Page 88 of Fireworks
She pursed her lips. “You’re parked outside?”
“Aye.”
He was shoved back onto the stool, almost toppling into Nate. “Give me your keys, and I’ll get it, then.”
“All right. But you can’t steal my van. She’s all I’ve got,” he warned, patting down his jeans to find his keys. They fell onto the floor, and Harper swiped them up before he risked another injury.
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t planning on committing grand theft auto tonight.” She smirked.
He told her what to look for and where it would be, and she bounced away.
“Oi,” Nate said softly.
“What?” he grumbled.
“The van isn’t all you’ve got, okay?”
Warren met his friend’s gaze, a rush of appreciation overcoming him. He put his hands over Nate’s. “Thank you, mate. Nate. ’Ey, it rhymes!”
Nate’s sincerity remained unwavering despite Warren’s babbling. “If you get sick of living on wheels until the house is done, I’ve got a spare room in my gaff.”
“Really?” He liked the simplicity of van living, but the offer tempted him all the same. Wouldn’t it be nice to have household appliances again? A shower that wasn’t in the station’s locker room? A ceiling high enough to avoid bumping his head on and a bed he wasn’t cramped up in?
“Yeah, why not? I’ve never had a roommate before and you’re probably better at cleaning than me.” The corner of Nate’s dark eyes creased with humour.
For the first time that night, Warren smiled. He was pretty clean. Quite missed having a proper carpet to hoover, actually.
“I might take you up on it, then.” He thrust his arm around Nate’s shoulders, leaning into him. “You’re a good friend, Nate. A really good friend.”
Nate patted his chest awkwardly. “Not so bad yourself, Warren. Now get off me, you big lump.”
Warren tried, but this time, he was sliding off the stool too quick to stop himself. It seemed fitting to end the night on the sticky tavern floor, even if, tomorrow, he would cringe to think of it.
At least he had a proper mate to pick him up, which was more than ever before.
39
Eiley stood behind the counter of Thorn & Thistle, a serene smile on her face. Usually, this many people would overwhelm her – and it did, just not enough to override the pride she had finally allowed herself to feel. At least three dozen people had crowded into the bookstore tonight to celebrate Harper’s official belated launch party, including family and friends: the kids, Mum, Cam, Sorcha, Fraser, Andy. Later, when the others left, they’d also celebrate Harper and Fraser’s engagement with the champagne tucked away under the counter. For now, Eiley could tell Harper delighted in theProper Authornessthat sitting behind a table to sign her books brought while guests socialised. Much of their discounted stock from the floods were clearing off the shelves, too, making room for new beginnings.
The lights of Main Street blurred like bokeh in the rain-spattered windows, and Eiley imagined it to be just like a perfect ending to one of her books. Not a romance, and that fact still left her stomach hollow and sore, but not all stories were love stories, she reminded herself.
Then again, Warren had been a gift, and she still saw him as that. Before she’d met him, she’d yearned to feel what herfavourite characters did, but had thought nobody could ever make her feel that way.Hehad. Though there would be no grand gestures, no “I love you”s or pleas of forgiveness, she knew now that not all men were as unfair and untrustworthy as Finlay, and she was beautiful enough to be desired. Knew that she was capable of being brave enough to care for someone even if it hurt. One day soon, when the wounds weren’t still weeping, she’d be able to open a romance book again and find a bit more magic to give words to the feelings she had let herself feel.
“I can’t believe how well you’ve done with all this, dear.” Maggie joined her behind the counter, made up with her hair in a voluminous up-do and her manicured nails longer than the pencils in Eiley’s stationery drawer. “Uncle Stephen would be chuffed to see how it looks now. I’ve sent him a few pictures, but apparently, he doesn’t have much signal in Norway. I’m a bit worried he’s gotten lost in the fjords.”
Eiley chuckled. “I’m sure he’s fine. Probably found a nice Scandinavian lady to show him around.”
Maggie shuddered. “Aye, that does sound like him.” She pulled Eiley in for a hug, which Eiley didn’t much like. “I’m very grateful for all your hard work, dear. I know I’ve been rubbish, leaving so much of it in your hands.”
“No, not at all. I’m grateful I’ve got so much input. This place really does mean the world to me,” Eiley replied, and then was brave enough to squirm out of Maggie’s grip. After the Glasgow trip, she was quite enjoying the concept of boundaries, even if the idea of causing friction made her uncomfortable.
Maggie didn’t seem to notice. “Well, you never know. Maybe one day, you might take it off my hands.”
Eiley snorted. “Me, running a business? I’d do a hopeless job.”
“That’s not true, dear! Have some faith in yourself. You’re capable of more than you think, and I wouldn’t mind showing you the ropes.”
She frowned. “I thought you were enjoying taking over from Stephen.”
