Page 117 of Experiments in Offline Dating

What the hell is the matter with me? I felt lightheaded. I hope I’m not catching something. That would ruin the trip.

Once you crossed onto the island and over the castle’s walls, you could literally see another country—Scottish islands on the horizon. I clutched at my chest for the beauty of it. I wanted to live there and do nothing but read fantasy stories with lots of yearning. Somehow, everywhere I went in this country felt like I was nestled between the pages of a beautiful book. I hadn’t known that places like this were real. I hadn’t known that I could feel like I had fallen into another realm, so much more beautiful and mysterious than our own.

The drizzle made the smooth stone of the sixteenth-century castle shine. We sat on one such weather-beaten stone that people had quarried and shaped and built a castle with five hundred years ago, and drank our hot chocolate, not caring about the little flecks of rain that pattered on our hoods and across our noses. I sighed, heavy and soft with contentment.

He looked at me. I looked at him.

And then I had to look away.

Chapter 35 An Experiment in Ancient Magic with Granola Bars

Laura: I was so sick and tired of online dating. It was just this endless stream of meaningless interviews with people I had no connection with and even less chemistry. You can’t screen for connection or personality. I tried. I was always wrong. Had a lot of boring dates. I got lazy with my messages. I got ghosted all the time. Honestly, it was really discouraging.

Maya: Is that what made you two want to give Jackie a try?

Laura: Well, that’s why I did it.

Maya: Oh. So, what about you, Saoirse?

Saoirse: It was a little different for me. My friends signed me up as a birthday prank. Only, when Jackie called, he was just so freaking cute that I couldn’t tell him it was a joke.

Maya: That Jackie Kelly is one persuasive man. So, what happened next? Were you both living here in Ballycastle?

Laura: No! Saoirse lived up here. I had to drive all the way up, which is nowhere that I had ever wanted to even visit, let alone move to.

Saoirse: You love it here, you soft-blooded Southerner.

Laura: You’re right I do. I do now, at least.

Maya: What changed for you, Laura?

Laura: What changed? I stepped out of the car, crossed the street to the café where we’d planned to meet for our first date, and then I saw Saoirse. That’s what changed.

Maya: Was it love at first sight?

Laura: Yes.

Saoirse: No.

Laura: Well, let’s say this. When I saw her, she took my breath away. But it was over the next few weeks that I knew I was a total goner.

Maya: Only weeks? A few weeks was all you needed to fall in love?

Laura: A few weeks was much more than I needed.

“GOD. I CAN’T thank you two enough. That was such a beautiful interview. I loved hearing your story.”

“It was fun! We’ve never done anything like that before,” said Saoirse. “I had no idea Laura was such a dewy-eyed soft touch.”

“Nothing of the kind. Must be all that wine we drank.”

“That’s another thing I need to thank you for! Mmm, that wine and cheese!”

“Oh, that’s all Laura. She’s a total wino.”

“I’m a wine enthusiast. It’s different, my darling.” She snatched her wife in a side hug and kissed the top of her head, and I realized from the look on her face that it was time for us to go. These two had better things to get up to.

“What’s next on the agenda?” Laura asked.