Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
ELLIE
The six people in the pub are having a wild night, for this place at least. Most of the punters are as old and grey as usual, but amongst them all sits one bright light, my bestie.
Kat’s shine seems to lack a little lustre tonight. There are dark circles creeping in below her eyes, and the usual pink and girly clothes have been replaced with a pair of jeans and one of Liam’s zip-up hoodies.
‘God, it’s good to see you,’ I say, topping up her white wine.
‘You didn’t charge her,’ Old Martin starts up.
‘Oh, shush, I’ll take it out of my pay. A woman can buy her friend a bloody drink.’ If I rolled my eyes at him any harder, they’d probably fall out.
Kat smiles with her mouth, but not her eyes. ‘I know. You’ve been working your ass off. Feel like I need to write myself in your diary.’
‘Excuse me?’ I say. ‘I’m not the one who’s spent so much time inside banging your brains out that you’ve become practically translucent.’
That elicits a laugh. ‘You don’t want me to fill you in on my love life, do you?’
‘Oh, fuck no,’ I say, dramatically shuddering for effect. ‘Keep that behind closed doors, thank you very much.’
The bar digs into my forearms as I lean on it, studying my friend and trying to put my finger on what’s wrong with her.
‘You look tired.’
‘Why thank you,’ she says. ‘So sweet.’
‘Seriously though—’
Kat cuts me off before I can probe further. ‘Fill me in on how project travel’s going. Are you close to your goal?’
‘Uhm, it’s going well. I’m a little ahead of schedule, actually. I’m trying not to get myself too excited until it’s all booked and paid, you know?’ It’s a lie; I’m like a kid waiting for Christmas. Counting down the minutes.
‘I’m excited for you. Your dreams are finally coming true.’ Kat’s smile is wistful. ‘Love this for you.’
‘I’m still a bit salty that you’re not coming.’
Kat grins. ‘We’d find Liam in my suitcase. Or three steps behind us at any given time.’
‘Yeah, I don’t know what situation you’ve got going on down there,’ I say, nodding beneath the bar, ‘but it must be fucking mystical for how down bad you’ve got my brother.’
‘I’m just as obsessed with him, if I’m being honest. Can’t keep my hands off him.’
I want to believe her, but something doesn't sit right. Is Kat lying to me?
‘You know if you ever want to talk to me, you can, right? Whether it’s about Liam or anything else.’ I rest my chin on my hand and survey my best friend’s face.
‘Of course I know that. Reggie, however, will be furious that you’ve not been over to pay due homage to him with your undivided attention and a sack full of treats.
‘Aw, is my chonky boy missing me?’ I miss him too; I grew pretty fond of the fluffball for the time we shared the flat.
I definitely don’t miss their absolutely-not-quiet ‘quiet sex’ every bloody night.
Even if you stifle a moan, the sex noises are right there, slopping like a bear in custard. The groans would be better, really.
The bell above the door goes, and all heads swivel to see who’s joining them. I hope my face doesn’t look as hot as it feels when my gaze settles on Freddie. What is it about the damned guy that makes me feel like a blushing, bloody teenager next to his rebelling posh-boy vibe?
‘Pint, please,’ he says as he pulls up a stool two down from Kat.
‘You’re back,’ I reply, before cringing because duh, obviously he’s back. What a dope.
‘Couldn’t keep away.’
Kat is looking from me to Freddie and back, her eyes incrementally widening until she looks like an aye-aye who’s about to spontaneously combust. She better bloody not, as it’d be on me to mop up her innards and goop. Best friend or not, that’s asking a lot.
‘I did text,’ Freddie says as I hand over a pint. ‘A few times.’
‘What can I say, I’m a busty lady.’
It takes me a second to realise what I just said. ‘BUSY. I’m a busy lady.’
Kat chokes on a laugh before shaking her head. ‘It’s the lady part I’d be disagreeing with.’
That’s when Freddie glances at her. As much as I love Kat, she’s the one who usually draws guys’ focus.
Not because I’m not pretty enough, but because there’s this magnetism to her.
An urge to stay in her orbit. Thank God she isn’t a mean girl; she’d be an absolute menace to society.
‘Kat,’ I say. ‘This is Frederick Baker, a paper peddler and professional nosey fucker.’
Freddie stretches a hand out to Kat, which she takes, her own practically lost in her hoodie sleeve. Weird.
‘It’s Freddie Baker. She’s trying to wind me up.’
‘Succeeding, I’d think,’ Kat says, taking a deep sip of her wine.
‘This is Kat Elliott. My best friend, and a general ray of sunshine.’
‘Kat…’ Freddie repeats. ‘Just the woman I’ve been hoping to meet.’
That’s weird. Why does he want to meet Kat? I’m not sure if the boulders I feel in my gut are jealousy or protective ones.
‘Have you?’ Kat asks, not even looking at him.
‘Ellie wouldn’t let me set up a meeting.’ He takes a sip of his beer, the condensation on the bottom dripping down his long fingers.
Woman. Calm down.
‘Probably thinks you’re a twat,’ Kat responds, deadpan.
‘Kat!’ The word is practically a gasp, and Kat shrugs at me.
‘Journalists are all twats.’ She shrugs. ‘Nothing personal.’
Freddie looks from me to Kat. I don’t know what to tell him; she’s usually a sea of sparkles meeting new people. Have I judged Freddie wrong? Are her girl senses tingling in a way mine aren’t? The ones in her gut, that is.
‘You’re not what I imagined, either, if that helps.’ Freddie is trying to sound charming, to put her at ease, but for some reason, Kat’s got her back up around him.
‘I really don’t care to concern myself with the things you imagine about women you don’t know.’ Kat’s words drip with ire, bringing a hot flush to Freddie’s face.
While Kat sounds in control. Hell, I’d say uninterested in Freddie. There's a light sheen of sweat across her forehead.
‘Can I just ask you a few questions about your relationship with Sam?’ Freddie goes in business first, and I want to slap him upside the head and point out how she’s clearly not feeling whatever this is.
Kat narrows her eyes. ‘My what?’
‘With Ellie’s boyfriend, Sam.’
Turning to face Freddie, Kat plasters him with a sweet but very false smile. ‘He was dating Ellie, not me. My relationship with him consisted of ordering coffee.’
‘I just—’
Kat stands, maintaining that odd smile. ‘Really must get going. Nice to meet you, Freddie.’
‘Are you coming on Sunday?’ I ask. ‘Mum’s been missing you and Liam.’
Kat visibly swallows, her eyes flicking briefly to Freddie.
‘Yeah, we’ll be there. Looking forward to seeing you already.’ Kat leans over the bar and pulls me into a cuddle.
Freddie sips his beer while she leaves, before smiling at me. ‘I don’t think she likes me much.’
‘You’re a stranger who tried to pry into her life the minute you met her. What did you expect. You need to work on your bedside manner.’ I sweep a cloth over the bar.
‘My bedside manner is much better.’
I blush again.
‘I’ll take your word for it.’ I need to kick myself in the arse to remind myself that this man is here to find my missing boyfriend. Not to flirt with.
But as the conversation draws on, I can’t help but picture the way that Kat looked when she heard Freddie’s name. Almost like she recognised it. I’ve never seen her read a newspaper, so I doubt it’s from his articles.