Page 27 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“Probably. But it feels good to have something big happening at Linford that I don’t have to constantly stress about.” Except for the leaks, she thought. If they kept happening, Linford andits staff could get a horrible reputation, even if they had nothing to do with them.
“Maybe you’re not stressed about it because you’re actually here?” Emily poured them both some more wine. “Like, last year you were in Dublin but now if anything goes wrong, you’ll be right here to fix it.”
“Nothingwillgo wrong.” Coming down from Dublin the previous year hadn’t been the stressful bit. Not when she’d been with Adam.
But that Saturday in July had been the most stressful day of her life.
Just not the saddest. She blinked rapidly, willing herself not to cry. She’d already cried enough. For her miscarriage, for the end of her rebound relationship with Adam. For all the stupid mistakes she’d made in the past year. Shit, she really had to pull herself together.
“I want to know everything about your new life,” she said brightly.
“Okay.” Emily quickly drained her glass before looking solemnly at Jess. “Promise me this won’t go outside of us?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
“Like, I wasn’t sure if you’d agreed to come tonight because ...” Emily stopped, flushing red.
“Because what?” Jess frowned.
“I don’t want you feeling sorry for me.”
“I definitely won’t feel sorry for you.”
“It’s just, you’re the first person I’ve had here – at my place.” Emily pushed her finger through the designer tear in her pink denim jeans and rubbed hard at her knee.
Jess took a moment to absorb this. “But I thought you’d settled in? I thought you liked working in the hotel?”
“I do!” Emily chewed her lip. “Everyone there is lovely, and the days are really busy. And yeah, like, sometimes the youngerstaff all go for drinks and stuff. But I haven’t made any real friends yet. Like, nearly everyone lives nearby and they’ve all known each other forever. Or they’re older and they’ve partners, so –” Her voice wobbled. “Anyway, they see me as a bit of a blow-in. Maybe they don’t think I’ll stick it out for long.”
“Yeah, they probably do see you as a blow-in, but that’s okay, isn’t it? You won’t always be.”
Emily nodded. “I know. If it’s a work night out, I’m automatically invited, but they don’t invite me over for pizza or to the cinema or anything.”
Jess tried to think. “Robert mentioned that The Tin Whistle always has stuff going on. Karaoke nights and trad sessions – there’s even an annual talent show. Have you gone along to anything?”
“The trad sessions are okay.” Emily shrugged. “Some of the other stuff is organised by the residents’ association.” Her face went even redder. “I’ve gone to one or two things.”
Jess nodded encouragingly. “How did they go?”
“I’m guessing you heard about the last one?” Emily picked up another slice of pizza but didn’t take a bite. “I get that it was funny. I mean, not at the time, obviously but …”
“You’ve lost me, Emily.”
She gave her a quick look. “You didn’t hear? Honestly?” When Jess shook her head, she sighed. “There was a matchmaking thing organised for Valentine’s Day. I thought it’d be good craic and I might even meet someone, so I entered it.”
“Okay.”
“I ended up on a blind date with a really nice girl called Susie.”
Jess stared at her. “But you’re –”
“Straight. Yep.”
Jess felt her mouth twitch. “So what happened? Did you just explain there’d been a mix-up?”
“I couldn’t.” Emily’s eyes widened. “It was bad enoughmebeing disappointed – I didn’t want to disappoint her too.”
A laugh escaped Jess that she quickly turned into a cough. “So,ah, how did it go, then?”
