Eighteen Kisses

‘I know, it’s crazy. And it gets crazier. But I can’t really talk about it here.’

‘OK,’ he said. ‘Let’s talk about New York!’

‘Welcome to Aer Lingus flight EI105…’

The seat-belt sign came on and I clipped mine closed. As Colin happily listed off all the galleries he wanted to visit, I took my phone out to turn it off. There were two messages. The first one was from Nick. My heart started to beat rapidly. It said,

I need to talk to you.

I quickly texted him back.

About what?

I need to talk to you in person, can we meet up soon? he texted back.

I saw the flight attendant coming down the aisle of the plane, her eyes on my phone. I realized I only had time to do one more thing – reply to Nick or read Dillon’s text.

I smiled, instinctively knowing what I wanted to do – and pressed the button.

82 days and counting.

I smiled again as the flight attendant arrived at my side.

‘Sorry, miss, you’re going to have to turn off your phone,’ she said.

‘Jeez, Jacki, turn off your phone!’ said Colin. ‘You know I’m a nervous flyer!’

The plane began to move down the runway. Colin started humming ‘New York, New York’ and I hummed along with him. I was going to stop thinking about boys and I was going to stop analysing everything. I’d concentrate on music and Operation Trail and I’d have lots of fun at the wedding. Maybe it was for the best anyway, the fact that I couldn’t reply to Nick now. I’d waited a whole week for that message; he could wait a few hours for my response. Dillon’s text had made me happy and I deserved that after everything that had happened. I didn’t know if he’d be able to hang on for seventy-nine more days – perhaps I’d lose my chance. But I wasn’t going to think about that.

Last month I met eighteen people.

Now I was going to concentrate on me.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank: the team at Penguin Ireland, especially Michael, Patricia, Cliona and Phil. Paddy O’Doherty for her fabulous insight and editing skills. Claire Hennessy and Eimear Ryan – two of the most talented writers I know – for their advice and friendship. Sarah Webb and David Maybury for their constant guidance. Sarwat Chadda and Phil Earle for giving so generously of their time. Everybody who helped with the research for this book: Corina and the team at Kiss Magazine, Kieran for his expert opinion and Liz Maybury for her detailed emails. Catherine, Jerry and Kevin for giving me a place to escape to. The Mighty Stef, one of Dublin’s best musicians, for allowing me to use his name. All the book buyers, booksellers and librarians who support my books especially Maria, Lisa, Joan and Lisa in Drogheda, Joan, Aisling, Anne and Marianne in Kildare and David O’Callaghan. The book bloggers who mentioned me in the beginning, including Leanna, Precious, Rachel, Jenny, Elizabeth, Iffath and Kai. Amy-Rose for sitting at my table. My amazing readers for the support, love, tweets, comments and emails. The people in Naas who helped with the launch of Angel Kiss – Kate, Jason, Jamie, Aoife and everyone at Barker & Jones bookshop, Eileen in Alice’s Restaurant, Conor from Jam Music Company and Brian from Rapple Signs. My friends Laura and Liz for assisting me with the planning and invitations. My cousin Adam for doing the photography and my uncle Paul for being there when I really needed him. A special shout out to Martina, Anthea, Moa, Sean and Sandra. John for the high-fives, the typewriter notebooks and for everything else. My mam, Jean, for the proofreading, the late-night chats and for being one of my best friends. My dad, Joe, for the father-and-daughter days, driving me around the Dublin mountains and always knowing what to do. My brother Liam, who is younger than me but infinitely wiser – thank you for being an inspiration and for not letting me give up. My agent, Faith O’Grady, who has never been anything but amazing; I am very grateful to have my own personal superwoman. And finally everyone at Puffin UK, especially Samantha, Mary, Lindsey and Shannon. This is one dream I don’t mind not waking up from.

Laura Jane Cassidy

Laura Jane Cassidy was born in 1986 in County Kildare in Ireland and has taken time out from her Drama studies at Trinity College Dublin to write full-time. She dislikes it when people use the Internet to cheat at table quizzes, but likes it when they use it to visit her popular blog, laurajanecassidy.com, where she talks about book-related matters, as well as playlists, fashion and lots of other stuff.

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