Chapter 2 #2
I scowled as Lewis’s concern ratcheted up.
I knew Lewis and their whole family worried about Eilidh.
She didn’t check in with them nearly enough.
And I realized I resented her a little for it.
While Lewis fucked off to London, he never lost contact with any of us.
I spoke to him nearly every day, and I knew he checked in with his family all the time.
There was no doubt in my mind that distance wouldn’t keep him from us.
However, Eilidh had made her own family with show biz people.
It was like she didn’t need the Adairs anymore.
As someone who’d found solace in them because my own family was shit, it pissed me off that Eilidh took hers for granted.
I was pulled from my musings as I realized Lewis was filling Eilidh in on Carianne’s plans.
“After asking him out!” I called, getting up to sit back down beside Lewis. Needing someone else to agree that her plan was terrible, I continued, “He forgot to mention Carianne asked him out for real first.”
“Not surprising.” Eilidh shrugged. I noted the dark circles under her eyes and wondered if she was working or partying too hard. Or both. “I always knew she fancied Lewis.”
It would have been nice if I’d known that back then. “Aye, apparently even when she was dating me.”
“I remember telling you she wasn’t good enough for you,” Eils said, and then turned to her brother.
“And you’re an idiot if you trust a woman who has admitted to secretly harboring feelings for her friend’s boyfriend and boyfriend’s friend for years.
Let me tell you, Carianne is hoping that by pretending to date her, you’ll fall in love with her instead, like some fucking stupid rom-com. ”
And there it was. I’d forgotten beneath Eilidh’s devil-may-care attitude and flirting, she was perceptive as hell. It was what made her such a good actor. Understanding the human condition. “That sounds like Carianne,” I agreed.
Lewis huffed. “Carianne’s nice, no? I mean, she loves Callie.”
“Maybe.” Eilidh grimaced. “But she’s also always been jealous of Callie. When we were kids, it didn’t matter what Callie had, Carianne had to have it too.”
“I remember that.” I nodded. “When we were dating, if Callie got something, Carianne wouldn’t shut up about it until she got it too. I just thought it was what girls did.”
“No.” Eilidh screwed her face up at me. “Way to generalize us.”
My lips twitched with amusement. “It’s called assessing female behavior on fact-based evidence.”
“A report based on the behavior of one subject is ludicrously flawed and inaccurate.”
A spark of enjoyment flickered through me. “It’s based on all the girls I’ve dated.”
“Then maybe you should be more discerning in your choice of sexual partners. And according to Lewis, those are many.”
“Pot meet kettle, no?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m discerning.”
“Really?” I thought of the guy I saw her hook up with at a wrap party a few years ago. “Do we really think so?”
Eilidh opened her mouth to retort, and I realized I was anticipating her response because I was disappointed when Lewis cut her off.
“You’re both right,” he admitted.
“We are?” Eilidh wrinkled her nose in a way that made her look all of fourteen. “About what again? Fyfe befuddled me with his mild misogyny.”
“Uh!” I gaped at her, trying not to laugh. “How dare you?”
Eilidh grinned, and I felt a flush of pleasure at seeing her beautiful smile brighten her expression. “You’re so easy to wind up.”
I rolled my eyes because we both knew I was letting her wind me up. Then I turned to Lewis. “What are we right about?”
“That pretending to date Carianne to make Callie jealous is a bad idea. Not only is it childish, but I think it would push Callie further away.”
“Agreed,” Eilidh and I said in unison and then shot each other a scowl neither of us meant.
“So …” Lewis sighed heavily. “Any ideas on what I should do next?”
“Well.” Eilidh smirked. “I know this might not make you happy, Mr. Impatient, but I think you should try a different tactic. It’ll take longer, but it’s more likely to work.”
“And what’s that?”
“Ask her if you can try to be just friends.”
“Just friends?”
“Just friends. Then you can spend time together without all the pressure, and you can remind Callie that you’re a loyal, good person she can trust.”
There Eilidh went again, being all smart and wise and perceptive. I wondered how many people in her life missed how deep Eilidh’s waters were because they were so blinded by the beauty and flirt and charm.
Lewis looked at me.
“She’s right,” I agreed.
“Did it hurt you to admit that?” Eilidh teased.
“Why? Because I’m mildly misogynistic?”
“Did I say mildly? I meant wildly.”
Amusement curled the corners of my mouth. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had this much fun bantering with someone.
“Friends,” Lewis interrupted us. “You both think I should propose friendship?”
“If you want to prove that your first thoughts are to Callie, then aye,” Eilidh insisted. “She needs trust to build between you again.”
A few minutes later, to my surprising disappointment, Eilidh hung up. Lewis left to consider his options over Callie, and I got back to work. However, that feeling lingered throughout the day. The disappointment. The gnawing sense that something was missing.
Then, as I was getting ready for bed that night, my phone buzzed.
I picked it up to find a text from an unknown number.
Despite your mild misogyny, it was nice catching up today.
Grinning, I saved Eilidh as a contact and replied:
If you call insulting me catching up. It felt more like a roast.
My phone binged and my smile stretched my face.
I also called you a smoke show. Trust you to home in on the negative. Also I miss your glasses. Did you get laser eye surgery, Fyfe Moray?
Nope. Contacts. I’m wearing my glasses as we speak.
Well, that’s a relief. For a minute there, I thought my Fyfe had disappeared.
Her Fyfe.
That felt better than it should.
Shoving that thought away, I replied honestly.
You’re one to talk. Today is the first time I saw the real Eils.
What does that mean?
You were you and not the untouchable BAFTA Award-winning Eilidh Adair.
Is that what I am?
Somehow I sensed the melancholy in her reply. I hadn’t meant to upset her.
It’s been a while since we spoke. All I’ve known of you is what I see on TV or on ad campaigns.
Well, I’m still me.
I got that today. It was good to see.
I waited for a response, but a minute passed and nothing. Disappointed, I put my phone down and reached for my e-reader. I hoped I hadn’t offended her.
Then a minute or so later, my phone binged again. I dropped my e-reader in my rush to pick up the mobile.
If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell Lewis or anyone?
Disquiet filled me. I didn’t like the idea of keeping anything from Lewis, especially pertaining to his sister. But once, almost ten years ago, Eilidh had kept a secret for me.
You can tell me anything and I promise not to share it.
I waited impatiently for her response.
I’m lonely
Fuck.
My thumbs hovered over the screen.
I hated the idea of Eilidh out in the world, alone and lonely.
I knew what loneliness felt like. Didn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
Come home, Eils.
She took a few seconds to reply again.
I can’t. I’m under contract to do this film in Romania.
Shit. My thumbs flew over the screen.
Then text me, call me, anytime. I’m here.
I don’t want to bother you.
Eilidh, you’re never bothering me. Promise me you’ll keep in touch.
Okay. I promise.