Page 104 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘I know you’re not coming back to London and that’s fine. I can commute from here and we can still make it work. Even if I have to stay in London in the week sometimes, we can still make it work.’
Was that a tiny alarm bell ringing in my head?
‘You were so good for me, Holly. We were great. As a team. We can be a team again. All you have to do is say yes.’
‘I …’
‘Holly?’ Gabe’s voice cut into my thought process, which was good as I literally had no idea where I was going with it.
‘Gabe?’ Oh God. Please don’t let them be eating here too. ‘I didn’t realise you were booked here tonight too.’
‘I’m not. I was looking for you.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Paul stiffen. Not only was Gabe head and shoulders above him – literally – he’d just interrupted a marriage proposal which, although I was still upset with him, I could have kissed Gabe for right at that moment.
‘We’re actually in the middle of something here, mate,’ Paul said, puffing out his chest, which next to Gabe was a little redundant.
From the look on his face, Gabe had already been aware of that.
‘Yeah, sorry about that,’ he replied, not looking sorry in the slightest. ‘But this is important.’
‘I’m proposing here! You don’t think that’s important?’ Paul blustered.
Gabe glanced at me then turned back to Paul. He remained silent but his answer was loud and clear.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked, before we were all smothered to death by the huge testosterone cloud building above them.
‘Carrie’s gone into labour. Ned’s been trying to call you for ages.’
‘Is everything OK? Isn’t that early?’ I said, almost juggling my clutch in an attempt to open it. Gabe caught it as it flew out of my hands and he handed it back. I yanked out the phone. Which was off.
‘Oh God, I must have switched it off accidentally while shoving it in there. Is she OK?’ I asked again.
‘Yes. Things seem to be going along fine. She’s a lot calmer than your brother, anyway.’
‘I’ll go up there now and—’
‘Holly?’ Some of the sheen of Paul’s charm had worn off a little during my exchange with Gabe, and his tone when he spoke was snappy with a hint of petulance. ‘I asked you a question!’
‘Paul, I’m sorry, but I need to go. My sister-in-law’s gone into labour and I really need to be there.’
‘Oh for God’s sake, women have babies all the time! I hardly think they need you there. This, on the other hand—’ he waved the box at me ‘—is a one-time offer!’
I felt Gabe tense beside me and automatically put my hand on his arm. I had this.
‘Guess what, Paul? I was a one-time offer too. And you blew it. Big time. I never asked you to come back and I never wanted you to, yet you seem to have it in your head that I should be grateful, as though you’ve already decided I’d accept.’
I’d been keeping my voice down but I was aware we were now a bit of a spectacle.
‘Holding out for a better offer, are we?’
I flinched at the words and the fact that I did made me angry. Mostly with myself but sure as hell with Paul. Beside me, Gabe shifted his weight.
‘Maybe I am. Because you know what? I can do a lot better than you. I deserve someone who loves me and respects me and doesn’t use me like you did. Let’s face it, you’re only here because Celia kicked you out, am I right?’
‘It was a mutual decision.’
‘Really.’
