Page 10 of Commitment Issues
“Americano with an extra shot, and a chicken salad and mayo sandwich on sourdough. Flat white, and a cheese and ham Panini. And, two passionfruit crumble bars on the house. If you like them, don’t forget to tell all your friends.”
My head snaps up, at the guy Elliot had called Bernie. He’s the owner, he has to be. There’s an air of confidence about him that shoutsI’m the boss, cross me if you dare, but his smile’s broad and friendly and his light blue-grey eyes hint at warmth and humour. Exchanging a few words and some laughter, Bernie squeezes Elliot on the shoulder before he turns and disappears through the door that he’d emerged from earlier.
I groan in pleasure as I bite into my sandwich. God, but it’s good, with about as much in common with the rank ham sandwich as a fish has with the moon.
Elliot laughs, the sound as rich and full as the coffee, and I glance up. Catching his eye, we both smile.
We don’t say anything for a couple of minutes as we both give all our attention to our food and drinks. But when Elliot does speak, it’s with the question I know he has to ask.
“How much did James offer you?”
How much cold, hard cash were you going to do this for…? I fight my inner squirm, but it’s getting the better of me and once again my face throbs with heat.
“Five hundred pounds, plus all my expenses.”
It’s a lot of money, and Elliot’s no doubt wondering what I’d agreed to do for it. I put down my sandwich, which is no longer quite so tasty, and the coffee that was so good is now sour in my mouth.
“Five hundred?” Elliot’s brows arch, shooting up towards his slight widow’s peak. And it hits me. How could it not? Who would be paying me? I assumed James, but…No, it would have been Elliot footing the bill.
He’s staring at me hard and thinking, no doubt, that even though he’s not going through with any of it, James has wildly over promised regarding the fee. My earlier embarrassment’s nothing to what’s surging through me now, but there’s an added edge. For the first time in all of this, I feel cheap and venal.
“Then he’s done both you and me a gross disservice,” Elliot says quietly. “Because I think we’re both worth more than five hundred pounds, don’t you?”
“What?” I’m blinking at him, trying to take in what he’s saying. “It’s big money to me,” I blurt.
Elliot’s lips curve up in a crooked smile. “It’s a lot of money to many people. And as for expenses, there are none. The wedding party will be staying as guests of the grooms at their villa.”
Disservice or not, five hundred pounds is still a fortune, and a fortune that won’t now be coming my way. I’ll have to try and pick up some more shifts at the supermarket, not that I haven’t already tried.
“It’s for the best that James’ little scheme has been stopped in its tracks, because when push comes to shove, I’m not sure I’d be able to carry off the pretence… of, erm, being your boyfriend.” My words limp across the finish line.
Elliot doesn’t answer, which is all the answer I need.
The scheme’s derailed before it’s even got started. And it’s just as well, because the chances are high I’d have only made a fool of myself, and Elliot, in the process. But a few days in the South of France, sunshine on my skin, the sand between my toes, and the caress of a warm sea, and all in the company of this gorgeous man… It’s a nice little fantasy but a fantasy is all it is. Instead, all I can look forward to is stacking up cat food, washing powder, and tins of baked beans in between grabbing whatever scraps of work might, or might not be, doled out by my departmental head at university.
Neither of us speak as we finish off our lunch.
“Thank you for that, it was lovely,” I say when I finish, crumpling my napkin on my crumb-strewn plate.
“It was the least I could do. I really am very sorry for all this.” Elliot’s lips tilt in a lopsided smile.
“You’ve no need to be. Really. But I reckon James will be, when you’ve finished with him.”
Elliot throws back his head and laughs. It’s rich and deep, and oh boy, but doesn’t that send a shot of heat straight to my groin. Elliot Hendricks is pushing buttons I didn’t even know I had. I shift in my seat and tug my hoodie down.
“He will be, no question. I know exactly how to squeeze the little runt until the pips squeak.” He looks at me with a huge and open smile spread over his face.
There’s something infectious and bright and joyous in that smile and I can’t help smiling back. The man’s stunning, it’s as simple as that.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t be too hard on him, he was just doing his best to be a good friend. Just like he always has, even if he does go about it in a hamfisted way.”
Elliot’s words echo in my head. Cosmo had said much the same, friends looking out for friends and having their backs.
I catch sight of the clock over the counter, where the baristas are hard at work. I’ve been here, with Elliot, for over an hour.
“I’m sorry, but I really have to go. I’ve got some first-year undergrad essays to mark for tomorrow. But thank you for lunch.”
“Oh, do you really have to leave?” Elliot does a good job at sounding disappointed. It’s sweet of him. “Will it take you long?”
