Page 42 of Asking For a Friend

“Oh my god, it’s bedlam. I don’t think they’re going to sleep ever again.” He slips behind his desk and pulls his laptop out of his bag. “Sophie is in major list-writing mode. Every aspect of Christmas dinner has been meticulously planned down to the minute. You are still coming, aren’t you?”

Does he think I’m going to miss out on one of his wife’s delicious dinners? “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”

I focus back on my computer and carry on working. Every now and then, I take a sip of my coffee. I feel Ellis staring at me. He’s waiting for me to comment on the coffee, to ask why he was in that coffee shop. There’s no way I’m playing this game with him. He hasn’t stopped nagging me since Connor turned up.

“I heard you went out with Dylan.”

I jerk my head up. How does he know that? “Have you been spying on me?”

“Dylan called me yesterday. He’s happily loved up and full of his new man. He mentioned it.”

“I didn’t go out with him. He invited me to meet his boyfriend. I popped in for five minutes, and that’s it. Stop meddling, Ellis.”

I’ve also spoken to Dylan. He laid into me for a good five minutes, calling me every name under the sun, and not once did he repeat himself. I was impressed by his extensive vocabulary. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why were you in The Coffee Bean when it’s out of your way?”

“I wanted to see the man who seems to have our friends and his friends on a mission to get you together.” Christ, he’s annoying. Why can’t everyone drop it?

“I’m hoping this is the last time I have to say this out loud. I am not looking to get back with Lando Hardwick. He’s not looking to be with me either.”

A smarmy ‘I know something’ look appears on his smug face. “Yet you rushed to his aid on Saturday night.”

I’m going to kill Dylan.

“It wasn’t like that. I would’ve done the same for anyone. Some arsehole harassed him in what is supposed to be a safe place. I wasn’t the only one who stepped in. The bouncer was seconds behind me and kicked him out. You would’ve done it too, Ellis.”

He stays silent, then looks away guiltily.

“What have you done?”

The same new guy I saw here twice last week is back again. Today he orders two coffees. As he waits for his order to get ready, he keeps stealing glances at me.

After paying, he makes his way over to me, lifting the coffee tray as he steps sideways through two full tables. The occupants scrape their chairs to make it easier for him. When he reaches my messy, paper-strewn table, he looks at me expectantly.

“Can I help you?” I ask politely. After all, he could be a reader, and I’m a nice person.

“It’s Lando, right? Lando Hardwick.”

I nod.

“Can I sit down for a moment?”

What does he want? Readers aren’t usually this forward. “Um, sure.”

He’s dressed in an expensive coat and equally pricey shoes. He places the tray on top of my notes. It only takes one look and a raised eyebrow from me to have him pick it up again.

“I know this is an intrusion, and I promise I won’t take up too much of your time.” He takes in a deep breath. “Here goes nothing. My name is Ellis Leighton. I’m—”

“I know who you are.” Why the fuck is Hesketh’s best friend here? Is he okay? Has something happened since Saturday night? “Is he okay?”

“What?” Realisation flashes over his face. “Oh, yeah, sorry. He’s fine. Actually, no, he’s not fine. He’s unhappy. He misses you so much. He told me what he thinks you saw, and I promise you he wasn’t cheating. I know what happened at your parents’ party. He turned up at my house afterwards and proceeded to drink himself stupid as he lamented losing you. You’re all he thinks about, and when he stopped some wanker from hurting you on Saturday, he wanted to talk to you to make amends, but it wasn’t the place to do it. And before you think he told me about this, you’re wrong. Dylan called me and told me everything.”

“What’s the point of this?”

“The point is you like him too, or you wouldn’t have accepted the lift home or told your friends about him. So call him, Lando. He did all the chasing the first time. Man up, grow up, or whatever you need to do to move on from your past, and go for it. Hesketh’s one of the best people I know, and I’ve met a lot of people in our business. He deserves to be happy. And weirdly, because you’re as fucking stubborn as he is, I think you could make him happy.”

“I know.” He gapes at me, and I smirk. “I also know that Connor came to see you and Hesketh told him no, that it was up to me to make the first move. You were there when he said that. Does Hesketh know you’re here championing him?”

“No, and I don’t plan on telling him. All I’m doing is asking, as his friend, to give him a chance. This is my number if you need any help.” He stands up and, with a tight smile, leaves me.

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