12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
E vie opened one eye, wondering what had woken her from a deep afternoon nap, then noticed the glowing light on her phone. She took a look and saw Grace had messaged.
How’s it going?
She was exhausted after five days of working on the house, tired from constantly avoiding James, and wrung out from nights spent dreaming of him. But Grace wouldn’t want to hear all that. Not really.
Evie clicked on the microphone to leave a voice note then paused. Instead, she tapped out a reply, knowing full well Grace would hear any inflections or nuances in the tone she used.
House is beginning to take shape. The palette you’ve chosen is working really well. Paint and papering started yesterday. Can send pics? I know you’re not meant to be working but…
Evie realised she’d been asleep much longer than she’d planned. She had come back from the house around five, with the idea to have a swim, but her bed had looked so inviting she decided to have a short nap. That was two hours ago. She felt a little thrown by the change in the temperature outside and her stomach growling needing dinner.
She couldn’t hear any sounds in the house so had to assume that James was down the pub with the rest of the team, a routine that had evolved quickly after the first day, whereas she had kept to herself. As long as she timed it all to perfection she’d been able to duck James at mealtimes, something she’d mastered over the last few days since he’d shown his true colours. Her phone beeped.
I don’t care about the house. I know it’ll be perfect, I designed it! Feel free to send me pics but I want to know how it’s going with you and James??
Evie began to type. Then stopped. She wasn’t sure what to say. That he clearly didn’t want her around. That every time she saw him her stomach flip-flopped and she was back to the sixteen year old with a crush? That they’d been studiously ignoring each other for almost a week and whilst she knew it was the right thing to do, it was slowly breaking her heart. Again.
She shook her head and threw her phone on the bed trying to decide what to do with herself that evening. A Friday night at home usually meant going out with friends somewhere, or staying in with a film and an enormous bucket of popcorn. Problem was she’d been ‘home’ for the last four nights and was beginning to feel a little stir crazy. Frustratingly, the only place to go out was the local pub, and James was there. Plus she wasn’t overly keen on going out by herself.
Resolving that she would benefit from another evening in, Evie decided she’d take a swim, then heat up the leftover pizza in the fridge from the night before.
Suddenly the buzzer on the front door went, frightening her in it’s volume and the fact no-one had used it this past week. Evie hooked her head out of her window to try and see who it was, but their head was obscured by the porch roof. ‘I’m coming,’ she yelled to whoever it was and dashed down the stairs. Flinging open the door, she half hoped it would be Grace making a surprise visit so her face was a mixture of astonishment and shock when it was Bryn standing on the doorstep.
‘Oh, it’s you,’ she said to the security guard, currently dressed in his civilian uniform of board shorts and a baggy white t-shirt. ‘Everything okay?’.
Bryn’s face cracked into an easy smile which spread to his eyes. ‘I was just checking in on you. I’ve noticed you tend to be here most evenings and I wanted to be sure you were alright.’
Was it her imagination or did Bryn’s smile veer ever so slightly towards flirtatious when he was talking to her? Evie didn’t mind, it was a refreshing change to have someone keen to see her, compared to James’ obvious distaste.
‘I’m fine thanks. Not much to do around here really, but I’m happy. I’m going for a swim and then I'm having some leftover pizza,’ she babbled, wondering why she was telling Bryn about her plans.
He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘Leftover pizza? I think we can do better than that. You’ve been working hard all week, everyone else is down the pub. I think you should come too, let Cyan treat you to something better than leftovers.’
‘Cyan’s going to be there?’ Evie asked surprised and Bryn laughed easily. ‘No, I just meant she’s happy to pay for everyone, I’ve noticed you’ve not come down. I think it would be good for you to get a bit of a break,’ he shrugged. ‘Or you could have some leftover pizza…’
Evie rolled her eyes, he had a point. She had been craving an evening away from the four walls of the world’s most boring décor, and wasn’t excited about her dinner plans. ‘Okay, give me five minutes to change – but I can’t be out late, we’re working tomorrow too,’ she reminded him.
A little over ten minutes later after telling herself to pull herself together, and that it didn’t matter whether James would be there or not, Evie settled on a simple white linen strappy dress and trainers. The evening was still warm and she felt lighter knowing she had plans. Bryn would make a welcome distraction from the maelstrom of feelings that came when she thought about James.
When she returned to the door Bryn was stood leaning against the frame. His eyes lit up when he saw her. ‘Much better. Come on, I’ll give you a lift.’ Evie locked up and followed him to the drive.
‘Where’s your car?’
Bryn shook his head. ‘Didn’t say anything about a car, I said I’d give you a lift,’ he grinned, walking behind a white van parked by the side of the house. ‘She’s here,’ he said, and as Evie followed him round she gasped.
‘I can’t go on that,’ she pointed at the sleek black motorcycle.
Laughing at her discomfort, Bryn produced a black helmet for her and placed it on her head, tightening up the chin strap. ‘Yes you can. I don’t have a car and it’ll get you to the pub in one piece, I promise.’ He looked at her, his dark eyes playful. ‘You trust me don’t you?’
The spark that flared between the two of them caused Evie to bite her bottom lip. ‘I think so,’ she admitted, allowing excitement and fear to course through her.
‘That’s what I thought. Wear this too,’ he put a leather jacket around her shoulders. It smelt of sea salt and warmth. When Evie shrugged it on it swamped her, the sleeves coming down past her hands. She allowed him to zip it up for her.
‘Why?’ she asked as she watched him climb up onto the bike, then did the same, sliding in behind him.
‘I don’t want you freezing. Hands around my waist,’ he told her and Evie held herself stiffly, then realised there was no way she could stay on the bike if she didn’t do as he told her. She put her arms around his slight waist and leant in. She could feel the muscles in his back flexing as he started up the bike and began to carefully steer them out of the driveway. ‘Just lean into the corners like me, let the bike take the lead,’ he explained, his words disappearing as they built up speed.
The ride was nothing like Evie had experienced before. From the warmth coming from Bryn’s back, the feel of the leather jacket around her body cocooning her from the breeze that blew past them as they sped down country lanes, to the vivacity the bike brought to the fifteen minute drive, Evie was exhilarated. When they reached the pub carpark she could feel the pull of disappointment at not riding anymore. Evie waited as Bryn found them a space, then carefully extricated herself from the seat. She removed the helmet and gave it to him.
‘Looks like you’ve caught the bug,’ he said as they held the helmet between them. ‘Your eyes are sparkling, did you enjoy it?’
Evie smiled broadly. ‘I loved it. Can we do it again?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘Is there a really long road somewhere we can go fast down? I’d love to feel the wind rushing past,’ she admitted, laughing at the joy she’d discovered.
‘I’m sure we can find some routes. I know this part of the country like the back of my hand. There’s some good places to go.’
‘Thank you for suggesting I get out,’ Evie said, beginning to make her way to the pub.
‘Wait,’ Bryn grabbed her hand gently, stopping her from going anywhere. ‘I don’t think you need this in there, it’s pretty warm.’ He lent in to unzip the leather jacket slowly, an act so intimate Evie was bristling with electricity.
‘Thank you,’ was all she could manage, her throat going dry as she spoke. They looked at each other for a moment, both turning away to the pub where she could hear the chatter from diners in the garden.
And James. Stood in the doorway with a look of dark fury written across his face.