Chapter Twelve
Sam
Sam peered out of his doorway as Clara pulled up in his driveway just after eight.
He let out a breath. Right up until this moment, he’d been second guessing himself that she might change her mind.
And he’d been willing to accept that. He wouldn’t force her into coming with him.
Her car door opened, and she emerged with a huge grin plastered across her face.
She went to the back of her car, dragging out a large case that looked nearly as big as she was.
‘Morning,’ he said, crossing over before she could wrestle it out fully. He took the handle from her, their fingers brushing for half a second – a small, harmless thing that still sent a jolt through his stomach. ‘I’ll pop this in the boot. Are you ready to go, or do you need anything first?’
‘I don’t need anything, thanks. I’m all ready.’ Her eyes scanned over his house. ‘Gorgeous place.’ She shielded her eyes and did a full three-sixty, taking in the fields and woodland surrounding it. ‘Look at all the woods to explore.’
‘You should come up with Skye sometime. We could walk through the Briar Woods. It’s a lovely walk.’
‘I think my dog walker takes her there sometimes.’ Her eyes met his, bright and full of the usual Clara energy, and something in his chest did an odd little twist. Once the case was safely in the boot, he found himself standing there like an idiot, not sure what to do with his hands.
He flexed his fingers, pretending it was about stiffness, not nerves.
‘Isn’t this exciting?’ She beamed at him.
Before he could answer, she rose onto her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She smelled faintly of citrus and shampoo, and for a second he froze, caught between returning it properly and keeping things hands-off. In the end, he went for a brief, awkward pat on the back.
‘I’m glad you’re looking forward to it,’ he managed, hoping his voice sounded steadier than he felt.
‘I can’t wait.’
‘Right then, let me just lock up.’ He turned away to deal with the door, using the keys as an excuse to get his head straight.
By the time they were both in the car, he’d composed himself. He buckled up, shot her a quick sideways smile, and said, ‘Thanks again for coming along. Seriously. I owe you.’
‘You can pay me back with snacks,’ she said, grinning.
He chuckled and started the engine.
She settled her bag in the footwell. ‘But seriously, you don’t owe me anything. This is a treat for me.’
He chuckled, turning out of the driveway, and started down the hill into Glenbriar. ‘I hope you’re still saying that at the end of the week.’
‘You worry too much.’
‘Probably. But honestly, it’s just… nice to have a friend who’d do this.’
‘Aw, that’s why I love you so much.’ She patted his knee.
‘Clara, seriously.’ He shook his head. ‘You have to stop saying things like that. God knows what people will make of us if you go about telling everyone you love me.’
She burst out laughing. ‘Then I know what we could do.’ She spread her fingers wide and held out her hands. ‘How about we try a fake date?’
He blinked, casting her half a look though keeping his eyes on the road. ‘A fake… date? What the hell is that? You mean, like… the fruit?’
She threw her head back, laughing. ‘No. Not dates. Fake dating. Like pretending to be together for other people’s benefit. Don’t you watch films?’
‘Apparently not the same ones as you.’ But his insides were jumping. Would she really be up for doing that? He didn’t like the idea of lying to Dominic, but he didn’t like the thought of his teasing either.
‘It’s very common in films and books. You’re an English teacher. You must know what I mean.’
‘Of course I do. The phrase “fake date” was what threw me. I just had a vision of a little brown, shrivelled up piece of plastic pretending to be a real fruit.’
She turned in her seat, raising an eyebrow, and giggled. ‘That’s too funny.’
‘Not as funny as what it really means. It’s just a version of Lissa’s pretending-to-be-married scenario.’
‘Exactly. And it often leads to all sorts of fun and nonsense.’
‘Does it have to?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Her tone was teasing. ‘I mean, we might end up with another of my favourite movie moments. The “one-bed” scenario.’
‘Oh god.’ He shook his head – he couldn’t ask her to do this… could he?
‘You must have heard of that one.’ She smirked. ‘You know. When the fake couple arrives somewhere, and for whatever reason, there’s only one bed.’
‘Uh-huh… And would you want a scenario like that?’
She leaned back, throwing him a mischievous look. ‘Forced proximity and awkwardness guaranteed. Who wouldn’t want it?’
He huffed out a laugh. ‘Hmm. Can’t think. But I messaged the owners to sort out the bed arrangements. It’s one of those zip-up things, so no chance of your one-bed thing tonight, though we’ll still be in the same room, so that might be enough forced proximity and awkwardness anyway.’
She gave him another pat on the knee. ‘I wouldn’t have minded. Friends can share a bed, no drama.’
He shook his head, watching the traffic to his right as got to a junction that led to the main road.
Some of the stuff she said was unlike anything he was used to.
Friends in his life definitely didn’t go about telling each other how much they loved the other – especially in such exaggerated ways.
But then it wasn’t completely uncommon. She said that kind of thing to other people – he’d heard her saying she loved Lissa, Polly, Mirren, Isaac and others…
so Sam wasn’t really special. Had she ever said it to Kerr?
Or maybe it was harder to say to the person she really loved.
As they headed out of Glenbriar and onto the dual carriageway, she said, ‘So, tell me about your friend who’s getting married.’
‘Dominic.’ Sam drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘We went to school together, though that seems like a hundred years ago. This is his second marriage. I haven’t even met Astrid, the woman he’s marrying.’
‘Oh well, that’s good… for me.’ Clara smiled. ‘It means we’ll both be meeting new people.’
‘Yeah, that’s true. But there’s something I should tell you about him.’
‘Oh? What’s that?’
‘Well, we go way back. We met at infant school, and we’ve stayed friends, possibly because we shared the same terrible haircuts throughout most of our school life.’
Clara smiled. ‘I’m trying to imagine a mini-Sam with a questionable fringe. I bet you were a right cutie.’
‘I don’t think so.’ He shook his head. ‘I was a weird-looking kid. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you.
Dominic’s first wife… Well… I dated his first wife before he did.
At high school. She didn’t cheat on me or anything.
We’d split up by the time she started going out with Dominic, but it was a bit awkward for a while. ’
‘Oh dear.’ Clara raised an eyebrow.
‘We got over it, and I never made a thing of it. But Dominic likes to rib me about it sometimes, especially when he’s had too much to drink.
It’s like he thinks he’s won some non-existent competition because he married my first “love”.
If you can call it that. She was really just someone I went to the cinema with a few times.
Not exactly shocking stuff, but when you meet Dominic, you’ll get it. ’
‘I see.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘He’s got bragging rights.’
‘Exactly.’
Clara sucked on her lower lip. ‘Should I be worried? He sounds like—’
‘A bit of a dick?’
She giggled. ‘Ha-ha. He definitely sounds like someone completely unlike you. I thought you’d only have sensible friends.’
He raised an eyebrow, one corner of his mouth quirking. ‘What can I say? Even sensible teachers were once reckless students.’
‘Reckless?’ She gave him a sceptical look. ‘You? I’m not convinced.’
‘Well, Dom’s always been a bit of a charmer.’
‘So are you.’ She looked at him thoughtfully.
‘Me? I don’t go around flirting with everyone.’
‘You don’t have to. Your charm comes from your being so nice to everyone… and your voice.’
‘My voice.’ He screwed up his face. ‘What about my voice?’
‘It’s very low and deep.’ She put on a fake version of it. ‘And you have that well-spoken Englishness. It draws in the ladies and makes them swoon.’
‘Seriously, that is nonsense.’
She laughed. ‘It’s really not.’
‘Listen, Clara…’ He took a deep breath. ‘Would you…’ How could he say this without looking like a fool?
‘Would I what?’
‘This might be the craziest thing I ever say in my whole life, but would you pretend to be my girlfriend when we’re with Dom?’ His insides squirmed as the words left his lips, but he didn’t need to look at Clara to know she was beaming. He felt it like heat and light radiating from her.
‘You’re serious?’ She put her hand on his arm.
‘I guess I am. It’s just… so awkward sometimes.’
‘Then say no more. Of course I will. That sounds like a laugh, and I really need some fun right now.’
‘Ok.’ He let out a slow breath. ‘Thank you.’
‘And what about your family? Are we pretending to them too?’
‘No. I couldn’t lie to them like that – even if it’s a white lie. I just couldn’t. I already told Mum I might be bringing a friend. And she’s probably told Claire. I can’t deny that the minute they see you, they’ll jump to all sorts of conclusions.’
Clara nodded. ‘My sister did.’
‘Exactly. But I want to tell them that we’re just friends.’
‘That’s fine… but back up a minute. Did you say your sister’s name is Claire?’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘That’s not going to get confusing at all.’
‘Indeed.’ Sam grinned. ‘You and she will get on so well, I can feel it.’
‘I feel like I’m going to love her.’
‘And she’ll love you. But then you’re one of those people that everyone loves. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t.’
A small, wistful smile played on Clara’s lips. ‘How about the one person I wanted to?’ she said quietly.
Sam raised his eyebrows, and his face twitched. Dammit. That was insensitive of him. ‘Ah. Kerr. Yeah, sorry. I didn’t think that through.’
‘It’s fine.’