bloke?” His serious voice made us all shut up and look at him. His eyes were a cloudy blaze on me and I flushed with heat at his jealous tone.

“What? No! I haven’t…” I stuttered. “There were two kisses, but I’m not, like, experienced. If anything, I wish I could erase both those from my memory.” I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them, refusing to look at him now. I shot Cass a glare.

My first kiss had been during a game of truth or dare in seventh grade. I did it because I hadn’t wanted everyone at that party thinking I was chicken. The second happened last year, and I blamed Cassidy for that one. Mostly. Brad had a crush on me, and Cassidy talked me into letting him kiss me. Her reasoning? She said I needed the practice so McKale wouldn’t think I was a bad kisser.

Well, Brad hadn’t exactly been “good practice” with his overly eager tongue that treated my mouth like an extreme sports arena. I shuddered thinking about that choke-worthy incident.

And was McKale jealous? I wanted to tell him not to worry, that neither of those guys had “dazzled” me, but it was too humiliating.