Megan

Tension stretched out between them the rest of the day. They’d stopped at the Cliffs of Moher after departing their B&B in Doolin, but Megan found the black sea-scarred cliffs devastatingly lonely. Zander waited in the car while she walked along the worn path high above the crashing waves. She took the shots she needed and packed up her film equipment, bitter that she was letting her fight with Zander get to her despite her best efforts.

Megan had been dreaming of visiting the cliffs for years. She took in their stunning beauty, but she couldn’t help feeling the waves that battered the stony cliffs were hissing their disappointment far below. She plucked one of the stubborn wild daisies that clung to the hostile terrain from its stem. It was of the solid yellow variety, and its narrow petals reminded Megan of sunshine. She inhaled the flower’s fragrance, trying to fill her heart with positivity.

“Stop worrying about what can go wrong and get excited about what can go right,” she whispered to herself. “You’re in Ireland. You’re living one of your dreams.”

She knew she needed to appreciate life as it happened. Sadness passed, but missed opportunities didn’t. She didn’t want to go back to Boston regretting the moments she should have appreciated just because of a beautiful boy.

Megan tucked the tiny yellow flower inside her coat pocket as a reminder to live in the moment. Then with one last look at the breathtaking cliffs, she turned and headed back toward the car.

Zander

Zander was determined to stop the stream of stupidity that flowed from his mouth in Megan’s presence. He’d been keeping his distance when he could and keeping his mouth shut when he couldn’t.

The trouble with so much silence was that it gave him too much time to think and too much time to watch Megan. She was an enigma. Everything that crossed her path on their drive to Killarney National Park seemed to captivate her. From the coastal views, to the black-faced sheep that often blocked their path on the narrow roads.

Zander found himself wishing he could see the world through Megan’s eyes. She had such an appreciation for life and nature. Zander’s mind flashed back to the one and only time he’d taken Sophie camping. She’d retained a look of disgust the entire time they’d hiked, whining about her designer boots getting ruined as they tromped through bushes that she’d claimed were nothing more than urinals for the wildlife.

Zander wasn’t sure what Megan saw when she looked at the lush green landscape of Ireland, but he knew it certainly wasn’t a urinal.

Megan

The endless miles of gorgeous landscape had lifted Megan’s spirits by the time they’d reached the ranger station at Killarney National Park. Megan busied herself gathering her camera gear while Zander headed to the office to fill out their camping forms.

“Ready?” she asked cheerfully when he returned with a permit for their dash.

“Actually do you mind if I respond to a few emails?” Zander asked.

“Sure,” she replied shrugging out of her pack. “I’ll just do some lighting tests.”

Zander gave her what was almost a smile and it tugged at her heart. His phone had been going off all day and he’d refrained from answering it. Megan found herself wondering how much more stress she was adding to his plate by dragging him on this camping trip.

For someone who supposedly lived a charmed life, Zander certainly didn’t seem happy. He was under entirely too much pressure for someone so young. These were supposed to be the carefree years of self-discovery. But Zander had skipped over them for fame and fortune.

When they were finally ready to start their trek, Megan couldn’t help herself from attempting to bridge the gap with Zander.

“Everything okay with work?”

His noncommittal grunt let her know he still wasn’t going to open up.

Megan did her best to let it roll off her shoulders. There was enough beauty in the moss-covered forest to keep her occupied. She set to capturing as much of it as she could with her cameras.

* * *

After a long hike Zander finally announced they’d made camp.

Megan looked around the identical landscape in confusion. “Here?”

“Yep.”

The forest was thick with towering trees and damp earth. Fading sunlight filtered in through the canopy of moss-covered limbs and thunder growled in the distance. What was she missing? This section of the forest looked just like all the others they’d hiked through. It was serene and beautiful, but if there was a campsite hidden somewhere, Megan didn’t see it. Maybe it was camouflaged?

“Here?” she asked again.

Zander gave her a suspicious look as he shrugged his pack off and started unfastening the straps. “Is there a problem with this location?” he asked.

“No, it’s just . . .” she looked around again. “Where’s the cabin?”

“Cabin?” Suddenly Zander burst out laughing. “Did ye think I was toting a tent on a six mile hike for my health?” His laughter echoed through the forest. “Cabin!”

Megan’s cheeks burned. “I thought . . . I mean when Sam and Devon went camping—”

“Let me guess,” Zander interrupted, a wry smile still on his face. “Ye thought ye were gonna be staying in a prissy fairyland tent full of candles and romance just because that’s what Devon did for Sam?”

“No,” she denied.

Zander snorted. “Right. Well in case ye haven’t noticed, love, I’m not Devon.”

“Clearly,” Megan muttered under her breath. Devon knew how to treat a lady. He was chivalrous and thoughtful. Zander hadn’t even offered to help carry Megan’s giant camp pack. It was leaden down with camera gear and her shoulders were screaming when she finally managed to free herself.

How had she been so wrong about Zander? Megan’s fairytale was turning out nothing like, Sam’s. Devon had set up a romantic tent when he took Sam camping. She said it had mattresses, a bathroom and even a skylight so they could gaze at the stars! As Megan watched Zander unroll a small green rectangle of canvas she thought she’d be lucky if they both even fit inside his so-called tent.

“I’m gonna go get a few more shots before we lose the light,” Megan announced wanting to put some distance between her and Zander before she got any more sullen.

“Don’t go too far,” he called after her.

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her small camcorder, tromping off toward the fading sun.