I could tell from the concerned expression on Michael’s face that he wanted to ask more questions. With a sigh, he headed to the bottom of the staircase and shouted, ‘Daniel. Get your arse down here. Now!’ Silence. ‘Daniel!’ He ran up a few stairs and banged on the wall separating the staircase from Daniel’s bedroom. ‘Daniel! Down here. NOW!’ He ran back down the stairs and whispered, ‘Do you want me to leave?’
‘No. This won’t take long.’
‘What the hell’s got into you?’ Daniel stomped down the stairs wearing only a towel around his waist. ‘What do you think you’re—’ His eyes widened as he spotted me. ‘Elise?’ The quick shift of his eyes back up the stairs told me exactly what I’d suspected; he’d brought her home.
‘You don’t look pleased to see me,’ I said.
‘Sorry. Of course I am.’ He moved towards me, but didn’t touch me. ‘I’m just a bit surprised, that’s all. I was just dozing off.’
‘Oh I very much doubt that,’ I said. ‘Unless that’s a euphemism with which I’m unfamiliar.’
‘No! Tell me you haven’t, Daniel,’ Michael said. ‘Not again.’ I flinched. Again?
‘I don’t know what you mean.’ Daniel looked at me, all wide-eyed and innocent, but then Whoever She Is ruined it for him.
‘Danny? What are you doing down there? Come back to bed.’ She appeared round the corner of the staircase, dressed only in one of Daniel’s thin white work shirts, which left nothing to the imagination. Hmm. Not a natural blonde.
Daniel looked at her then me.
‘I think we’re done,’ I said. ‘Don’t you?’
‘Elise, I—’
I raised my hand to silence him. ‘Spare me the apologies. Just answer me one question. Why did you do it?’
He shrugged. ‘Because you weren’t giving me any.’
‘And whose fault was that? It’s not a good enough excuse, Daniel. Got anymore?’
He shrugged again. ‘Because I could.’
I heard Michael’s sharp intake of breath beside me.
‘Because you could?’ I said. ‘Really?’
‘I didn’t promise you anything, babe. I thought you knew it was a bit of fun, but you took the fun part away so what do you expect?’
‘What about at Jess’ wedding? I hadn’t taken the “fun part away” then?’
‘Oh. You know about that? Well, we never agreed we were exclusive and you had abandoned me if you remember.’
Not exclusive? What did he think being in a relationship meant? It was on the tip of my tongue to say that and to remind him that he’d said he loved me on several occasions and had begged me to stay after he’d punched Stevie, but it would just sound needy and that wasn’t how I felt. Plus, it might hurt Whoever She Is hovering on the landing looking very embarrassed and uncomfortable. What was the point? ‘Yes, well, fun’s definitely over now. Goodbye Daniel.’ I turned and paced towards the door. I’d almost closed it when I heard Michael say, ‘You stupid fucking idiot. Don’t you ever learn? Elise, wait!’
He caught me as I reached Bertie. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he said.
‘Don’t be. You tried to warn me, but I snapped at you for interfering.’
‘I should have tried harder. Direct approach instead of subtle hints. Just like you asked.’
‘Please don’t beat yourself up about it, Michael. I probably wouldn’t have listened to you. I’d like to listen now, though. Tell me, did Daniel’s marriage end because Amber was having an affair? Or because Daniel was?’ I felt I needed to know the truth so I could get absolute closure… and know exactly how much of a mug I’d been. Again!
‘Given tonight’s little episode, what do you think?’
‘I think you need to tell me what you know. Hop in. Is there somewhere nearby where we can park and talk?’
‘There’s a car park about a mile further up the coast road. I don’t know everything. As you know, I try to have as little to do with my brother as possible. I’ll tell you what I can.’
We drove to the car park, which I recognised as a popular starting point for a walk over the moors, and Michael told me what he knew about Daniel’s marriage. Apparently Amber hadn’t been Daniel’s girlfriend; she’d been Michael’s. Daniel had made it clear from the outset that he wanted her, but Michael was confident that his little brother would get over it and find his own partner. After they’d been together for four years, Michael had an amazing opportunity to join his dad for a six-month photography project in The Galapagos Islands. He didn’t want to leave Amber, but she insisted he went. To ensure she was clear of his love for her, he proposed to her first, but while he was away, Daniel took it upon himself to make sure she wasn’t lonely. Literally. When he returned, Michael could tell that something had gone on between them. It didn’t take much probing. Wracked with guilt, Amber told him she’d been unfaithful and didn’t deserve to marry him. She returned the ring. Devastated, he accepted another overseas project and was in South America within a week.
‘It took me a few months to acknowledge that, even though she’d slept with my brother, I still loved her and wanted to marry her,’ Michael said. ‘I knew what Daniel was like and I knew he’d have worn her down and filled her head with doubts about my fidelity while I was away. I decided to come home and beg her forgiveness. But when I phoned Dad to tell him my plans, he told me that I was too late. Amber had discovered she was pregnant and had married Daniel.’
‘No! That’s awful. What did you do?’
‘I stayed in South America for another three months. Amber miscarried the baby. A few weeks after I came back, I bumped into her and she looked terrible. I insisted on taking her for a drink and she told me that she believed Daniel was seeing someone else. Somehow she and I made it back to being friends. We’d regularly meet for coffee, but every story about my brother’s infidelity was like a knife through the heart.’ His words were thick with emotion and I could tell he still really cared for her, despite everything she and his brother had put him through.
‘He told me she’d been seeing a neighbour,’ I said. ‘Jake, I think.’
Michael shook his head. ‘Amber was seeing Jake, but as his client. He’s a counsellor. She started suffering from anxiety attacks and a form of agoraphobia brought on by fear of being out and seeing Daniel with another woman. A friend referred her to Jake and he was amazing with her. It took a couple of years, but he got her to the point where she was strong enough to throw Daniel out and demand a divorce.’
I sighed. So many lies. ‘Daniel said Amber’s pregnant with Jake’s baby now and that seeing them together triggered the incident with my friend Stevie. All lies?’
Michael nodded. ‘He really said that? Amber’s not with Jake and she’s certainly not pregnant by him or anyone else. She was expecting again three years ago, but my wonderful brother forced her into having a termination. She wasn’t in a good place with her nerves and he managed to convince her that she’d be a terrible mother. I think it was the regret from that which spurred her onto finally agreeing to an appointment with Jake.’ Michael sighed, sat back in the passenger seat, and ran his hand across his stubble. ‘I know he’s my brother, but I hope you can see why I hate him. I hate him for taking Amber away from me, but the part that really grinds is that, once he’d won her, he didn’t want her. He turned a lovely, caring woman into a nervous wreck. What sort of person plays with someone else’s life like that?’
I didn’t know what to say. What could I say to him? Daniel hadn’t just played with Amber’s life, he’d played with Michael’s too and now he was doing it all over again with me, Izzy, Whoever She Is, and anyone else he might be stringing along.
Michael twisted round in his seat. ‘Sorry, Elise, I think I may just have gone off on one and wallowed in my own sorrows, completely forgetting that he’s hurt you too. How are you feeling?’
‘Like all men are liars and I
’m a really bad judge of character.’
‘Sounds like Daniel isn’t the only one who’s done a number on you. Feel like off-loading?’
We sat in Bertie with only the moonlight to take the edge off the darkness and talked about Gary and Rob, and Daniel and Amber.
‘I hoped you’d see sense and ditch him after he thumped your friend,’ he said. ‘I could see you were better than all the others.’
I squirmed. ‘All the others?’
‘Sorry, Elise. They usually only lasted a night or two, but there’ve been at least four since you met him although that one back there may have been a new one. They start to blend together after a while.’
‘Four? Wow! I am such a mug.’
‘No you’re not. Daniel’s the mug.’
Silence engulfed us as I stared into the blackness and digested Michael’s revelations. At least I didn’t love him. What an idiot I’d been, though. Four or five since we met? Was Izzy included in that? Good grief!
‘I’m sorry I was off with you when we first met,’ Michael said, breaking the silence.
I smiled. ‘I understand why. I have a confession to make, though.’
‘Oh yes?’
‘I was a little bit scared of you.’
Michael laughed loudly. ‘Sorry, I probably shouldn’t laugh at that. I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but I think scary is a first for me. And how do you feel about me now?’
I felt a shift in the atmosphere, as though my next words could forever change things between us. My pulse quickened and my lips dried. I looked into his moonlit eyes. ‘Still a little scared,’ I whispered. ‘But perhaps for a different reason.’
We stared at each other. His breathing was rapid like mine. His face edged closer. Mine did too. Any moment, our lips would meet. Then some idiots screeched into the car park with their windows down and music blaring. ‘Woo hoo!’ shouted the passenger. ‘Dogging time.’ Then with a beep of the horn, they screeched out of the car park again.
And the moment was well and truly lost.
‘Erm… I should probably get you back home,’ I said.
‘Yes, and, er, you should probably get to bed. Your bed. For some sleep.’
We clicked seatbelts on and I drove Michael back to the cottage in silence.
‘Good night then,’ I said. ‘And thank you for being honest. It’s about time someone was.’
Michael undid his seatbelt then paused. I wondered if he was going to make a move, but if he was, he obviously thought the better of it. ‘Night, Elise.’ He opened the car door and got out.
Damn! Were we going to kiss? Had my thoughts from earlier been right; that I’d stayed with Daniel after the incident so I could still see Michael? Did I have feelings for him? I hoped not. Because, if I had… Oh goodness, what would I do? I didn’t want to drift from one relationship straight into another. I needed time to get to know myself. Me. On my own. Not one half of a couple.
I reversed Bertie out of his space then drove towards the main road. I could do this. Even if I’d somehow developed a crush on Michael, I could fight it. I needed to be alone. Not forever. But definitely for now.
Chapter 27
‘Do we really have to spend the next hour or so mingling with a wee bunch of business stiffs?’
I grabbed Curtis’s arm and dragged him up the steps of The Ramparts Hotel, Whitsborough Bay’s only five-star hotel. It was Bay Trade’s fifth anniversary. Nick and his friends Skye and Stuart, the founder members, had decided to celebrate in style with a huge members, ex-members, friends and family party and awards ceremony and I’d felt very proud to receive an invite. ‘It’s an important night for Sarah and Nick so I promised I’d support them. Besides, I’d already said yes before you decided to grace us with your presence again.’
‘You’re sure there’ll be food?’
‘I’m sure. They’re laying on a hot and cold buffet. It’s a five-star hotel. The food will be exquisite. Can we go in?’
‘Aye. But only because of the food, mind.’
‘Tell me how you manage to eat like a horse yet you have the body of a Greek God?’
‘It’s in the genes, Red. And a strict mayonnaise-avoidance technique. That stuff is evil.’
I shook my head and pulled him towards The Castle Room. I whistled as the door was opened for us and I caught sight of the room. They’d certainly pulled out all the stops. Tables adorned in crisp white cloths ran down one side of the room, covered in a sumptuous-looking buffet. Round tables with balloons, flowers, and candles were filled with guests of all ages, dressed in their finery. I was relieved I’d worn a calf-length green satin dress and heels. I’d have looked out of place in anything else. Sarah waved and made a beeline for us.
‘Thanks for coming.’ She hugged me then Curtis. ‘You look stunning, Elise.’
‘Thank you. And you. You can tell all that running on the beach has been working.’ Sarah’s dark curls were piled up on her head with loose spirals round her ears. She wore a long, flared, midnight blue dress with crystal-covered spaghetti straps and floaty net short sleeves. A spattering of crystals across the waist matched both the dress straps and the ankle straps on her midnight blue heels.
‘Thank you. It’s a size twelve. I’m so excited.’ Sarah had put on a lot of weight during a rubbish relationship with her ex, Jason, but had gradually lost it since moving back home nearly a year ago through a combination of jogging along the beach with Stevie and no longer having a reason to comfort-eat.
‘The first drink’s on the house,’ Sarah said. ‘The buffet will be served in about an hour. Are you okay if I find you in a bit?’
‘Yes, go and mingle,’ I said, smiling. ‘Enjoy.’
Curtis turned towards the bar. ‘On the house? Mine’s a bottle of Tequila, then.’
‘I’m not doing Tequila shots again tonight, Curtis. I’m on soft drinks. I’m still not over that gastric flu.’
‘Spoilsport. You used to be fun.’ He winked at me.
‘I’d like to think I’m still fun, but those shots tipped me over the edge last time and, if you cast your mind back, it was as a direct result of them that I tried to seduce Stevie. Epic fail.’
‘Have you made your peace?’ Curtis steered me in the direction of the bar.
‘Yes, although I’d understand if he hated me forever because, the next time I saw him, Daniel broke his nose. I haven’t seen him since. We’ve texted and FaceTimed, though.’
We reached the bar and Curtis ordered a bottle of lager and a soda water.
‘When was this display of testosterone?’ He passed me my drink.
‘Four weeks ago.’
‘And you really haven’t seen Dimples since?’
‘No. I just said that. We’ve made arrangements to meet up a couple of times, but one of us has had to cancel each time. Why?’
‘Because he’s heading our way right now.’
I turned round so abruptly that I spilled some of my drink down Stevie’s shirt.
‘Oh Stevie, I’m so sorry.’ I grabbed a bar towel and tried to mop his shirt. ‘It’s only water. I promise.’ I blushed as my hand slipped off the towel and onto his chest and I had a sudden desire to wrap my arms around him and get lost in one of his super-hugs. My cheeks burned even more.
‘It’s fine,’ he said, seemingly oblivious to my colour-change. ‘As long as you weren’t aiming for my face. My nose couldn’t take it.’
‘Of course I wasn’t. I—’
Stevie grinned. ‘You’re nearly as easy to wind up as Sarah. It’s great to see you, Elise.’ He gave me a kiss on the cheek then shook Curtis’s hand. ‘Good to see you again, mate. Didn’t think this would be your kind of thing.’
‘I’d rather hack my eyes out with a wee spoon, but I’ve been promised food and an early pass out of here.’
Stevie laugh
ed. ‘You may surprise yourself and find you actually like it. You have your own business, don’t you? You might pick up some tips.’
‘Nice thought,’ Curtis said, ‘but I plan to eat, drink, and completely ignore anyone except you lot because I’m anti-social like that. If we were in Glasgow, I’d be schmoozing like hell to try and get them to the salon. Here, I have nae need to kiss ass.’
Stevie laughed again. ‘At least you’re honest.’ He turned to me. ‘Apparently one of the Bay Traders is in a band and they’re pretty good. You’ll stick around for that, won’t you?’
I winced at Curtis’s pained expression and put my arm round him. ‘I promise you can make bail if they’re dire. Sarah already knows we’ll probably leave early so I won’t feel too absolutely, completely, hideously guilty leaving early on her big night.’
‘You’re very manipulative when you want to be, Red,’ Curtis said. ‘I’ll try and last beyond the buffet. Just for you.’
The three of us moved to an empty table. Nick came over to say hello then went to mingle. Ten minutes later, Sarah came over and dumped her bag to secure her seat, then went to play host again. I felt a stab of pride to see her in action. I genuinely hadn’t seen her so at ease or so animated for a long time. She was glowing and she had so much to glow about with a successful business and fantastic fiancé. Lucky thing. Mind you, I loved my job and I didn’t want a relationship right now so I wasn’t in a bad place either.
I chatted to Curtis and Stevie, relieved that the four weeks since the incident on the beach hadn’t made things awkward between Stevie and me. Despite Curtis’s protests about avoiding business-talk, he and Stevie did exactly the opposite and, as I’d heard it before, I took a moment to gaze around the room. The door opened revealing Sarah’s brother, Ben, and Clare. My stomach clenched. It had been three weeks since our altercation in Minty’s. Even though a tentative peace had been declared and a few emails about hen do ideas had been exchanged with her and Callie since then, this was the first time we’d come face to face. She looked stunning, as always, in a short, tight burgundy dress and killer heels. Nick and Sarah welcomed them, pointed towards the bar, then pointed towards our table. Ben smiled and waved, Clare nodded her head in my direction, then they headed for the bar.
Getting over Gary (Whitsborough Bay Trilogy Book 2) Page 21
