Page 37 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘Yes, I can imagine. It can certainly be difficult when things go awry and you still have to maintain some sort of business association.’
And by ‘awry’ I meant, of course, humiliating you in front of almost everyone in the entire company so that no matter where you went in the building from that point forward, you were forever looked upon as the woman who had unknowingly been dating a man already engaged to someone else.
Of course, the fact that some of those people probably already knew that and didn’t have the decency to say anything was another matter. I suppose they may have thought I already knew and that I’d believed he’d leave her for me. Although I hadn’t. And he didn’t. In fact, from what I understood, he’d gone round to her place that night and grovelled to be taken back, which eventually she’d agreed to. I knew there were plenty who couldn’t understand why she’d done that. But I got it. Paul could be incredibly charming, and when he wasn’t being a two-timing arsehole, was a fun guy to be with.
‘But I do appreciate you asking, and I may well take you up on that sometime.’
‘Good, and you’re welcome.’ I watched him for a moment. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Please. That was so not a “nothing” look.’ I laughed.
‘Maybe you should be the psychiatrist?’
‘Umm, no, I’m OK, thanks. But come on, tell me.’
‘I just … I’ve really only just met you and yet it feels like I would be able to talk to you about this stuff. That’s not always the case with other people. And I guess it just feels a little … surprising.’
‘I know what you mean. And the other thing?’
‘What other thing?’
‘There’s something else. I can see it in your face.’
He rubbed a hand over his jaw, laughing. ‘Man, you’re good. Fine. If we’re being totally honest—’
‘Which we are,’ I added.
‘Then I’m still concerned about your own issues and the last thing I want to be doing is adding upset or extra stresses when you’re already struggling. That reminds me, I picked up a couple of leaflets today on anxiety and panic attacks.’
‘Gabe. I’m fine. And being an ear for you won’t add anything, honestly. But thank you for that. I’d be interested to read them. You’d have been proud of me today, actually,’ I said unwrapping a muffin and taking a bite. Ooh, they really had come out well.
‘Go on.’
‘I kind of started to get a bit anxious at one point so I just sat back and tried to concentrate on the whole breathing thing, like you said, before it really took a hold.’
‘And it worked?’
‘It did. I’m not sure I’d be that together in the middle of a full-blown one but it felt like a good start.’
‘It sounds like it. Like anything, half the battle is having the right tools.’
‘True,’ I agreed, nodding as I finished the last of my tea.
‘I’ve got the name of a book a friend recommended on my phone. It might be worth taking a look at.’
‘You’ve been discussing me with other people?’ I said. We both felt the atmosphere in the room change as I automatically shifted a little further away on the sofa. But Gabe remained calm, actually reaching out for my hand.
‘No,’ he said, taking it. ‘I haven’t. I promise. But a good friend of mine used to suffer from panic attacks, and I knew he’d read up a lot on it. I just asked him if there were any books on the subject he recommended. Gigi told me once that you used to be a great reader, so I thought that might be something you’d find useful, and also enjoy.’
‘Oh. I see.’ Suddenly I felt embarrassed and a little awkward.
‘I’d never discuss you without your permission, Holly. I’d hoped you’d have realised that by now but I can see that you don’t. I keep forgetting how short a time you’ve been here. It’s like when I met Gigi – I’d only been here a couple of weeks and found it hard to remember a time I didn’t know her.’
‘She’d have been thrilled to hear that. I hope you told her.’
‘I did. Frequently.’
