Page 83 of A Summer of New Beginnings
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Being back in London was frustrating. Zara spoke on the phone with Lachy every single day, sometimes more than once. And they even connected via video call, which was marginally better. But nothing could compare with being in the same room as him, touching him, making love to him, kissing him. The homesickness she had felt before was now compounded and she knew that it was Lachy she was homesickfor.
She was distracted at work and instead of being excited about her future trips abroad, she dreaded them for the extra miles they would put between her and the man she so desperately wanted to be with. The publishing contract had been signed and her first book was now with editors, which was all extremely exciting. And in every minute of spare time she had that didn’t involve talking to Lachyshe was working on book two.
Things were increasingly serious between Toby and Marco and they had been talking about the possibility of moving in together, which meant that all too soon Zara would be alone again. Something she didn’t relish the thought of, in spite of the fact she was ecstatically happy for her best friend.
An invite had arrived from Patrick and Sophie for their wedding, alongwith a side note that said she could bring a plus one. However, she was unsure how that would work with her plus one being the ex of the bride’s sister. Wow, life was complicated.
Two months into her long-distance relationship with Lachy and she missed him more with each passing day, but at least Christmas was around the corner. Saturday afternoon and she was in her room on her laptop chattingto him by video call whilst Marco was out flat-hunting with Toby and their call was coming to an end.
‘I’ll see you next weekend for Christmas, okay?’ he said with a huge smile on his face, even though she knew he missed her like crazy.
‘I can’t wait,’ she told him.
‘Look, Zara… I need to say something.’
Her heart leapt and she twisted her fingers in her lap, worried about his next words.‘Okay…’
‘I love you. And I want you to move in with me.’
She gasped and he immediately covered his mouth with his hand. ‘Shit, shit, I’m sorry. I take it back. Well, the bit about you moving in, not the bit about loving you, because if I’m honest I’ve been in love with you since day one. But… anyway… I love you. Let’s leave it at that.’
She laughed at his rambling. ‘I love you too. But…’
He held his hand up to halt her. ‘Nope, don’t say anything else. It was a ridiculous suggestion and I took it back anyway.’
She nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll see you next weekend. I love you, Lachy,’ she repeated.
‘I love you, my beautiful Zara.’
She ended the call and slumped back onto her bed with a huge grin on her face. ‘He loves me!’ she yelled into the empty room. ‘He bloody loves me! Eeeeeeeeek!’
*
The Monday morning commute was chilly and the only thing that was nice about walking to the office from the station was seeing the Christmas lights. The twinkle of tinsel caught her eye and she had to stop and admire the extravagant window displays. She especially loved the bookshop windows; more so now her own book was out there and featured in those particular displays. It had only been outa week but the sales figures were incredible, so she’d been told. Her book launch was set for the week after Christmas in Inverness and she couldn’t wait. Not only was she going to get to spend time with Lachy, but she was going home with him to spend a week there after the launch for Hogmanay. She was secretly hoping that she might get snowed in and have to stay longer – how romantic that wouldbe. She couldn’t wait to see Bess and the tree that Lachy had bought especially for her visit.
Noah poked his head round her office door. ‘Zara, have you got a minute?’
‘Sure, come on in.’
He walked in and closed the door behind him. ‘We need to talk.’
‘Oh? Is everything okay?’
He sat on the chair opposite her. ‘Erm… yes, kind of. Well… the thing is… Here’s the thing… I don’t want you tobe the luxury travel writer any more.’
Zara opened her mouth to speak but no words would come. She sat in open-mouthed silence for way too long until eventually she said, ‘Are you firing me, Noah?’ Panic set in. ‘What did I do wrong? I don’t get it. I thought I was doing well for the magazine.’
His eyes widened. ‘Oh, God, no, I’m not firing you. Not at all.’
Her eyes widened and she pushedherself up from the desk. ‘Oh, God, you don’t want me to be the outdoors and adventures travel writer instead, do you? Because I know you loved what I did with the NC500 article, but it’s really not my thing, Noah, and I—’
‘Shit, I should have worded this better; I probably should have started with something more positive. Let me start over.’ He stood and left the room. Zara sat back down ather desk, face scrunched in utter confusion.
Noah walked in again. ‘Zara, have you got a minute?’
She gave him a look that she hoped expressed her incredulity. ‘You know I have.’
