Page 15 of Just Say Yes
I let out a huff of air. ‘Most certainly not.’
‘Ahh, so there’s someone your end you don’t want getting the wrong idea?’
‘No. That’s not it, either. Not that that’s any of your business. I just like to make sure everyone is on the same page.’
He scratched the day’s growth now darkly shadowing his jawline. ‘Oh, don’t worry. Everything is crystal clear. I’ll pick you up on Friday afternoon. I saw your calendar was free. We can fly back Monday. Sound good?’
‘Excuse me. That was just my work calendar you saw. I do have a life outside work and that calendar is far more full.’
‘Is it, now?’
The hint of disbelief in his tone infuriated me. ‘Yes, it is. Look.’ I pulled up the social calendar on my phone and thrust it in his face.
‘That’s a hell of a lot of colour coding. Also, don’t you ever believe in having a day off? Leaving room for spontaneity or just simply doing nothing?’
‘No, I don’t. And I can rearrange things – I just didn’t appreciate your disbelieving tone.’
‘Why does it matter if I believe you or not?’ He tilted his head in query.
‘I… err…’ I cleared my throat.
‘It doesn’t. Obviously. And yet you felt the need to thrust proof of your apparently thriving social life in my face. Interesting.’
‘No, it’s not. It’s entirely uninteresting. I just—’
‘Like to be right.’
‘Look. This isn’t getting us anywhere and really doesn’t matter anyway. So you’ll make the flight arrangements?’
‘I will. I’ll book you into the local pub. Comfy rooms and they do a grand breakfast.’
‘I don’t usually have breakfast.’
‘I’ll leave you to explain that to Brighid. She’s very proud of her proper Irish breakfast.’
‘I’m sure she’ll understand. There’ll be too much to do anyway. We have a lot to fit in this weekend.’
‘Grand. I’ll message you with a time tomorrow. I’m getting a cab home,’ he said, looking up at the sky. The clouds had thickened and now hid the moon entirely, and the rain promised by the forecast was beginning to drizzle. ‘Where can I drop you?’
‘It’s fine. I can walk from here to the Tube.’
‘Nope,’ he said, flagging down a black cab. ‘Which station? We’ll drop you. And before you try and argue again, it’s not happening, even if I have to bundle you in myself. I have three sisters, not to mention a baby brother, and I’m used to making sure they have a safe trip home. If something happened to you, I’d then have to try and explain to Peyton and Patrick that they were once again planner-less. It’s not worth the grief, so, please, Maddie, just do me a favour and get in the cab.’
I did as he asked and gave him the name of the station to pass on to the cabbie. ‘I take it your car is at the other end?’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘Good. Message me when you’re home.’
‘I will do no such thing,’ I replied, laughing.
‘Yeah,’ he said, turning to me, ‘you will. Patrick gave me strict instructions to look after you and I take my responsibilities very seriously.’
‘I’m sure he just meant in general, in Ireland.’
‘It doesn’t matter. Please. Just one word is enough. Whatever you choose that word to be is up to you.’
‘Several come to mind.’
