Chapter 34
Ashton
Did not see that coming.
Mrs. Theissen leaves Fifi with us. I expect they brought her in to meet Sophie to be a distraction, a buffer between us.
Guess that didn’t work out so well for them.
I met Fifi years ago through Lavinia. She’s a nice girl—nice enough for me to think twice before I made a move on her.
Mrs. Theissen calls for more tea, and I feel rude asking for coffee. Once she sees we’re all playing nice, she leaves, and Sophie pours tea for us.
Fifi keeps talking animatedly about people we have in common, and places we’ve been. She tells us about the film she’s working on and asks about my racing.
“I do follow your exploits, you know,” Fifi says with a knowing smile. “But I haven’t heard much about you lately.”
“I’ll be doing the FluxFuel race in the spring,” I tell her.
“You heard back?” Sophie seems surprised. I did tell her about wanting to enter the race, but never shared why it was so important.
Maybe because it’s stopped being so important.
“Last week. It must have been when I was away, or I would have told you.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Sophie says quietly, reaching for another cookie.
But I want to. I want to tell Sophie all the things. But after our kiss, things aren’t as easy as they used to be, and I think that’s my fault.
I know it’s my fault.
The kiss was a surprise, and although it was a good one, I didn’t deal with it very well.
And having her father almost walk in on us was not expected either.
It’s been over a week and I still see her every day. We still take walks, managing to make it outside on a sunny day. She reads her books, and I watch last year’s inaugural FluxFuel race on YouTube.
I’m supposed to have a meeting with King Magnus later this week, after putting it off for days. The king is going to ask if I’m taking the position he offered me, and that means I have to decide how long I’m going to be staying in Battle Harbour.
And that brings me back to Sophie, because wanting to stay in Laandia has everything to do with her.
I want to kiss her all the time, but I don’t know how to talk about what’s going on between us, so I pretend it’s nothing. And then, as a punishment, I won’t give in to the need to kiss her. I keep things as friends, and even try to cool that, so it’s becoming awkward between us at times.
This is not fun.
If anyone tried to explain this was how they were feeling, I’d laugh and tell them they were a hot mess.
I’m not laughing at myself.
Now that Fifi is here, quickly inserting herself into my bubble with Sophie, things are about to change again and I can’t imagine it will be for the better.
“I heard Fenella is here too,” Fifi says as she finishes her second cup of tea. “How fun! You really must take me to see her new club. I’ve seen all the pictures. She looks so happy here.”
“She is.” There’s a note of firmness in Sophie’s voice that’s new. “She’s very happy with Silas.”
Fifi laughs. “You need more than a man to make you happy, and I would have thought Fenella knows that, especially after everything she’s been through.
I’m glad she’s become such a businesswoman to keep her occupied while she’s here.
It seems a tad quaint for someone like her.
And you,” she adds, looking pointedly at me.
“It’s not too bad,” I say casually. Sophie doesn’t say anything.
“When can you take me to see her place?” Fifi asks.
“We can go tonight. She’ll love to see you again. We’ll…” I trail off as Sophie shifts.
Sophie.
She sits quietly as Fifi and I catch up, not saying much, but watching it all.
Sophie, with the broken foot who hasn’t been to Battle Harbour in weeks. “Maybe not tonight,” I backpedal.
“Of course tonight,” Sophie says. “Fern is a friend of Fenella’s, and she’ll want to see her. They do the special cocktails on Mondays,” she reminds me.
“But we were going to…”
“I’m not going anywhere, and don’t feel you have to babysit me.” There’s not even an edge in her voice. Either Sophie is nice enough not to let on that she’s disappointed that I’m about to bail on her—
Or she just doesn’t care.
I take Fifi into Battle Harbour and give her the tour. We stop for coffee, but Fenella isn’t there.
We visit a few of the shops because Fifi likes shopping as much as I do. After the stores close, we head to The King’s Hat for wings.
I’m surprised this is Fifi’s first time in the bar.
“I’m not very social when I’ve been here.
I try to see as much of Mum as I can. She usually comes back to see us,” Fifi explains.
I had ordered us two pints of honey mead when we sat down, but Fifi makes a face after her second sip.
“She must want a break from this place when she has time off. There’s not much here, is there? ”
“There’s actually more than you think. They’re building an Observatory, and there’s a lot to do outside in the winter—”
“Are you interested in winter sports now?” Fifi interrupts with a gleam in her eye. “Ashton, what are you doing here?”
I shrug. I don’t want to tell her anything about Sophie because nothing I can say would make me look like a good guy. “Fen’s here,” I say lamely. “And my buddy Basher likes it here.”
“You are not your sister’s keeper,” she points out. “At least you didn’t use to be.”
“I might be doing some consulting for the king,” I pull out, needing something. I might not know Fifi well, but she used to be a good friend of Lavinia’s, and I don’t want them talking quite yet. “It’s not finalized but there’s a good chance I might stay on.”
“You’ve got a job? Here? What about racing?”
“That was never going to last forever.” I wave Mabel over to order Fifi a drink she appreciates. But since this is Battle Habour, I’m not sure how possible that is. “Can I get the wine list, Mabel?”
The new manager of King’s Hat pulls a plastic menu out of her apron. “Where’s your friend?” she demands rudely, throwing it on the table.
Mabel has a dark beauty that is appealing as much as it’s intimidating.
Short black hair, a perpetual sneer, and a frown between her dark eyes.
She’s the complete opposite of Fifi’s golden goodness with an open smile.
I like Mabel because she has no trouble speaking her mind. People call her grumpy, same as me.
They also call her other things, which aren’t worth repeating.
But even if I were remotely interested, Basher is interested, and if it’s one thing I’d never do is poach a friend’s girl.
Not that Mabel is Basher’s anything, but a guy can dream.
“Friend?” I motion to Fifi. “This is Fifi, Mrs. Theissen’s daughter. Fi—”
“I don’t care whose daughter she is. Basher,” Mabel interrupts impatiently. “That friend. Where is he?”
“Basher? I think he’s in Vancouver.”
“When is he planning on coming back?”
I bite my lip to keep from smiling. If Mabel is asking about Basher, that has to be a good sign. “Not sure,” I say apologetically. “Maybe you should ask him that. You can text, or send him a DM…”
“I’m asking you, because you’re here in front of me. He is not. I don’t know why I’m even bothering,” she finishes under her breath.
“I don’t know when he’s planning on coming back,” I say quickly before Mabel decides to give up. “I know the band has some time off—”
“Basher?” Fifi interrupts.
“Basher,” Mabel repeats. “That’s his name.”
“Basher Doyle,” I tell Fifi. “Drummer for the Water Rhinos.”
“Ooh,” she exclaims. “I quite like them. And the drummer is very attractive.”
“No, he’s not,” Mabel says in a threatening voice. “Not for you.”
Fifi is startled by the reaction and opens her mouth to respond.
“Should I see if Basher will be back for the dance this weekend?” I cut in before Fifi can say anything. I’m sure she could handle herself, but the last thing I want to be is between two beautiful women fighting.
Oh, how times have changed.
“You do that,” Mabel snaps, and stalks off.
“I’ve got to text Sophie,” I mutter as soon as Mabel is out of earshot.
ME: Basher + Mabel alert—absence does make the heart grow stronger!
SOPHIE: ???
ME: Mabel asked me about Basher! Said he should get back here for the dance
Sophie responds with happy faces and exclamation marks
SOPHIE: Are you at King’s Hat?
ME: Gave Fifi the tour
SOPHIE: where did you take her?
ME: Shops. Coffee. Here. The usual
SOPHIE: Did she like the coffee?
ME: Of course. Everyone does. Want one? I can bring you back one – free delivery!
SOPHIE: Thanks but it will be too late
ME: It doesn’t have to be that late
SOPHIE: Stay with Fern. Fifi. Have fun.
I don’t realize Fifi was reading along with my texting until she gives a sharp inhale. “You’re going to ditch me for Sophie Laz?” she demands.
I fight the urge to hug my phone to my chest so she can’t read anything more. “No.”
“If she wanted a coffee, you would have. What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say automatically. “We’re friends.”
Fifi narrows her brown eyes at me. Sophie has the same colour, but hers have flecks of green and gold and outlined in black.
Fifi’s are just brown. They’re not smiling eyes. They don’t crinkle at the corners.
Fifi is a beautiful woman, and if I had a type, she would be it.
But she’s not Sophie.
“She’s not your usual friend type,” Fifi points out. “But you seem very cozy with her.”
I wonder what Fifi would have thought if she’d walked in on us last week. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Fifi toys with her glass. “I’ve seen the girls you go out with. I very much wanted to be one of those girls,” she admits.
That gets my attention. “Fifi…”
“After you broke up with Mera,” she continues, not meeting my eyes. “We didn’t know each other very well, but I wanted to. I asked Lavinia about you, about how maybe you might be interested.”
This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening. Both Duncan and Mrs. Theissen give me the evil eye because of Sophie, but if I was to have anything to do with Fifi, I’d be sent to the dungeons for sure.
“That was a long time ago,” I say, treading lightly.
Back then, I would have been interested. I know I would have been. Fifi would have been the perfect way for me to get over Mera. It would have lasted all of two weeks, and I would have left her without a second glance.
“Maybe if you’re interested now…” Fifi meets my gaze, confident and steady. Like she thinks I’m going to take her up on whatever it is she’s offering.
Am I?