Page 103 of You Belong With Me

He looked from Declan to Edie as he left, saying: ‘Congratulating myself on my professional matchmaking here. Have a drink in the bar next door and charge it to expenses.’

Edie, inhibitions loosened, leaped forward, and kissed Richard on the cheek. ‘Thank you! For everything, not just my sirloin steak.’

‘Water on the train, perhaps,’ Richard said, but he looked rather touched.

They took Richard at his word and finished strong with a couple of whisky sours.

By the time she and Declan piled back on the train at St Pancras, they were somewhat the worse for wear. Edie was glad of a grainy coffee in cardboard cup to help straighten her out.

They spent a rewarding hour picking over the presentation, safe in knowledge of the result.

Declan toasted her with his builder’s tea. ‘To many more days like this.’

Edie said: ‘Here’s to you for suggesting it.’

‘Here’s to … you,’ Declan said. ‘If that sounds like less praise, it’s the exact opposite.’

‘Thanks for being such a mensch over the Jack Marshall wedding bollocks,’ Edie said.

‘No thanks required,’ Declan replied.

The journey flew by fast, thanks to prior alcohol and no shortage of topics.

‘Ah, looks like the bog is finally free!’ Declan whispered to Edie, leaping from his aisle seat as they passed East Midlands Parkway. She banished the mental image of having seen him almost going to the loo. Her brain was juvenile.

Declan’s phone on the table next to her lit up with a message. It was a WhatsApp group, ‘Dunne Roaming Charges’, indicating family.

Cara

Gutted EO is boring brat. Must be with him for shagging & clout & view. Don’t blame …

Edie was startled at recognising the subject. EO. She tried to barter with herself that it wasn’t him, it was a coincidence, yet the rest of the content made that a ludicrous hope. Her mind raced with a radical and upsetting realignment of who Declan Dunne was and how much he was to be trusted.

Once he returned, she saw Declan see his phone. She kept her eyes carefully trained on the window but in the reflection, she caught theshit, did Edie read that?thought rolling across his face. It somewhat confirmed his treachery.

Edie was mature enough to know people told white lies, cut their cloth. It wasn’t that Declan disliked Elliot, though obviously, it hurt. It was the discovery of another false friend.Elliot seems a lovely bloke.She didn’t pressure Declan to lie. If he’d come to that withering conclusion about her boyfriend, the proper thing to do was omit an opinion entirely. Presumably he was going to agree with Cara’s analysis of why she’d be with a ‘boring brat’, too – why else would you be?No, she’s just got really poor taste.

Edie examined her tattered feelings and realised she’d have rather lost the Pepsi work and kept Declan as a friend, than this way round.

‘Looks like there’s enough cabs for both of us,’ Edie said blankly, once they left the station and were in sight of the rank.

‘I like a walk when I’ve taken the drink. I’ll catch one at the other end of town,’ Declan said. He was avoiding her, and she wasn’t going to argue.

‘Night then,’ Edie said. ‘Brilliant effort today – well done.’

‘Night,’ he said. ‘Helluva day for the Notts branch.’

She gave a miserable fake smile and raised her hand in farewell.Don’t try to make friends at work,Edie thought bitterly. Or friends full stop. Nick and Hannah were a fluke; clearly, Edie had no judgement whatsoever.

She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and faced into the cold. The first Hackney with its light on peeled off, and she quickened her step to get the next one.

‘Edie.’

She turned to see Declan looking windswept, out of breath, having run back to catch up with her.

‘That reply from Cara. I want to explain …’

‘Really, no need,’ she said. There was no point in pretending not to know.

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