Chapter Twenty-Six
‘This is a bad joke, right?’ Hayley stood on the doorstep of Lisa’s house with her arms folded, looking more serious – and scary – than she ever had before.
‘Nope. Not a joke,’ Finlay said. ‘The whole thing was fake.’
‘Fake?’ Lisa repeated, her expression flat.
‘Yup. But don’t go telling anyone else that. This is between me and the two of you. Genevieve doesn’t want her followers to think she’s the kind of person who would get drunkenly engaged to someone, so we’re using this as the reason. And really, I don’t want people thinking I’m like that either. One failed engagement is enough, two is getting silly and three is utterly ridiculous.’
His mum shook her head. ‘But it wasn’t fake.’
‘I just told you it was.’
‘You’re wrong. It wasn’t fake, it was fate.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Why else would you have had the ring with you? People don’t go about carrying engagement rings in their pockets then suddenly find some random person to propose to. That wasn’t a coincidence. It was meant to be. You and Genevieve are meant to be.’
Finlay cocked his head. This wasn’t the first time his mum had given him the benefit of her belief in all things spiritual. Normally he let it wash over him but something struck him this time, an odd niggle, questioning him. What if she’s right? But that was mad. He believed in small coincidences, sure, but this was too much. More likely his brain tricking him into hearing what he wanted to believe.
‘I don’t get it,’ Hayley said. ‘What made you ask her in the first place?’
‘Prosecco.’
‘Nonsense,’ his mum said. ‘It might have given you the courage and the freedom to open up but no way would you have done it if you hadn’t felt something for her.’
‘I’m not saying I don’t like her. Of course I do. But we’re not—’
‘In love?’ His mum narrowed her eyes. ‘Because you did a very good impression of it.’
‘And it’s not like you weren’t sleeping together,’ Hayley muttered. ‘No way were the two of you innocently cohabiting all those weeks and at that retreat.’
‘That’s got nothing to do with anything.’
‘Yes, it does.’ His mum shook her head and gave him a stern look like she used to do when he was eight and came to tell her he’d kicked his rugby ball into the neighbour’s garden again. ‘You’re just too blind to see what’s right in front of your nose.’
‘It’s not that simple.’ He let out a low groan and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Even if I do like Genevieve.’
‘Love Genevieve,’ his mum supplied as though he’d made an obvious mistake.
‘Assuming that,’ he continued. ‘That doesn’t change anything. She doesn’t want to move to Dubai.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘I asked her and she said no. It was very clear.’
‘Pah,’ his mum pulled a face. ‘It seems like such a waste.’
‘A waste of what?’
‘A chance to be happy.’
Finlay shook his head and turned to where Oliver was in the car on the driveway, waiting. He tapped the steering wheel impatiently and Finlay sighed. No time to debate.
‘Listen, I’m sorry. I screwed up,’ he said, ‘Maybe some of what you said is right but I have to let go and accept this is it. Here stands Finlay McBride with three failed engagements to his name.’ He held out his hands.
‘Oh Finlay.’ His mum sighed and pulled him into a hug. ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m going to miss you so much. Please take care.’
‘I will.’ His already bruised heart wasn’t able to take much more. He pulled Hayley in to join the hug and she sniffed, not bothering to hide her tears. If he let it out, he’d have just as many, if not more, than her. ‘I’ll message you and let you know how things are going. I love you both.’
Hayley’s gaze shifted to the car as Finlay pulled back. ‘What have you told Mr grumpy face?’ she asked.
‘I told Oliver right at the start it wasn’t real.’
‘Nice,’ she said. ‘But not us.’
‘It wasn’t like that. You know how averse to anything romantic he is.’
Hayley rolled her eyes. ‘Never met anyone as repressed as him.’
‘Yeah, well,’ Finlay said. ‘Maybe he’s got the right idea.’
After several more hugs, he made his way to the car. His mum and Hayley followed, still plying him with hugs and kisses through the open window as Oliver backed out of the driveway. He said nothing but Finlay got the impression Oliver thought the loving farewell OTT and pointless. Sometimes Finlay was frustrated by Oliver’s cold indifference to people, though he understood why he was like that. He had a sad history. Then he remembered Genevieve and how she’d seemed cold like that at first. He knew Oliver much better though and was sure he wasn’t hiding a soft centre, not a romantic one anyway. As a friend, he relaxed at times, but other than Finlay himself, he wasn’t sure Oliver had anybody. His relationship with his family was strained and his hookups were… well, short and probably not even that sweet. Not that he talked much about that. Or anything deep. He was more of a receptacle for all Finlay’s issues. Maybe Finlay should take a leaf out of Oliver’s book. Close himself off and make himself immune.
‘How do you do it?’ he asked Oliver.
‘Do what?’
‘Stop yourself falling for people?’
Oliver drew his dark eyebrows together. ‘Easy.’
‘Not for me, it isn’t.’
‘Because you’re more emotional than me.’
‘I guess I’m doomed then.’
‘You could probably get there with hard work and practise. Most things are achievable that way.’
Finlay smirked. ‘Definitely doomed then. I’ve left it way too late for that.’
‘Well, maybe in Dubai, it’ll be easier to shut off. Did you tell your mum and sister the truth?’
‘Yup.’
‘And they didn’t take it well?’
‘They think it’s fate and I’m throwing away a chance of happiness.’
Oliver huffed out a laugh. ‘Fate? Right. No such thing. And don’t worry about throwing away a chance of happiness. Happiness is a temporary and passing thing, like every other feeling. It’s not like you won’t experience happiness ever again. Just wait until you see your next wage sitting in your bank account. That’ll bring a smile to your face.’
Finlay looked out the window as they left Glenbriar behind. Hayley had a point. Oliver was a right grump sometimes and such a cynic. Was he really shallow enough to value money over love? Or maybe that was genuinely his way of keeping content.
Bizarre thoughts whizzed into Finlay”s head as they sped along the dual carriageway, passing buses and trucks, heading towards Perth – thoughts that involved Genevieve following him or messaging him, telling him to wait. But no messages from her came in. After negotiating the busy Perth roundabouts, they headed southwest to Glasgow Airport.
Even as he said farewell to Oliver over an hour later – minus any hugs or over emotional words – Finlay half expected to hear a shout and see Genevieve running towards him with a case, waving and saying she was coming with him. The fact she didn’t have a ticket was neither here nor there. If this was fate, shouldn’t there be a movie style moment?
He went through the busy check-in desk and waited in the lounge with a growing sense of nausea and unreality. This should feel exciting and new but with no one to share it with, he couldn’t focus and time seemed to have slowed to almost a stop. Messaging friends who were excited for him didn’t help and he tossed his head back and let out a silent groan.
The flight was delayed and he closed his eyes, hoping sleep would take him for a bit and when he opened his eyes, it would be time to board. No such luck. Sleep wasn’t coming, even though he felt exhausted. Last night, he’d slept better than he expected. Hot sex did that. He was relaxed and content and had dozed with Genevieve in his arms. Unlikely he’d be having nights like that again anytime soon. The way she’d clung to him with her nails was carnal. She’d owned him and he was hers… Except he wasn’t.
He checked his phone for the three-hundredth time. What was she doing? How was she feeling? When they’d parted that morning she’d seemed ok-ish. Or had that been her summoning the serene face to cover how she really felt? He wasn’t sure she’d want to hear from him but he could at least try.
FINLAY: At the airport. Flight delayed. How are you? How did your parents react? I told Mum and Hayley the truth. I couldn’t help myself but I asked them not to say anything. Hope you’re ok. x
That hardly covered it. He wanted her to be more than ok. His fingers hovered over the screen before he typed out another message to Hayley.
FINLAY: Hey, sorry about what I told you and Mum this morning. I know it must be a shock. Just to say in some ways both you and Mum were right. We did like each other and I still see her as a friend.
That was a nice little understatement.
If you have a chance to see Genevieve, can you check she’s ok? It won’t have been easy telling her parents about this and I know what she’s like. She’ll try to face it alone and pretend everything’s ok, and maybe it is, but I’d feel better if I know she isn’t on her own.
There. He sent it but it didn’t ease the guilt worms eating away at his insides. A few moments later, Hayley replied.
HAYLEY: Of course I’ll check in on her. No problemo. Has the flight not arrived yet? xx
Yes. Hayley was a kind, loyal friend and sister who’d never want anyone to suffer in silence. But that was exactly what he had to do.
FINLAY: Thanks, I appreciate it. Flight delayed but hopefully not much longer. x
He checked the board for the millionth time to see his flight still reading boarding soon. How much longer? He sent the text to Hayley and stared out the window, watching as a plane taxied to its take-off position. It settled into place, then with that rush of grace and speed belted down the runway before cruising into the air.
The speaker dinged into action, announcing his flight was boarding. With a heavy sigh, he lifted his bag and got to his feet. This was it. He was leaving the country and Genevieve wasn’t coming with him.