Chapter Seven
Four Weeks Left
‘Amira, don’t do this to me,’
I beg over the phone. Earlier in the week she had given me her word that she would come to Andrew’s housewarming with me and now she’s backing out.
‘You know I wouldn’t if I had another choice, it’s just that Trent promised he’d stay home and look after the dog but he… you know how he is…’
She releases a sigh. Yeah, a piece of trash is what he is, but every time Maddie or I bring it up it always ends in an argument. Why she stays with him is a mystery to me. He constantly does this, makes promises he can’t keep. He’s always either cancelling plans or never making them.
‘Yeah, don’t worry. It’s fine. I get it, and there’s no way you can leave sweet little Max all by himself! I would never forgive you.’
Max is their eight-year-old adopted golden lab and he is the cutest thing to ever walk this earth. Sorry, actually, that was a lie. In fact, Max is incredibly ugly with one eye too big for the other and paws that are never clean, with his passion for muddy puddles. But I have a soft spot for animals who come from a bad home. Poor Max was just a baby when his previous owners left him for dead after neglecting him for weeks. It was a miracle he survived.
I know that if I hadn’t reassured her she would’ve been racked with guilt, and, as much as I would have loved her to come with me, I can’t do that to my best friend.
‘Thanks, Yara! And have fun. Tell Andrew I said hi.’
‘He’ll love that. Okay, love you! I got to go.’
I quickly wrap up the call. I was supposed to arrive twenty minutes ago but I’m still doing my hair. Sticking on lashes is not my forte and it takes me longer than I expected to try to get them to look even remotely similar. Before I set off, I take a long hard look at myself in the mirror, making sure everything is in place. My pink top contrasts nicely with my dark trousers, smart yet casual. I make sure I have everything, before throwing on a cute trench coat, grabbing the black Prada bag that I guiltily splurged on with my first writer’s pay cheque and which I only take out for special occasions.
The Uber pulls up to Andrew’s house just after eight. I step out and I look around the exterior of his new home. The place looks quite grand but still has an intimate, homely feel to it. As I make my way down the cobbled side street, the chatter of the guests clamouring from the back garden reaches my ears. I make it to the door, holding a state-ofthe-art blender in my hands. Even if I find it dubious how friendly Xander and Andrew are, he’s one of my closest friends at work and there’s no way I was going to skimp out and give him a crappy gift.
I’m trying to balance everything in my hands when I feel my heel get stuck in one of the cobbles and the world goes sideways. I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the fall, because there is no point in me trying to save myself. This happens often enough for me to know that the best course of action is to just let what will be, be. In a surprising turn of events, instead of the cold hard ground I was expecting I’m met with the soft embrace of a… bear? My eyes fly open, only to find something much, much worse. Xander. I internally scream. What is he even doing here? I thought he was supposed to be on a date or something.
‘How many times is that now that I’ve saved you from impending doom? Or rather, the perils of gravity? If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up owing me so much you’re going to go bankrupt.’
I’m about to retort when the front door swings open and I see Andrew’s grinning face.
‘Yara, what time do you call this? I said seven o’clock. Sharp.’
He sounds serious, but I know he’s joking.
‘Oh, behave, otherwise I won’t give you this super amazing gift.’
‘A gift? For me?’
He perks up and puts a theatrical hand to his chest.
‘You shouldn’t have. Did I say no gifts? I meant to say no gifts, but maybe I forgot…’
I let out a laugh. His antics never fail to amuse me.
‘I guess you’re forgiven then.’
He hauls me up the front steps and gives me the biggest bear hug known to man.
As soon as he releases me from his clutches I sneak a glance at Xander, who appears to be bemused, with an underlying look of… something I can’t quite identify. Not envy, surely? Could it be longing maybe? Longing for what? Probably having more than one friend, I think.
‘Xander, you made it! How did you manage to back out of—’
‘Yep, how could I miss it.’
He abruptly cuts Andrew off, with a pointed look. My eyes ping-pong back and forth between them. Judging from Andrew’s puzzled look, there’s something Xander doesn’t want me to know, and Andrew can’t understand why. Maybe Xander was with that girl again from the other week. Or even a new one – he’s definitely that sort. At that thought, my stomach sours, but it’s probably a bad lunch. I shouldn’t keep trusting the food Xander buys me. Why Xander dating would be a secret beats me. Andrew’s told me all about his conquests in the past.
‘Right, shall we head in? Let me give you a mini tour of my mojo dojo casa house.’
Safe to say, this is why I can never even consider Andrew as a serious dating prospect. That, right there, was a major ick.
Xander’s hand reaches out dangerously close to my lower back, but he must have thought better of it because he quickly snatches his hand away, avoiding eye contact with me.
We walk into the entrance, and I feel like I’ve just stepped into a luxury showroom.
‘Wow, Andrew, I love it already, I honestly didn’t know you had it in you.’
‘You know me, Yara, babe, I’m a man of many talents.’
Xander looms behind me, his presence almost suffocating.
Andrew takes us around the rest of the house, which is beautiful. The place is tastefully decorated, with mid-century furniture and the walls painted in deep blues and greens. For the party, he’s added some autumnal-themed pieces all over to go with the current season. Leaf-shaped coasters, auburn-coloured cushions. Everything goes really well. It’s welcoming and put together, just like Andrew.
He finally leads us to the backyard, where I spot our work colleagues and some of his other friends who I’ve met before at Andrew’s past birthday parties.
I head over, leaving Xander and Andrew to chat among themselves. I say hello to everyone and make idle chatter, settling into a comfortable conversation with the group.
As nervous as I was coming here by myself, I’m glad I did. It’s nice to catch up with everyone outside the office. Time flies by and before I know it I find myself chatting with Gabriel, one of Andrew’s childhood friends, and it’s lovely. Flirty and different. He tells me that I look good. He’s impressed when I say I’m a writer on the show. Since Theo, I haven’t really let myself open up to anyone, in a romantic sense. I’d forgotten what it’s like to just have fun getting to know a new person.
There’s a dip in the conversation and Gabriel puts on a faux-serious voice.
‘So, Yara, you come here often?’
‘Hah, seriously?! Is that what you’re going with?’ I snort.
‘C’mon, how else am I supposed to charm you, other than my wild good looks, of course?’
I take in his appearance: shaggy golden hair, with piercing blue eyes and a tanned complexion, scatters of freckles decorating his face. He’s not my usual type but he is a breath of fresh air, and he just seems so… nice, which is exactly what I need. After everything that went down with Theo, and Xander blowing hot and cold all the time—wait, Xander? Why am I thinking about him right now…
‘Checking me out so blatantly, should I take my chances and run now or…’
I punch him playfully in the shoulder and he laughs.
‘I guess you can make a run for it now, or maybe wait until after our first date? You’ve not even heard me play “Wonderwall” yet.’
I look at him through my eyelashes and I see him soften. Damn. I am smooth, after all! I’ve been so out of the dating field and I have never asked anyone out before, but I’m all for trying new things.
‘How about we grab a drink some time?’
His mouth stretches into a grin, a twinkle in his eye.
‘A first date? A girl who asks the guy out first, that’s rare. Well, m’lady, you beat me to it, so I have no choice but to accept your gracious offer.’
Gabriel takes my hand and kisses it, like a knight courting a beautiful maiden. Good-looking and a bit of a dork? I may have just hit the jackpot.
Out of nowhere a towering figure appears above me. I don’t even need to look to know who it is. Why is this man always appearing out of nowhere?
‘Yazza, hey, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?’
He nods to Gabriel. My eyes narrow. Given that Xander’s Andrew best friend, I’m sure he will have met Gabriel at some point in the past, so what is he playing at?
‘Really, man? I haven’t changed that much since you last saw me, it’s only been, what, a couple of months?’
Gabriel laughs, taking the slight in his stride.
‘Ah, Grant was it?’
Xander clicks his fingers as if he’s trying to remember, but I can see through this act. He knows full well that’s not his name. Xander remembers everyone’s names.
Gabriel merely lets out a smile, but I sense him tensing slightly.
‘Xander, what a joker you are!’
I exclaim to cut through the awkwardness.
‘Just ignore him, Gabe. He’s just flustered because his girlfriend ditched him tonight.’
My rival scowls with a questioning gaze in his eyes. I didn’t mean to let my suspicions slip about his plans tonight.
‘No worries, darling, this isn’t the first time. I’m used to his shenanigans.’
Gabe wraps his arm round my shoulder and pulls me closer.
I swear Xander does a sharp intake of breath, but his face remains as stoic as ever.
‘We need to talk. Urgently,’
he says quickly.
I let out an awkward laugh, all too aware of Gabe’s body pressing against mine. I try to convince myself that this is what I need but it just kind of feels… wrong. Too close, too soon. Gabe’s probably already eying up another girl to spend the evening with. Gah! What is wrong with me? I let Theo walk all over me and now he’s effectively ruined me for all future interactions with the opposite sex. I don’t know when I’ll be able to trust someone again that way.
Xander’s hand reaches out to me as if to silently say, Let’s go.
I don’t spend too long thinking about what to do before the decision is made for me. Gabe releases me from his embrace and nudges me.
‘It’s okay. Go. Seems like it might be important. But fear not, m’lady. I, Gabriel, son of Arthur Williams, shall endeavour to arrange a time in the near future to organise our date.’
Oh boy, this is so cringe but why can’t I help but feel a little giddy at his declaration?
Xander gently grabs my arm and pulls me up, still not having let go of my hand. Without a word, we walk through the crowd of people into the main house.