Hilary woke up with her head pounding, her mouth dry, and her mind completely and blissfully blank. It wasn’t until after she’d had a couple glasses of water, some pain killers, and a shower that the previous evening came back to her. The crying at a nightclub, something she never thought she’d do. The having to be driven home by Nicky, and tucked in my Georgina, while tears soaked everyone’s clothes and sobs wracked her body, draining all her energy so that she collapsed in a heap on her bed.

The night before when she watched as Kian left their favorite restaurant, his shoulders squared, his head down. Fresh tears poured from her eyes and she dropped down on her couch, not caring that she should be getting ready for work.

She had never, in her twenty-three years, been so broken up over a relationship’s end. Sure she’d been sad over most, but never so sad that she couldn’t stop crying. It was unlike her to cry this much anyway, as normally she was quite a strong person.

The phone rang shrilly, making her jump like she’d been bitten. She sighed heavily and reached over to lift the reciever.

“How’s the hangover?” Said a lovely Irish accented voice before she’d even said hello.

“Dreadful,” Hilary replied with feeling, laying back down on the couch and sniffing. “I hope I didn’t make too much of a fool out of myself last night.”

Nicky laughed. “I’ve seen you worse than that. A bit of crying’s nothing.”

“It was not just a ‘bit of crying’, Nicky. Don’t bother lying. My eyes are still puffy and I distinctly remember soaking your shirt.”

“I hated that shirt anyway.”

Hilary laughed, albeit hollowly. “Thanks, Nix.”

“So I’ll pick you up round six, then? Or do you want to take a taxi?”

Hilary glanced at the phone in confusion. “What?”

“Georgina’s having a big bash tonight, to christen the new house. We were hoping you’d come.” He sounded worried that she would say no, but while Hilary wanted desperately to go and have fun with her friends, they were Kian’s friends first, and she just didn’t feel up to facing him. Although a part of her was dying to see him, hoping he would change his mind and scoop her up into her arms like nothing had happened.

“That’s really sweet, Nicky, but I just can’t. Kian---” she swallowed, feeling tears prick her eyes. “---I just can’t see him.”

“He’s not coming,” Nicky replied carefully. “He’s gone home for a few days.”

Hilary’s heart constricted. It felt weird to hear that Kian wasn’t even in the city. The realization that hit her, then, wasn’t pleasant for her already achy stomach. She didn’t like this new position she was in, where she wouldn’t know in the future if he was even in the same country as she was.

“You’ve spoken to him, then?”

Nicky opened his mouth to reply, when Hilary cut him off. “No, never mind. Don’t answer that.”

“Please come tonight,” Nicky said with feeling. “The lads all want to see you, and Georgina wants to show you her sofa or something else girly.”

“I don’t know,” Hilary hesitated. “It would be really odd. Considering.”

Georgina’s voice came over the line, obviously having picked up the extension. “Hil? You have to come. We’re friends, you know. You can’t cut me off just because---” she stopped speaking abruptly, and softened her voice. “Just come over.”

Hilary felt her resolve breaking, and Georgina could tell, having been friends with her for so long. “Brilliant. See you round six!”

She hung up, leaving Nicky, laughing at his wife’s antics. “Shall I collect you, Madam, or will you be using your own automobile? Or perhaps a taxi that this fine city has to offer?”

She was biting her bottom lip in apprehension. Something told her to decline, but she would feel horrible just sitting in her flat, thinking about everyone having fun without her, and thinking of Kian, off in Sligo, visiting his family and probably not missing her at all.

“Okay,” she said decisively.

Nicky laughed a little. “Shane will be there in five minutes. He’s just arrived and is waving at me in hysterics because he wants to pick you up to make sure you actually come.”

Hilary could picture the scene in her head, and it made her sad and happy all at once. “Okay,” she said quietly, and hung up, running to her room to get ready.