Page 30 of Sorry, Not Sorry
At a loss for words, Delilah lowered her gaze and stared at the floor in silence.
22
The doorbell tinkled as Delilah opened the café door and walked in. Although the warm shop with its tantalising aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries was a welcome relief from the sharp December chill, the décor left a great deal to be desired. While she was no fan of Christmas, the decorations – if that was the right word to describe three strings of coloured tinsel wrapped around the counter and a bunch of plastic mistletoe sellotaped onto the wall behind the cash register – were paltry and uninspiring. It was quiet for a Saturday morning, and other than a man wearing headphones and sitting cross-legged on a sofa typing furiously on his laptop, there was only a handful of people enjoying a mid-morning coffee break, making it easy to spot Noah seated towards the back of the café. Much to her relief, he was alone. Despite her breezy assurances to Salome and Arne, Delilah couldn’t deny the tension that had been building up inside her at the prospect of coming face to face with Zazie. At least she still had a bit of time to gather her composure and, despite finally and reluctantly agreeing to help, maybe persuade Noah to change course or, preferably, abandon ship altogether on his ridiculous idea.
Noah stood up and waved her over, and Delilah navigated a path between the empty tables, squeezing past a weary-looking woman sipping a cup of coffee while gently rocking a double buggy with two sleeping babies.
When she reached Noah’s table, she hesitated, unsure whether to attempt a friendly hug. He solved her dilemma by pushing a chair in her direction and taking his seat again, and Delilah slid onto the chair without comment. She hadn’t expected to be greeted with open arms, but Noah’s boot-faced expression was unnerving. While she was thankful that he wasn’t looming over her with rage like the last time they’d met, it was still tough to reconcile the laughing, spontaneously affectionate Noah of old with the emotionless man sitting across the table.
‘Have you been waiting long?’ she asked brightly.
‘About three years, give or take,’ he replied shortly, and she squirmed at the sarcasm. While the curt tone suggested it was unlikely she could persuade Noah to ditch his idea, Delilah tried anyway.
‘Noah, I?—’
‘Save it, Del.’ He cut her off abruptly and glanced at his watch. ‘Zazie’s late, as usual, but it gives us time to get our stories straight. Listen, don’t mess this up because she’s super smart and she’ll sense any bullshit straight away.’
Instantly bristling at the implication that she would be the one to mess up his stupid plan, Delilah nevertheless held her tongue. Focus on why you’re here! Noah had made it clear he’d moved on, and her only goal was to make amends for dumping him without explanation. If that meant listening to him sing Zazie’s praises from morning till night, she would just have to sit and take it. This was not a competition, she reminded herself, although she couldn’t squash the inner bitch voice that wondered why the supposedly super smart Zazie couldn’t arrive anywhere on time.
‘There isn’t a lot to mess up,’ Delilah said crisply. ‘You’ve explained that I’m a friend of a friend who suggested you talk to me because I’m a relationship counsellor, because I might be able to give you and Zazie some tips to improve her relationship with your mum.’
She glanced at Noah’s half-empty cup. ‘I’m going to need some coffee first,’ she added, making as if to stand, but he beat her to it.
‘My bad. I’ll get it. Latte, right?’
She nodded, trying to ignore the rush of joy that he still remembered. Watching him walk towards the counter, she couldn’t help the sad sigh that escaped her. What have you got yourself into, Del? Maybe Arne was right, and she was lying to herself. Without Salome’s challenge, she might not have gone in search of Noah, but it was hard to deny the potent effect he still had on her.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Noah until he suddenly appeared beside her and set a steaming mug of milky coffee on the table before sitting down. Picking up the mug, Delilah cradled it between her fingers, suddenly feeling shy. After a few moments, she peeked up at him through her lashes and when their eyes met and he didn’t look away, she felt her face flush with a heat that rivalled her coffee. She wrenched her gaze away and looked around the quiet café, desperate to break the tense silence.
‘Do you come here often?’
As soon as the words emerged, she cringed and braced herself for a sarcastic response. But he didn’t comment and when she looked at him, Noah’s shoulders were shaking and his lips twitching as he dissolved into silent laughter. After a few moments, he shook his head and wiped under his eyes.
‘Seriously, Del. “Do you come here often?” Is that the best you can do?’
This was the Noah she knew, the real Noah, and Delilah smiled ruefully. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit nervous. It’s weird sitting here with you like this after… after everything.’
Noah’s expression sobered, and he picked up his cup and took a long sip before leaning back in his chair with a speculative expression. ‘Yeah, I know. I appreciate it’s all a bit awkward, so thanks for agreeing to this. I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important. The honest truth is, if you can help sort out Zazie and my mum, it would mean the world to me.’
Arne’s warning flashed through her mind and Delilah said quickly, ‘I know I said I’ll help, but please remember I won’t be counselling you or Zazie. I’m only offering suggestions because?—’
‘Oh good, here she is!’ Noah exclaimed as the café door bell sounded, cutting off her feeble attempt to establish an ethical boundary. Delilah had her back to the door, but she immediately felt her heartbeat accelerate. Steeling herself, she turned around in time to see a girl with long legs and a mane of copper corkscrew curls race across the room and launch herself onto Noah.
‘Hi babe! Sorry I’m late – the Tube was a nightmare!’
The breathless greeting was followed by a kiss so passionate that Delilah was forced to avert her gaze. When she dared to look, Zazie was smiling at Noah with her arms linked around his neck. Her black knit maxi dress accentuated a reed-slim figure, and wearing a pair of lilac, high-heeled ankle boots, she was almost as tall as Noah. Trying not to compare Zazie’s casual chic to her own worn jeans and scarlet polo-necked jumper, Delilah cleared her throat, and Noah unclasped Zazie’s arms and steered her around by the shoulders to face Delilah.
‘Zaz, this is Delilah, the friend I told you about. Delilah, meet my girl, Zazie.’
Delilah pasted on a bland smile, which she hoped hid her inner turmoil at seeing Noah kiss another woman, and stuck out her hand. Zazie seized it and immediately pulled Delilah into a smothering hug, which left her struggling to breathe through the mass of hair in her face.
When Delilah eventually managed to escape her embrace, Zazie clapped her hands excitedly. ‘Oh my God, thanks soo much for agreeing to do this!’
‘Um, hi. It’s great to meet you,’ Delilah said weakly. She hadn’t known what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t this tall beauty with the energy of an exuberant puppy. With a long oval-shaped face, razor-sharp cheekbones, huge hazel eyes, and flawless skin, it wasn’t hard to see why Noah’s girl was a model. Even her voice – husky overlaid with honey – was alluring. She was undeniably gorgeous, and Delilah felt short and dumpy in comparison. It was just as well there was no competition at play here, she acknowledged, because Zazie would win hands down.
‘Why don’t we all sit down,’ Noah suggested, pulling out a chair for Zazie, who slipped onto the seat with a lithe gracefulness Delilah could only dream of.
‘What are you drinking, Zaz?’ he asked.
