Chapter 26 #3
Something in his tone, his face, must have made it crystal clear he was serious.
Because he was. He’d held on to their friendship because it had been so long-lasting – she’d been at his side when he was a child, all the way into adulthood, and he’d thought that was something you shouldn’t throw away.
Now, he thought he had been buying into the sunk-cost fallacy, reluctant to let go because she’d always been a fixture in his life, something he’d always expected to be there.
When she moved away, he had hoped things would peter out gradually – eventually.
That should have been his sign that the friendship was over.
He couldn’t be friends with someone who didn’t respect his boundaries.
No meant no; he was never going to change his mind.
He was never going to love her in the way she wanted him to.
He didn’t know how else he could make her understand.
Despite this resolve, he felt bad – tears streamed freely down her face now, dripping off her chin. He rummaged in a cupboard for a packet of tissues, ripping it open and offering her one.
‘Thanks,’ she sniffed, dabbing at her face. Reina was at her side again, sitting this time, poking at her leg with her wet nose.
‘Have some coffee and sit with Reina a little while – she’ll make you feel better,’ he said, more gently now. ‘Then go.’
With a nod, she moved forward, reaching for the coffee mug with shaking fingers.
Something unspoken hung between them – the fire, what she’d done.
He didn’t know if she’d tell anyone; he thought it was the right thing to do.
The mature thing to do. To take responsibility for her actions. She’d never been any good at that.
‘I hope you do the right thing,’ he told her, before retreating from the kitchen.
*
When he came downstairs half an hour later, Georgina had gone and Reina was curled in her dog bed over by the back door, her nose tucked between her paws. She looked up, tail wagging loosely when she spotted Lucas, before settling down to snooze.
His phone buzzed against the countertop – he’d left it on the side earlier. He coughed, rubbing his chest, picked it up and swiped to see a message from Clem on the screen.
Did you see your email? From the judges?
He frowned down at the message, a slight pain in his chest. An email from the judges, already? Had they emailed with the announcement about who had won? He switched over to his emails and skimmed through the contents.
It wasn’t an announcement. It was an invitation. He read through it, and replied to Clem.
Lucas: Just seen it. I didn’t expect them to want to film us again
Clem: I did. Everyone wants it and it’s the only way to end the show in a way that makes everyone happy, audience included. If they don’t film it, they won’t have anything to show
Lucas: Even with how much shit they’re in now, with the fire? So many people are mad
Clem: I know
Clem: We should hopefully know more about what caused it soon. I feel sorry for the judges. The filming’s a low-key thing at least. Will you go?
Lucas made himself another coffee and sipped it, letting out a sigh – he’d hit on that perfect blend of the right amount of coffee and milk.
A series of coughs followed. They were both still recovering, but filming was scheduled a few weeks from now, so they should be feeling better by then.
He drummed his fingertips on the counter and his phone buzzed again in his hand.
Clem: I think we should go. We should see it through, since we came this far, and went through all this
He hadn’t seen her after that day at the hospital, although he’d messaged her to see if she was okay after the blood tests and the lung checks and everything else.
They’d both been advised to watch their breathing, told they might still have a cough and shortness of breath, possibly some pain, as things healed. He tapped out a reply.
Lucas: I’ll go if you promise to get plenty of rest and sleep. And if you get any of those weird symptoms they told us about at the hospital, get checked out okay?
Clem: Of course I will. Same goes for you too
Lucas: Sure. Are you okay?
Clem: I think so
Lucas: You seemed pretty shook up. I was worried
Clem: I was
The display simply read typing . . . but Clem must have decided not to send whatever she was typing, because it vanished. Five minutes later, another message came through.
Clem: Are you feeling okay today?
Lucas: I’m doing fine. Coffee heals all, right?
She sent him an animated GIF of a cat swimming inside a coffee cup.
He decided not to tell her about Georgina.
It wasn’t that he was protecting her – it was more he didn’t want to hurt Clem.
If Georgina made the right choice, Clem would find out.
And if she didn’t, Lucas didn’t know what he’d do – go to the police?
Could he? If he was questioned about the fire, he couldn’t lie and cover for her, he knew that much.
Lucas: We should talk too. In person
Clem: I think so as well
Lucas: Are you free in the next couple of days?
Once again, the screen showed her as typing . . . It vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He waited, drinking his coffee, draining half the mug before she answered.
Clem: I think we should meet after the filming when we’re better.
Disappointment flip-flopped in Lucas’s stomach.
He’d hoped to see her sooner – to his surprise, the thought of going a couple of weeks without seeing her made things seem a little less bright, as if there wasn’t anything in particular to look forward to.
But he didn’t want to be pushy, not when they both needed to recover.
She was right – they’d been through a lot.
Lucas: Okay, sure
Clem: Good. May the best dog (or cat) win ?