Chapter Thirty-One
As Flora walked towards the Rowan Bar that night, she felt as though her legs were made of cement.
She was annoyed at herself for agreeing to go for a drink with Emmet even though he hadn’t really given her much of a choice.
You should have just said thanks but no thanks, the voice in her head kept saying.
You’re too nice, Flora, you’re always being a people pleaser.
It was just a friendly drink, she told herself, and it would be just the one drink.
She’d deliberately not gone to much effort, so as not to give him the wrong idea, and after a quick shower had pulled on her jeans, trainers and a simple scoop-neck navy T-shirt.
The bar was much quieter than it had been at the pub quiz the other night and it was easy to spot Emmet, perched on a stool at the bar, waiting.
When he saw her, he leapt up and ran towards her.
She idly wondered if he ever walked anywhere or always had to move at speed.
He was now wearing a different outfit to the one he wore earlier, although Lycra still featured heavily.
‘Flora, you made it.’ His voice was bright with excitement.
She smiled, hoping she wasn’t grimacing, and nodded her head. ‘I did.’
‘What can I get you?’ He put his hand on hers and gently pulled her back towards the bar.
‘A glass of white wine would be great, thank you.’ She managed to uncurl her hand from his, pretending she needed to scratch her nose. She felt awful for thinking it but she so did not want to be here.
Emmet ordered the wine and a non-alcoholic beer for himself and pointed towards a table in the corner. ‘Let’s go over there where it’s nice and quiet.’
Flora stifled a giggle as she followed him over. The whole place was empty. Oh jeezo, how did she end up being talked into this?
‘Well, cheers my dears.’ He clinked his bottle against hers. ‘This is nice, isn’t it? It’s great to have a chance to finally chat to you.’
And chat to her he did. Flora listened politely as he talked enthusiastically about the sauna and his very detailed training schedule for his next triathlon and exactly what it entailed.
He briefly asked her about her life in Edinburgh and if she was a keen runner there, too.
‘Oh I’m not a keen runner at all.’ She laughed.
‘I think you’ve got me all wrong, Emmet.
I only do it as I know it will help me feel better.
If I had the choice, I’d much rather lay on the couch watching TV and drink a bottle of wine and eat a packet of biscuits.
’ She knew she was laying it on a bit thick but she didn’t want him to think they were going to be workout buddies in any shape or form.
His face fell in disappointment and he took a quick swig from his bottle.
‘Oh, I can’t think of anything worse. I don’t eat any refined sugar at all or drink alcohol and feel so much better for it.
Mentally and physically,’ he said before then enthusing about the benefits of protein coffee before a workout and protein shakes afterwards.
Flora tried to focus and listen to what he was saying about macros then prebiotics, or was it probiotics, or maybe it was both?
She nodded politely all the while wondering how on earth she could make a graceful exit.
The only place she wanted to run was home and speedily.
Then the door of the bar opened and Brodie walked in.
Flora’s stomach flipped. He glanced around the bar and his eyes settled on her in surprise.
She smiled in relief and all the detail Emmet had been evangelically telling her about gut flora and the ratio between fat and carbs was quickly forgotten.
‘Are you still listening?’ Emmet followed her gaze to the bar.
‘Of course,’ she said brightly, looking back at him. ‘It’s all fascinating stuff. I’ve always wanted to know more about my gut health.’ But her eyes were drawn again to Brodie who was now walking across to them. She reached for her glass and took a gulp of wine as he drew closer.
‘Hey, you two. Fancy seeing you here.’
‘Hi, Brodie,’ said Flora quickly and happily. A little too happily perhaps.
‘How are you doing, Brodie?’ Emmet’s usual cheery tone was definitely flatter than usual. ‘Good to see you.’
Flora raised an eyebrow. His clipped tone conveyed the opposite. ‘Do you want to join us?’ she asked, trying to convey a look with her eyes.
Brodie shot her a knowing look. ‘Sure thing. As long as I’m not interrupting anything. Let me just grab some drinks. Same again?’
Emmet sighed and glanced at his Fitbit watch.
‘Have you been sitting down too long?’ teased Brodie. ‘Time to get your heart rate up again?’
Emmet nodded. ‘Yes, it is actually. And I’m up early tomorrow so I need to make sure I get a full night’s sleep. I don’t like messing with my body clock. Sleep is vital for our circadian rhythms, you know.’
Flora looked at her watch. It had only just turned nine.
He hadn’t been joking when he said they should meet for a drink.
Not that she was complaining at all. She nodded sympathetically although really, she was delighted that he was keen to leave.
‘Sleep is everything,’ she agreed measuredly.
‘I know how much I’m affected if I don’t get enough sleep.
It completely impacts my productivity the following day. ’
Brodie looked at her, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
‘Oh, so does that mean you’re ready for home, too, then? Shall I walk you back, Flora?’ Emmet asked hopefully.
‘I think I’ll hang on and have another drink with Brodie. I need to pick his brains about something to do with Gran’s garden project.’ She glanced over at Brodie who was looking at her with a wry expression on his face. ‘I should still be home and in bed before ten,’ she added hastily.
‘I’ll just get those drinks then. Back in a minute,’ he said.
‘Thank you,’ said Flora watching as he walked back to the bar.
Emmet stood up and hovered awkwardly by Flora for a moment which meant she was eye-level with the crotch of his Lycra shorts and could see everything. Mortified, she jumped to her feet, too. Perhaps a little too energetically as Emmet’s eyes lit up.
‘Thanks for the drink,’ she said kindly, praying that he didn’t now think she actually did want to leave with him.
‘You’re welcome. Any time.’ He took a step towards her.
Flora promptly sat down again to avoid any awkward kiss.
‘Okey-dokey.’ She cringed. Okey-dokey? What made her say that?
She had never said that before in her life.
Maybe she was turning into her gran who said it a lot.
‘See you soon.’ He gave her a thumbs up sign and she practically exhaled in relief when he turned and walked away.
Brodie placed a glass of wine in front of her, a mischievous grin on his face. ‘Here you go. You look like you need it after getting an eyeful of Emmet’s rhythm stick.’
Flora burst out laughing. ‘Oh gawd.’ She covered her face with her hands. ‘You saw that then? It was just that he stood up and I was sitting down and all I could see was his crotch.’
He chuckled. ‘I think we’ve all seen it at some point.
I don’t think there’s anything in his wardrobe that isn’t made of spandex or Lycra.
Me and Reuben are always teasing him about it and saying that he doesn’t have to have his bits on show all of the time.
We’ve even suggested he buy himself a pair of chinos or jeans.
But he just laughs at us and says we don’t know what we’re missing out on by not embracing the Lycra lifestyle.
Did he give you the flaxseeds and gut flora talk as well? ’
Flora nodded, with a small smile, feeling a little knot of guilt in her stomach for joking around. Emmet was a lovely guy, just not her type.
‘He’s a great guy and is always trying to find a new recruit to embrace the healthy lifestyle or challenge to do the plank with him. To lucky timing,’ said Brodie with a chuckle, holding up his glass of beer.
‘Indeed.’ She clinked her glass against his, thanking fate for bringing Brodie into the pub tonight.
As they chatted she realised how nice it was to get to know him a bit better away from the boathouse, when he was in the work zone.
Talking to him felt very easy and natural and when they finished their drinks, she was about to offer to order another.
Then Brodie yawned, almost apologetically.
‘Sorry, Flora. I should probably head off now. I’ve another early start tomorrow. But let me walk you home.’
‘No, honestly. I’ll be fine. But thanks. And thanks for coming in when you did.’
As they stepped out the pub, he grinned at her. ‘Any time. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Flora nodded. ‘Thanks for the drink. Bye Brodie.’ She turned and walked away, smiling all the way home.