Chapter Twenty-Four
Finlay rolled his shoulders and his neck, easing out the tension. He needed to be in fighting form, as the competition was starting in just over an hour. The competitors’ tent was full of bulky men in wrestler vests, girls in Highland dance kilts and jackets, some people dressed for equestrian sports and various others in kilts or shooting gear. A hot musty smell filled the air, making it hard to breathe.
This wasn’t exactly the way he’d have chosen to spend his last day with Genevieve, but that was because she hadn’t even been on his radar at the start of the summer. Now she was… And not just on his radar. She was everything. And that was insane because she’d given him very strict instructions on how this was to go.
When he’d been engaged to Elise, he’d held back and had doubts. It had always felt a little too convenient and the outcome hadn’t been wholly surprising – irritating and insulting, but frustratingly predictable. Genevieve had hit like a bolt from the blue, taking him off guard and rocking his world.
‘Hey. You ok, mate?’ Brann clapped Finlay’s cheek in that funny way he had. Somehow he managed to match the tough warrior look with playful cheer and almost dad-like affection for his teammates. In fact, he was the father of the team, though he couldn’t be that much older than Finlay.
‘I’m good.’
‘Aidan said you’re off to Dubai tomorrow? That’s quite a move.’
‘Yup.’ It was enough to be thinking about without Genevieve in the equation.
‘I hadn’t realised. I was going to ask you to be deputy leader for next year and run the warm-up sessions. You’d be great at that with your teaching background. But I guess you won’t be able to.’
‘Sorry, mate.’ Pity too because it sounded right up his alley.
‘Let’s make this a games to remember then.’
‘Yeah. I’m on it.’
Brann clapped his upper arms. ‘Good lad. My daughter follows your girlfriend on Instagram.’ He winked. ‘I can see why you’re distracted.’
Finlay’s jaw stiffened. ‘Your daughter? What age is she?’ Surely he didn’t have kids old enough to be on social media? What exactly had she seen on there?
That was a part of life with Genevieve he wouldn’t miss.
‘She’s fifteen. And you’re her P.E. teacher.’
‘Oh god,’ Finlay groaned. How many more of his pupils had seen his life prostituted on social media?
Brann laughed. ‘Don’t worry, mate. She thinks you’re cool. Sounds like the kids will miss you now you’ve left.’
‘If you say so. Sorry, I’ve not been a hundred per cent recently. I need to get my arse in gear.’
‘I’m happy to kick it in the right direction,’ Brann said with a smirk and gave him the thumbs up.
Finlay grinned back. ‘Thanks,’ he muttered. He needed to go for a walk and loosen up before the first round. Picking up his phone from his backpack, he checked his messages and spotted one from Genevieve asking her to come and meet her family. Was that really necessary? In a few short hours none of this would matter. But her pull was too strong. He wanted to see her.
People had left possessions lying everywhere, so he left his backpack too, but removed his wallet just in case. He didn’t need that going missing the day before he left the country.
Outside, the air was muggy. A good crack of lightning was needed to freshen the air, though it could wait until later before it showed face. He didn’t fancy the match in a rainstorm. One year, the weather had been so wet the competition had almost turned into a mud wrestling event. The ground had been so slippery they’d all fallen over. Not an experience he wanted to repeat. Plus, he wasn’t sure he could afford the laundry bill for having his kilt cleaned again. It had been ridiculously expensive. He glanced down at it and ran his hand over the McBride tartan. This would be mothballed in his mum’s house for who knew how long. She thought she was putting it away for his wedding, perhaps hoping he’d be home in the summer next year to tie the knot. She’d probably even bought a hat, maybe a whole outfit.
‘Oh god,’ he groaned aloud. How many people would be let down by this farce?
Not far off, he spotted the tractor area and his eyes landed on Geoff Harrington. He was with a group of people Finlay didn’t recognise but he guessed right away that one of them was Genevieve’s sister. She had such a resemblance to her mum and Genevieve, though her hair was darker. She was sporting a very pronounced baby bump. A strong desire to see Genevieve like that surged through Finlay… But only if the baby was his.
As he got closer, he guessed the younger man next to Geoff was Rafe, Genevieve’s brother. He had the family resemblance too and the same easy charm in his eyes that his dad had. He leaned over, talking to an older woman in a wheelchair. Where was Genevieve? It seemed odd approaching without her being there, but why not?
‘Hi.’ He sauntered up to them with a casual wave.
‘Finlay,’ Geoff said. ‘Great to see you. Let me introduce you to everyone. This is my son, Rafe. My daughter, Cressida, and her partner, Tina, and this is my mother-in-law, Jeanette.’
‘Nice to meet you all,’ Finlay said.
Rafe shook his hand and the others gave waves of acknowledgement.
‘About time too,’ Jeanette said. ‘I thought I wasn’t going to see you in the flesh before you jetted off to the other side of the world.’
‘Yeah. Sorry. It’s been a crazy busy time.’
‘Why Dubai?’ Rafe asked.
‘I’ve got a teaching contract out there. It’s good money and a great experience.’ He didn’t add that most of the teachers he’d be working with would be about ten years younger than him, fresh out of college and ready for an adventure before they came back home to settle down. He had a knack for doing things all wrong.
‘Sounds great,’ Rafe said. ‘I sometimes do business over there. Very interesting place.’
‘I’m like Mitzi,’ Jeanette said. ‘And it’s too hot for me, but Genevieve loves beaches, so I’m sure she’ll enjoy it.’ She smiled up at Finlay and he forced himself to smile back. Genevieve loved beaches. Her job was portable. Of course, there was Mitzi to consider, but was there a possibility they could make this move real? If Genevieve could part with Mitzi, they could maybe pull this off. Assuming she wanted to. Should he ask her? Maybe he could cut the contract to a year. Would they allow that? Or was he getting carried away in a fantasy even bigger than the one he was living in?
Am I so desperate to save one out of my three engagements?
‘Here’s Genevieve,’ Geoff said.
Finlay took one look at her and knew something was up. Her expression was a poor attempt at that aloof face she put on to cover her true feelings. This time, he saw it for what it was. Her lips were too pinched, her cheeks too red and her eyes too bright.
‘Hey,’ he said.
Her eyes widened even more and she stumbled over her words before settling on, ‘Hi.’
Hilary smiled broadly, almost a little falsely, and chivvied her daughter towards Finlay.
‘Thank goodness you’re here,’ she said. ‘Genevieve is desperate to talk to you.’
‘Are you?’ He glanced at her, trying to extract information from her telepathically – maybe his mum would manage, but it wasn’t working for him.
‘I… er…’
‘Yes. She does. Go for a walk and talk.’ Hilary almost pushed Genevieve into him. ‘It’s very important. She’s desperate to go to Dubai. Let’s not let any miscommunication get in the way.’
‘What?’ Finlay frowned but attempted to shrug off his confusion with a smile.
‘It’s fine,’ Genevieve said with another poor attempt at a serene expression.
‘No, I insist,’ Hilary said. ‘Go and have a chat.’
‘Sure,’ Finlay said. ‘Though I don’t have much time before the first round.’
‘It can wait.’ Genevieve flicked her hair over her shoulders. Maybe a month ago he’d have been fooled by her show of nonchalance, but not now.
‘No, it can’t,’ he said. ‘Let’s go.’ Painfully aware of everyone’s eyes on him, he hooked his arm around her shoulder and led her away. ‘What’s wrong? What did your mum mean about miscommunication?’
‘Oh god, Finlay.’ Genevieve stopped and put her face in her hands.
He gave her a moment, then took her hands and parted them. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I tried to tell her I couldn’t go to Dubai.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she was worried about us. She’s been talking to Flora MacDonald and Flora thought you might have proposed to me to get revenge on Elise.’
‘Interesting… I don’t remember the exact events of that night but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the reason.’
‘I know that and I told her. Then she said she thought it was obvious how much I liked you because I’d given up the house to go to Dubai with you…’ She looked at him helplessly. ‘Then I just kind of told her the story I was going to tell her on Monday. But she didn’t believe me. She thinks I really want to go but all that’s stopping me is… Uncertainty and this contract with Duchan Fayre.’
Finlay raked his hand through his hair. ‘But how does she know about that? I thought you were keeping it quiet until I was gone.’
‘I was, but James came over and was talking to us. Rafe told him I was going to Dubai, so now that contract is in jeopardy because he’s gone off thinking I won’t be around to do the photoshoots and events.’
‘Wow… ok. And…’ He needed to know for sure. ‘Do you want to go to Dubai with me?’
‘No,’ she said, and it was very clear. So clear, it felt like she’d doused him in cold water. For someone who struggled to use that word at times, she’d used it now, good and proper.
‘Well, you’re going to have to suck it up then, because I’m going tomorrow night and I can’t change that. I’ve signed a contract, booked flights. There’s accommodation waiting and my job starts in less than a week.’
She looked away and shook her head. ‘I know.’
‘Listen.’ He put his arms around her and tugged her close. ‘This feeling is temporary. Just keep powering through. In a week or so it’ll be fine.’ Who was he trying to kid here? ‘You’ll be able to keep the contract with Duchan Fayre and you’ll love it. It’s what you always wanted.’
‘Kind of.’ She sighed or it might have been a little sob. ‘Can’t you just dump me? I’ll give you the ring and I can go back and tell them it’s over.’
‘Why do I have to do the dumping? I don’t want to look like the bad guy. This was your idea, so that neither of us would look bad.’
‘I know. I’ve messed up.’
‘We both did. I shouldn’t have proposed in the first place. I mean, who does that?’
She let out a little laugh, and it lifted the ache in his heart for a moment.
‘The proposal wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t filmed the whole thing, so I think I’m still ahead in the messing up race.’
‘Hey. We’ve both made a mess of this,’ he said, holding her face in his palms. ‘But you know what?’
‘What?’
‘It’s been an enjoyable mess.’ He leaned in and kissed her cheek. ‘In fact, I’ve enjoyed this fake engagement a lot more than I enjoyed either of my real ones. And no matter what happens, I’ll still care about you. That isn’t fake.’
She wrapped her arms tight around his back, almost crushing him, but he didn’t mind. The pressure helped relieve the aching tension in every part of him. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
‘Yeah.’ Maybe she would, but not enough to make her want to come with him for real. ‘I’ll miss you too, but let’s stick to the plan, ok?’
‘Ok.’
‘Listen, I’m sorry to rush off, but I need to go. The first round will be starting soon. Come and watch.’
‘I will.’
‘I luh… I’ll see you later.’ He had to go before he said or did something to get him even deeper in than he already was.
He ran back to the tent and found the team warming up. Brann said nothing as Finlay joined in. He couldn’t say how grateful he was at not being drawn attention to. Aidan caught him as they made their way on to the field. ‘You should have got a sick note,’ he said. ‘This is a lot for you to think about when you’re leaving tomorrow.’
‘Yeah. It would have been better if I’d dropped out this year.’
‘Let’s hope you can leave in a blaze of glory.’
He’d rather leave quietly and not draw any attention to himself, but that didn’t seem likely. The team trooped onto the field to cheers and applause. Finlay didn’t look towards the crowd. If Genevieve was there, he didn’t need to see. She didn’t want to come with him and that was that. He was going to Dubai alone. That had always been the plan, so why was he suddenly so cut up about it? Somewhere in a tiny corner of his mind, he’d believed she’d decide to come for real.
Reality was kicking in thick and fast now, and there was no stopping it.
After falling in line with his teammates, he lifted the rope. They took the slack, waiting for the whistle. The scuffle began. It was close and tough going. Eventually they got some momentum and on Brann’s shouts they heaved. It was going their way. Finlay clung to the rope. When the whistle blew, he let go with a heavy exhale.
‘That was a tough start,’ he said.
‘Not half,’ Aidan agreed.
Finlay blew out a breath and wiped sweat from his forehead.
Back in the tent, he grabbed a drink and snuck a look at his phone. A message from Hayley previewed on the screen. He opened it.
HAYLEY: I just bumped into your grumpy friend in town *eyeroll emoji*. I asked him if he was still ok to take you to the airport tomorrow as I really don’t mind doing it and let’s face it you and G will get better chat from me, he’s so dour. Anyway, he said he was doing it and that was that. I said ‘be nice to Genevieve this is a big thing for her’ and he gave me this snidey look and said ‘she won’t be there, will she? So I won’t have to be nice’. Then he stormed off. What does he mean she won’t be there?
Finlay threw himself onto the ground next to his backpack with a groan. Oliver! Why had he opened his big mouth? As he stared at the phone, another message appeared.
OLIVER: think I might have put my foot in it with your sister. Are you still pretending to be engaged? I thought that stopped this weekend? Your sister cornered me in town and made some comment about Genevieve. I said she wasn’t going with you tomorrow because I thought you’d told them all this weekend. Sorry if I’ve ruined it. You are telling them, aren’t you? You’re not keeping the charade going any longer, surely?
Christ, just what he needed. Hayley would hate the idea he’d confided the truth to Oliver and not her, and Oliver would go ballistic if he found out how deep Finlay had got in with Genevieve. He needed to reply quickly.
Hayley first. She’d pester him until he got back to her, even if she was at work, and Saturday was her busiest day.
FINLAY: Don’t fret. Oliver probably just winding you up x
The next one to Oliver.
FINLAY: We’re telling them tomorrow, but no worries.
No worries for Oliver anyway. Finlay’s whole body was being eaten alive by worry mites, but there was nothing he could do except keep going forward. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
The team got to the tug-of-war final but fell in the last round to the Highland Haulers – again. Not exactly the blaze of glory Finlay had hoped for but they’d done their best. Brann high-fived everyone and told them all they were awesome and not to be down about it.
‘I’m sorry,’ Finlay said to him as he packed his bag. ‘I don’t think I was on my best form today.’
‘Not your fault, mate. We’re a team. We’ve got each other’s backs. You hold your head high and enjoy your adventure. Seize the day while you’re young and carefree because next thing you know, you’ll have two kids hanging off your coattails and not a moment’s peace for about eighteen years… make that ever.’
Chance would be a fine thing. ‘Thanks.’
Finlay dodged the dinner with Genevieve’s family. He was too exhausted and tomorrow was going to be gruelling enough. He thought she’d go, but she messaged, saying she wanted to spend the last night with him and after she’d taken her grandma home, she’d be there. She’d even put food on for him.
His house was empty but smelled delicious. Genevieve’s slow cooker was about the only thing in the kitchen apart from some paper plates she’d also left. He lifted the lid and closed his eyes. Delicious. The few remaining items in the house, the bedsheets and his car were all going to his mum’s the next day. She’d keep the house key and hand the spare to the estate agent so they could carry on with their business while he was away.
He sat on the balcony with a cold beer, looking out over the river. The sun dipped low, casting a warm golden glow over the rippling water. A slight breeze danced through the air, chasing away the mugginess from earlier. The distant chirrup of birds echoed in the trees. Everything looked more beautiful and homely than ever.
When would he next see this? Soon he’d be sitting alone in an apartment prepping schoolwork and enjoying peace – scratch that – being lonely.
The door clicked and Genevieve came in. Moments later, she dropped her bag on the table and took the seat beside him. He didn’t look at her.
‘The food smells good,’ he said, when she didn’t speak either. ‘That was kind of you to do that.’
‘You should take the ring back,’ she said.
He turned to her. She was right behind him, holding it out, her face set.
‘I don’t want it. It’s yours now.’
‘But Finlay, I can’t.’
‘Please. If you don’t want it, keep it safe somewhere. I don’t have anywhere to put it now.’
‘Ok.’ She slipped it back on and looked at it.
Still not meeting her eye, he put his hand out and covered hers. ‘We can still be friends, can’t we?’
‘Sure,’ she said, her voice a little too jolly.
‘Good.’ He increased his grip. His mum was right. He would have felt much better about going tomorrow if he had someone to hold his hand. But he didn’t. He’d reached the end of the road with their little game and he was going it alone. ‘Let’s eat.’
‘Ok… The last supper.’
He nodded. Exactly that.