Chapter Three
Elise shoved the bags into the passenger seat, then turned to look at Genevieve. Her eyes were glassy and she was sucking on her lip in a totally uncharacteristic way. Where had the self-assured woman gone? She might have been the one to instigate the breakup, but it had clearly hit her hard.
‘I think you will actually have to get a taxi back.’ Elise turned her focus to the bags again and put her hand to her lips. ‘I didn’t think I’d brought this much stuff.’
‘What? Can’t you come back for me?’
‘I’m already running late,’ Elise said. ‘I left it until the last minute so I wouldn’t have to stay long but I don’t want to be late for work. I’m already in trouble there.’
‘Why?’ Genevieve rested a hand on Elise’s upper arm.
‘I’ve not been myself lately and I’ve made mistakes.’
Genevieve wasn’t sure she should probe any deeper. Elise worked for a travel company… Had she maybe sent some holidaymakers to the wrong destination?
‘Ok. I don’t want you to be late for work,’ Genevieve said. ‘But I’m going to my dad’s party this afternoon and at this rate, I’m going to be late too.’
‘I’ll call a taxi for you,’ Elise said. ‘I’ll pay for it too. I’m so sorry.’
‘On a Saturday afternoon? I’ll probably have to wait an hour.’
‘Let’s ask Finlay. He’ll give you a lift.’
Genevieve shook her head. No way could she let Finlay give her a lift. How could she be alone with him? Every time she was near him, she did something stupid, like that time years ago when he’d offered to help her rollerblade and she’d said ‘no way’ so quickly he’d gone off shaking his head like he thought her a rude bitch. Then she’d fallen and skinned her knees. So embarrassing.
‘I don’t think he’ll want to,’ she said. ‘He looks busy.’
‘Let me ask. He’s a good guy really. I’m sure he won’t mind.’
Genevieve’s heart swooped in her chest. She couldn’t go with him. ‘Maybe I should walk.’
‘Let me ask him before you try.’ Elise eyed Genevieve’s shoes.
Why had Elise been the one to cross the line? The one Genevieve had dreamed of crossing but never done out of respect for her friendship with Hayley. She smiled at Elise, though it was more of a rueful one at her own expense. Here she was telling herself she wished she’d thought to date Finlay before Elise, forgetting of course he would never have dated her. Not when she’d always been so cold towards him.
‘Come on,’ Elise said. ‘Let’s get those other bags and I’ll ask him to drive you home.’
‘I…er…’ What could she say? If she protested, it would look strange and she was well-practised at being indifferent around Finlay.
She followed Elise up the stairs, trying to force a solution into her head. How could she get out of this? Elise went through the hall into the living area and Genevieve waited, not sure what to do with herself. This was so stupid. Finlay was nice. He was well-known for being nice… He’d tried to be nice to her.
At school, he’d always seemed popular, if a bit quieter than his fun-loving sister. Genevieve had watched him winning races at sports days and playing rugby, pretending all the while to be either tagging along with Hayley or cheering him on because they happened to be in the same house team. He’d always been athletically built and she’d imagined every plane of his body from when he was seventeen to now.
‘Can you give Genevieve a lift home, please?’ Elise’s voice said from the living room and Genevieve listened from the landing through the open doors, her heart thumping a little too fast like she was still a teenager in Hayley’s living room and he was somewhere else in the house talking to his mum in the kitchen.
‘Are you kidding?’
Of course he didn’t want to. Why would he? She could only imagine how he felt about her – not exactly a happy thought.
‘No, not kidding,’ Elise said. ‘I’m sorry to ask. I didn’t realise the stuff would take up so much room and now I have to go straight to work. I don’t have time to detour by her house. I should be on my way already.’
Genevieve chewed on her tongue, half wishing she hadn’t bothered coming, though if she’d been in this position, she’d have welcomed support too, so she couldn’t blame Elise for asking.
‘Yeah, fine,’ Finlay said. ‘Whatever.’
‘Thanks so much.’ Elise returned to the landing, playing with the cuff of her jacket. ‘He’s going to give you a lift. I’m so, so sorry.’
‘It’s ok. You get to work.’ Genevieve fidgeted with the chain strap on her little bag.
‘Ok. And thanks so much for coming.’ Elise pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek. ‘I appreciate it. I really do.’ She picked up the other black bags and bolted down the stairs.
‘Bye,’ Genevieve said quietly, raising her hand.
‘So,’ Finlay’s voice spoke from behind her. She turned around and her thumping heart almost leapt out of her ribcage. He was leaning his elbow high on the doorjamb, his fingers resting in his short dark hair. His broad shoulders stretched his tight khaki t-shirt, and his muscular arms were bigger than she remembered. In fact, he looked different somehow – even more attractive than usual, if that was possible.
‘So what?’ she said.
Why do I always sound so rude around him?
‘You’ve been dumped.’ He pulled a fake commiserative face. ‘I know the feeling only too well.’
‘Yeah.’ She rubbed the skin above the neckline of her top and gave him a forced smile. ‘Can you take me home then?’
‘Yes. But you’ll have to wait until these people have looked around. They’re due in fifteen minutes and I’ve got to get cleaned up and changed before that.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yes. Seriously.’ He lowered his arm and opened a door off the hall. ‘Feel free to wait inside.’ He moved and held out his hand, inviting her to go in.
‘But… Can’t you take me first?’
‘No. I might not get back in time for the viewers. If you can’t wait, there’s nothing to stop you walking.’ He glanced down. ‘Well, except your shoes, of course.’
With a deep breath, Genevieve moved past him, almost holding her nose. Not because he smelled bad, quite the opposite.
‘The living room is through there,’ he said. ‘I’m going to get ready. See you in a min.’ The door to what she assumed was his bedroom clicked shut and he disappeared from view. Genevieve stood in the hall looking towards the open airy space through the open door at the end, still barely breathing. Apparently, it was one of those days where everything could and would go wrong. Why had she said yes to Elise? Now she was alone in Finlay’s home. Something was uncomfortably intimate about the whole setup. He wouldn’t think so. In fact he was probably extremely hacked off at her untimely appearance. But for her… She mentally shook herself.
Get a grip. Act normal. Be calm. Be serene.
She could do that… or she could try for a taxi.
She headed down the corridor and into the living area, pulling out her phone. Bright sunlight shone in the French doors and the space looked dazzlingly clean. A sofa and a chair were set to look out at the river and a dining table served as a divider between the living area and the kitchen. Obviously Finlay had already packed away most of his stuff because there was nothing on the shelves below the wall-mounted TV or the bookcase in the corner, just a pile of telltale boxes neatly stacked behind the door. Genevieve stepped through the French doors onto the balcony where a white iron bistro table for two looked very inviting. She’d love to sit here looking out at the river and watch the people going by. She itched to make a quick film but she didn’t, instead she googled local taxi companies. Filming Finlay’s house without his permission wasn’t right. She also didn’t want to explain why she was here.
Her followers liked to think she was a confident person with all her ducks in a row. This afternoon had just proved the opposite. Not only was she running late but she was stuck in an apartment with her best friend’s ex… One she happened to have secret feelings for.
She tried calling the only local taxi company she could find but there was nothing available for another hour.
With a sigh, she left the balcony and went back inside. How long would this take? Finlay was still in his room and wait… Was that the sound of running water? He was having a shower. Jesus. Every fantasy she’d ever had of what he might look like naked and dripping with water collided and fought for space in her brain. Get out! Mentally she shoved the images away.
What if the viewers showed up now? She didn’t want to show them around – Finlay wouldn’t want her doing that. Maybe she should wait outside. There was a bench on the riverside path. She could sit there. If she’d worn better shoes, she could have walked home. But Glenbriar was built on a hill and her house was a twenty-minute walk from here when she had on sensible shoes. Should she just go for it? She had to get back, get changed, collect Mitzi, then drive to her parents’ country house. Ugh. Her body felt trapped in a tight band and there was no breaking out of it.
She slumped into the chair and checked her messages. She should send a message to her parents to say she might be late, even though they’d be busy getting ready and probably wouldn’t look at their phones.
GENEVIEVE: sorry, running a bit late. I was with grandma, then something else came up. Will be there as soon as I can. xx
She hit send and as she did, the tension in her shoulders and chest relaxed a little. A strange loose feeling came over her and she allowed herself to imagine how nice it would be not to have to go to the party at all. No fake smiles and pretending to be interested. No trying to hide from her dad’s divorced business colleagues who fancied themselves as sugar daddies. No setups with guys who were happy with certain benefits.
The running water had stopped and cupboard doors banged shut in Finlay’s room. Genevieve forced her brain forward, away from dangerous thoughts of what he might be like in the bedroom. She put her phone on her lap and drummed her fingers on a side table. A little black box sat on the tabletop. It looked like a ring box and it seemed bizarrely out of place in the empty flat. Unable to stop curiosity getting the better of her, she picked it up and flipped it open.
‘Wow.’ She goggled at the sparkling ring inside. It had an almost vintage shaped diamond in the centre but was clearly modern with three intricate bands studded with smaller diamonds, flaring from a central diamond, then meeting and forming one white gold band. She’d love to try it on but didn’t dare. This wasn’t the ring Finlay had given Elise. Elise had chosen one for herself a couple of weeks before breaking the engagement. Apparently Finlay had wanted to give her his grandmother’s engagement ring but Elise hadn’t liked it as it was an ugly yellow gold thing.
A cough made Genevieve spin around. Finlay was leaning on the doorjamb again, looking shower fresh in a crisp white shirt and black trousers. Oh sweet Jesus. How smoking hot was he? Her heart might have stopped. When they’d been teenagers, it was embarrassing to crush on a friend’s older brother and she’d held back or been rude without meaning to. When he’d dated Elise, she couldn’t bear to look at him. It made her sick to see him with her friend and she’d cold-shouldered him worse than ever. Now she couldn’t drag her eyes from the slightly open shirt, broad chest and trim beard. Do not notice. Stay aloof. Bright eyes and firm jaw. Not looking. Neatly cropped hair and fresh eucalyptus scent so reminiscent of her favourite wax melts. Don’t care. Her breath hitched in her throat. Who was she kidding? He’s gorgeous. He’s always been gorgeous… but not for me. Repeat. Not. For. Me.
He raked the hair above his ear and gave her a stern look.
He was a P.E. teacher and that was the Idon’t take any crap look if ever she saw it. She glanced down at her hand and swallowed. Oh shit. The ring. No wonder he didn’t look impressed.
Caught snooping.