Page 32 of Companion Required

“We met a couple of months back, at a bar round the back of Charing Cross. This holiday is totally last-minute. Richmond and Mike booked a two-bedroom suite and friends of theirs dropped out. Sorry about coming along today, but they insisted. How long have you known Kennedy?”

“About the same time.”

“He seems okay. But from the way Richmond describes him, you’d think he was a mass murderer.”

Interesting, thought Kieran.Richmond, not Patrick, is bad-mouthing Kennedy.

“You know Patrick and Kennedy used to be an item?” said Kieran.

“Every bloody day we’re together. Feels like I’m competing with the ghost of Kennedy Grey. And I can’t compete, of course. I’m two years into my postgraduate training and scraping by. But I really like Patrick. I just can’t give him the material things Kennedy could. Not right now, anyway. And on top of that, Patrick has a lot of baggage.”

“How do you mean?”

Before Joey answered, he turned and gave Kieran his full attention.

“Tell me about you and Kennedy, first of all. What is it you like about him?”

“A lot of things. He’s smart, works bloody hard, treats people he loves really well and, if you want my honest opinion, deep down he has a good heart.”

“You really like him?”

Kieran stared out to sea and mulled over the question, but the answer came instantly.

“Someone else recently asked me the same question. And I’ll tell you the same thing I said to him. I admire Kennedy. I think he’s an inspiration.”

“Wow, man. You’ve got it almost as bad as me,” said Joey, smiling and following Kieran’s gaze out to sea. “Patrick had issues with Kennedy and his family. Said they all looked down on him. Made him sleep in a separate bedroom in their house when he visited. Complained that Kennedy cared more about his work than being in a relationship.”

“Kennedy certainly works hard, that much I know. You don’t become successful in this day and age without putting the hours in. I’m sure you know all about that if you’re working on becoming a doctor.”

Peripherally, Kieran noticed Joey nodding.

“Did they make you sleep in a different bedroom? His parents?”

“Yeah, they did. Loved it. My own en suite bathroom and a huge bed.”

“But you’re sleeping together here?”

Kieran paused for a moment, wondering how to answer the question.

“Yep. You win some, you lose some.”

Joey laughed at that, before asking, “Which estate agency did you work for?”

“Landreal Properties, based in Croydon.”

“Shut the fuck up!” said Joey, aghast. “Then you must know my sister. She’s still the Surrey regional manager. Chloe Drinkwater?”

Kieran froze. He knew Chloe well—she had been the one pushing to keep him when voices from the top began to let a whole raft of salespeople go. The trouble was, Chloe also knew his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, and got on really well with her. Chloe and her husband had been out for drinks and dinner with Kieran and Jennifer three or four times. For a second, he faltered, wondering how much to tell Joey.

Right then, the balcony door slid open. Laurie poked her head out and rolled her eyes.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve all been summoned. Patrick has something he wants to say to us all.”

Back inside, everyone either sat on sofas or stood awkwardly, looking towards the bar, where a slightly uncomfortable Patrick stood at the bar counter, about to give a speech, obsessively rubbing his left forearm.

“Look, we didn’t want to hijack your welcome celebration. But sometimes one needs to take the bull by the horns. So I just have a few words I want to say then we’ll bugger off to dinner and leave you alone. We’re here on the cruise last minute, so I’m sorry you weren’t forewarned. I’m also truly sorry last year’s holiday didn’t end well, and I’m not about to start laying the blame at anyone’s feet. What happened, happened. But the fact is we’re all here, and this is a huge boat, with a hell of a lot of people, so we can easily lose ourselves among the crowds. At the end of the day, old friends can withstand a few knocks, don’t you think?”

Kieran thought the words sounded heartfelt, but when he peered at Kennedy, he noticed him glowering at the floor. A couple of people around the room murmured their agreement, while others simply nodded.

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