Chapter 24
Bex rang Daisy from the bath.
‘A corner office,’ she said, for what had to have been the third time at least. ‘And a view of London. Well, maybe not of London exactly, more like the neighbouring office building, but still.’ It was what she’d been working towards, what she’d dreamt of.
‘You deserve it,’ Daisy said. Given the obvious issue of Bex being in the bath, they were not on a video call, though Bex could tell from the clattering in the background that Daisy was packing up the coffee shop on her canal for the day.
Again, Daisy wasn’t normally one to finish work early, but Bex suspected it was to do with the weather.
And it wasn’t like she and Theo didn’t make up for it in the summer.
On hot days when the canal was particularly busy, they’d been known to keep it open for close to twelve hours.
It was a dedication that Bex admired, though she knew what it was like when you loved what you were doing.
Work just wasn’t quite the same. Even if people never quite understood how anyone could love accounts and numbers the way that Bex did.
‘So, have you seen any of Duncan since you helped him home drunk?’ Daisy asked, taking Bex by surprise. Had she really not spoken to her best friend since then? No, probably not, given everything that had been going on.
‘We went to the café together yesterday,’ she said. ‘It wasn’t a planned catch-up or anything. Ruby wasn’t very well. Actually, I should probably send him a message and ask how she’s doing.’
‘And that’s definitely the only reason you want to message him, right?’
Bex didn’t need to see her friend’s face to know the smirk she was giving her. And hopefully Daisy would also be aware of the scowl that Bex returned.
‘Yes, it is. He and I are… unworkable,’ she said. ‘And there’s no point you or anyone else telling me what a shame it is. It doesn’t change matters.’
A slight hissing sound came through the phone line, like Daisy was pursing her lips and trying not to say anything.
‘You know best,’ she said. ‘So, tell me about the job. And what’s the new laird like?’
It was Bex’s turn to hiss slightly, not sure how the heck she was going to tell Daisy all there was to say about Kieron. Although Daisy misinterpreted the sound.
‘That bad?’ she asked.
‘No, he’s not bad, actually. He’s the reason I got the job.’
‘What? How?’
Bex knew she didn’t have to fill Daisy in on all the details.
Like the fact she had agreed to go on a date with Kieron when they were back in London.
Or that she’d actually met him before. She could just tell her about him recommending her to his friends.
Yet before she even gave her a scant outline, the doorbell rang.
‘Crap. Sorry, someone’s here. I’m going to have to go.’
‘Okay, but you’ll ring me soon, right? I want to know what’s going on.’
‘Course.’ Water splashed out of the bath as she climbed out of it, her hair dripping wet, but not yet washed. ‘Love you.’
‘Love you too.’
A minute later, Bex was standing outside the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her.
‘Who is it?’ she asked.
‘It’s me.’ Eilidh’s voice drifted through from outside. Relief rushed through Bex. The last thing she wanted was Kieron or Duncan to see her half-clean and dressed in a towel. Bex opened the door, hit by a blast of freezing air as she let Eilidh in, then hastily closed the door behind her.
‘Sorry, I guess I interrupted your bath,’ Eilidh said, scanning Bex quickly up and down. ‘Lorna said we should meet here before we go to Moira’s. I guess she’s still finishing up at the café.’
‘Great.’ Bex was aware that she was dripping water on the floor. ‘You okay if I get finished up? Help yourself to a drink. Actually, there’s some prosecco in the fridge if you want to open that. I’m in the mood for celebrating.’
‘That sounds interesting.’ Eilidh’s smile lifted. ‘Do I get to find out why?’
‘Sure, just as soon as I’m dry and dressed.’
Fifteen minutes later, Bex’s hair was only roughly dried, but it was clean and she was fully clothed as Eilidh handed her a glass of prosecco.
‘So, what are we celebrating?’ Eilidh asked. ‘Are you and Duncan finally back together, or is it something to do with you and the future laird? I hear you two have been getting very close lately.’
‘Where did you hear that?’
Eilidh offered a nonchalant shrug as she took a sip of her drink. ‘Oh, you know what the village grapevine’s like.’
Bex did, and she didn’t like it. The last thing she needed was for it to get back to Duncan that she’d agreed to meet up with Kieron when they were back in London. Not that there’d been anyone there to overhear them speaking. No, whatever people were saying it was pure conjecture and nothing more.
‘No, there’s nothing going on with Kieron and me. Although, I suppose the celebration is slightly related to him. I’ve just been told I’ve got a big promotion at work. The big one. Junior director.’
She’d hoped the news would elicit a smile, and perhaps even a toast, but instead, Eilidh’s lips twisted.
‘What?’ Bex asked.
‘Oh, nothing,’ Eilidh said, shaking her head and plastering the most fake smile Bex had ever seen on her face. ‘Ignore me. Congratulations.’
She lifted her glass, for Bex to clink, but Bex left her drink where it was. Ignoring an expression like that was easier said than done. Not that she even tried.
‘What is it? What are you not saying?’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Eilidh avoided her eyes as she spoke. ‘I’m just being silly. But I kind of thought that you coming back here, you and Duncan would reignite things. Then we’d have you here forever.’
Bex laughed, trying to suppress the ache that spread through her chest. ‘You didn’t really think that would happen, did you?’
‘Oh, I absolutely did.’
Eilidh let out a sigh as she dropped down onto the sofa, at which point Bex followed. She didn’t feel quite so like celebrating now after all.
‘I know that’s what everyone thinks should happen,’ she said, staring at the floor. ‘But Duncan and I are complicated. It’s not that I don’t love him. I adore him. But we have to think long term.’
‘I don’t mean to be awkward, but why? If it’s love then it’s love.’
‘We’re adults,’ Bex said, wishing she didn’t have to explain herself to people like this. ‘We have to be practical.’
‘That seems insane.’
‘Really?’ Bex didn’t bother hiding her feelings as she lifted her eyebrows so high they butted her hairline. ‘As insane as being in love with your best friend for a decade and doing nothing about it?’
Eilidh’s demeanour shifted immediately. Her jaw tightened.
‘Niall and I are friends. Just friends.’
‘But you’re not,’ Bex said. ‘You’re best friends. You call each other all the time. You’re each other’s go-to person. He clearly thinks you’re gorgeous, and you get antsy anytime he mentions going on a date with someone else.’
‘I do not,’ Eilidh snapped, before sinking back slightly. ‘Okay, maybe I do. But that’s only because they’re never good enough for him. I’d be fine if he found someone that actually deserved him… And are we now discussing my love life?’ Eilidh shot back.
‘Because mine’s complicated and I don’t want to get into it,’ Bex replied.
‘And mine isn’t complicated?’ Eilidh shook her head. ‘Niall and I have been best friends since we were three years old. Taking that chance… we could lose everything. The foundation of all our memories could implode if it didn’t work out. It’s not worth that risk.’
‘And that’s exactly what it’s like with me and Duncan,’ Bex said.
‘The chance of a happily ever after, of me finding a way to make ends meet in this tiny village, isn’t going to happen.
And I know Duncan would move to London if I asked him to, but I’d never ask him.
He’d hate it. This is where he’s happy. And I can’t give up everything I’ve spent my entire adult life working towards, because if I did, I’d end up resenting him.
’ She shook her head, unable to find the words to explain the hurt she knew it would cause. ‘It’s a lose-lose situation.’
Eilidh scratched her temple. ‘It doesn’t have to be,’ she said. ‘You could find a way, if that’s what you really want.’
‘Well, maybe that’s the answer, isn’t it?’ Bex said. ‘Maybe we don’t want it enough.’
Yet, as the words left her mouth, a dull ache throbbed behind her sternum. Was that the problem? Did she not love Duncan as much as she’d convinced herself she did? Or did she love him so much that she’d got out before she ended up irrevocably broken?
The silence between them stretched, neither willing to speak first. For a moment, Bex feared they’d sit there forever until the front door clicked open.
‘Hey, guys!’ Lorna said as she stepped into the living room. ‘Oh great, we’re drinking already. I’ll grab a glass. Who’s ready to sort out outfits?’
Bex and Eilidh exchanged a quick look, the tension of their previous conversation still fizzing around them. Yet with a slight nod, they silently agreed that now was not the time to continue the conversation.
‘Sure.’ Bex smiled at Lorna as she grabbed the bottle of prosecco. ‘It sounds like just the type of distraction we need.’