Page 23 of New Year, New Guy
‘He’s not well enough to come to tonight’s party anyway, so why don’t you go home and get ready and not worry about anything else for now?’
‘But if you knew—’
‘—I don’t.’ Laura’s quiet response stopped Polly in mid-rant. ‘Tomorrow you can tell me everything but tonight let’s simply have fun.’ An excess of ouzo, moussaka and plate smashing wasn’t honestly her idea of a good time, but she’d make the best of it for her sister’s sake. The relief of seeing the couple’s earlier misery replaced by love rendered everything else insignificant.‘Is that okay?’ she asked, attempting to dial back her habit of taking Polly’s agreement for granted.
‘I suppose. You will be at the Acropolis by six o’clock won’t you, for the early arrivals?’
‘Of course.’ Who needed sleep anyway? Laura hoped she could snatch an energising nap before smartening herself up for the evening. No one would be impressed by her severe ponytail and no make-up look.
‘Thanks.’ Johnny kissed her cheek. ‘I will be good to her. She won’t regret marrying me.’
If their parents were still alive her father would lay down the law and make it clear what his youngest daughter’s fiancé could expect if he didn’t follow through on his promises. ‘She’d better not.’ Laura shooed them out and flopped on the bed. Hunter should have arrived with a government health warning.
* * *
Did she know how thin her walls were? They said people should spend the night in their guest bedrooms to make sure the bed was comfortable and the lighting was good enough. Perhaps they should also play loud music or turn on the television to see how the noise affected someone trying to sleep nearby? Polly’s voice had carried only too clearly.
If you don’t get rid of Hunter right now, I will. Poor Johnny has told me everything and we’re good again but that man has to leave. I won’t have our wedding spoiled and it will be if he’s there because every time I set eyes on him I’ll remember what he did to my sweet man.
Under the circumstances he understood why Johnny was trying to slant the blame over what happened to Danny Pearce in Hunter’s direction. History was always nothing more than an interpretation of events. He could explain his side of the story to Laura, but what would that achieve? Doubts about her sister’schoice of a husband? He and Johnny both made bad decisions as teenagers. End of story.
When Laura left for the party he’d make himself scarce to save her the embarrassment of throwing him out. Despite the rain pelting against the glass Hunter threw open the window to push back the nightmares while he attempted to sleep. Leaving the door open would arouse Laura’s suspicions and she had enough of those already. All because two decades ago a group of boys at Greystone decided he needed to be taught a lesson.
If he didn’t get at least some rest he wouldn’t make it very far and being hauled back into the emergency room wasn’t part of his plan. He hadn’t booked a return flight because when he accepted Polly’s invitation he had rolled around in his mind the possibility of staying on after the wedding. The gnawing guilt over his part in the Danny Pearce’s disappearance from Greystone never quite left him and needed it laid to rest. But now all he wanted was to catch the first available flight back to Knoxville.
He caught the soft click of Laura’s bedroom door and jumped into bed. No doubt she’d come in to check on him before she left which meant he needed his best imitation of heavy sleep. When his door creaked he threw in a cross between a snort and a snore for good measure and smiled as her footsteps faded away. They should award him an Oscar for that performance. She would be away for hours which meant he could afford a genuine nap. Before he turned off his phone Hunter noticed his brother had left a message a couple of hours ago. Brett always fretted over nothing so whatever it was about could wait until he got back home. The last conscious thought racing through the weariness pulling at his head was whether to leave a note behind and if so what to write.Sorry I spoiled things. Sorry I wasn’t a better houseguest. Sorry I fell for you.
* * *
Laura stepped over a pile of broken china to reach the bar. ‘I’d like a pint of water please with plenty of ice.’
‘Water?’
‘It’s the clear liquid that comes out of the taps.’
‘Ah, a joker.’ The barman’s dark eyes sparkled and a different woman might have flirted back. His Mediterranean good looks and charming manner had attracted more than a few ribald comments from the female party guests already.
‘No, simply a tired woman who isn’t much of a drinker and needs to make sure the bride-to-be gets home safely.’
‘One water coming up.’
She guzzled it down and the fog clouding her brain started to lift. Normally she scoffed at medical professionals who didn’t take care of themselves but tonight she was no better. She was sure Hunter would give one of his slanted smiles, exposing the gold filling she’d spotted yesterday, and declare her to be simply human.
‘I’ve got a surprise for my beautiful lady.’ Johnny banged a spoon against his beer glass.
Laura had forgotten about Emily Stephens until the dark-haired Irishwoman rushed across to fling her arms around Polly and, judging by her sister’s brilliant smile, at leastshewas pleased with her pre-wedding surprise. A few minutes later Johnny whisked his fiancée off for a dance and Emily materialised by Laura’s side.
‘How’s our extremely fit Yank doing? Polly told me about Hunter’s accident. If he’s up for some company I’m happy to visit him. I may not be a proper nurse but I could . . . wipe his brow.’
‘He needs to rest.’
‘Bloody hell, Polly was right about you.’
‘In what way?’
‘She always said the main reason we had such a good laugh together was because you take life so seriously and don’t know how to have fun.’
Laura’s face burned.
