Chapter 14 #3
‘Yep. Could have done it from home. But it’s always better to come to the house, get closer to the connection.’
‘Interesting.’ She serves the pasta, pushing two bowls towards us before carrying her own to the table.
I trail after her, settling opposite and regretting my choice almost immediately when Aled slides into the booth next to her. So much for getting in his way.
The pasta steaming in the bowl in front of me soon distracts me. I take a bite and groan. ‘This is amazing, Luce.’
‘Thank you. Tell me how you and Rhys know each other, Aled.’
He shoves a forkful into his mouth, swallows and replies, ‘Down the pub. The wanker walked straight into me wearing a Swansea City top. In fucking Cardiff of all places. Asking for a smack, he was. But cos I’m nice, I gave him a small jib, and he jibbed back.
Best mates after that, we were. Come in handy over the years.
Got my checks and everything. Totally legit. ’
‘Uhm’ – I poke my fork at him – ‘you sometimes do what I ask, and you’ve not stolen anything from us yet. Not sure that makes you the world’s best worker.’
‘Yet. Sign of a great friendship, that is. Course Gethin’s not keen.’
‘He’s not keen on anyone.’
‘He likes me.’ Lucy lifts her chin and straightens her shoulders, all star-pupil-like. Kiss-arse. Bet she wanted to be Head Girl back in school. Bet she was Head Girl.
‘Exactly.’ Me and Aled say at the same time and burst out laughing. He might be a Cardiff-City-supporting git who makes bad decisions about girls, but it’s lush when we hang out. The banter’s good, plus he likes the same shit as me. Mostly football and films. It’s nice when he’s around.
Though I could do with less of the embarrassing stories he tells Lucy as we finish off our food and he packs his shit. Now she has ammo to use against me.
I follow him out to his van.
‘She’s a belter of a bird, in’t she?’ He slams the door shut.
‘Who, Lucy?’
‘Yeah. Huge thighs, but nothing I’ve not had before. Try breaking some more of your tech so I’ve got reason to come around, yeah? Bet I could win her over properly with a couple more hours.’
This got misogynistic quick. Aled’s a pig. I dunno if having a sister makes me hate this shit more, but I curl my hands into tight fists to stop from thumping him. Lucy’s clever and deserves a lot more than being reduced to a conquest. Beth too.
I’m itching to tell him to fuck off, but finding a decent tech guy’s hard. Maybe I’m a coward, because instead of smashing the patriarchy, I say, ‘We’re off on tour soon, mate. You’re out of luck. Sorry.’
‘Worth a shot.’ He shrugs as he ruffles my hair. ‘I’ll get in touch about checking your hardware. But you can tell Gethin everything’s safe. Nobody’s getting into your system now. See ya later.’
I head back into the house after waving a quick goodbye, not waiting to see if he’s left the drive. Garlic draws me back to the kitchen where I find Lucy clearing up.
‘Haven’t you done enough for today?’ I pull a bowl out of her hand and put it in the dishwasher myself. Then I push her towards the kettle. ‘Make yourself a cup of tea and put your feet up.’
‘Are you sure? I don’t mind doing it.’
‘Either get a tea and keep me company, or go have a nap. I don’t mind which as long as it's relaxing. No more work until later.’
‘Gethin wants to meet with us at five.’
‘Yeah, I got the text too.’
She places two cups next to the kettle, even though I didn’t ask for one. Hope she’s as good at making tea as she is at pasta and coffee. ‘I’ll dig out some menus,’ she says. ‘Gethin can pay for dinner. It’ll be a late one, I bet.’
‘Just when we need an early night.’ I load the dishwasher, hang the tea towel she was using back on its hook, then double-check the sides are clean.
I’d make a great househusband. Satisfied I’ve done a good job, I turn back to Lucy, who ignores her tea in favour of studying her phone.
There’s no point in me telling her not to worry.
Part of me reckons she enjoys stressing.
‘Hey.’ I wave my hand in front of her face to get her attention on me. ‘I’m gonna pop by my office and prepare for later. Anything else you need before I leave you be? Anyone you need me to ring?’
‘No, it’s all in hand.’
Our working together only stretches to my side of the business then.
She’s involved in my work, always has been, but I don’t get to see the finer details of the world of organisation.
Not that I want to get that deep into it.
Probably make a mess and send Cai to Buenos Aires instead of Bristol.
But if she was ever sick and needed someone to cover for her, muggins would be the one.
Fine. Baby steps. I’m the one who has to rebuild her trust in me. Not the other way around.
I pick up my tea but pause on the threshold. ‘See you at the meeting then, I guess.’
A final glance at her shows her lifting her hand from her phone briefly in a move that might be a wave. It’s enough for me. I leave her to it, taking a detour to the security console at the front door to make sure all the right alarms are set.
Just in case.