Page 21 of Not So Happily Ever After (British Bad Boys)
Thankfully, it seems Jake’s over his career crisis, as the band is holding a big party to celebrate surviving their close shave with death. It’s on Saturday week, which is the last weekend before I’m back at Uni.
My stomach sinks at that reminder, but I ignore it. No point stressing about the inevitable. In any case, I need to get ready to go out. Diane and Joe, a couple of guys who work for Harry, are celebrating their engagement this evening. And if I know anything, it’s that Will won’t betheretonight.
It takes less than an hour to drive to Harry’s workplace, Blitz. It’s not far from the warehouse where they used to be last year, but this is a self-contained building in a purpose-built business park. It has none of the charm of the warehouse and is as ugly as fuck, but it does its job.
I park the car, show some ID to the new security guy who doesn’t know me, and he buzzes through for someone to open the door.
Alice opens the door, and we hug. “Seriously, though,” I say, as we make our way upstairs, where there’s an open plan workspace that’s great for entertaining, “couldn’t Harry and Caleb have taken the party to a nightclub or something?”
“Di arranged the party, and there was neveranyquestion that it wouldn’t be held here. I don’t think half the guys would even turn up if it wasn’t at Blitz.”
“True,” I concede. Harry certainly found his tribe when he pulled the workforce of Blitz together.
The whole floor is festooned with banners and balloons, and there’s a huge buffet along the wall. We find Di by the food, and I ooh and aah over her engagement ring. I’ve known Di forever, as she was in the same year as my brothers at school and is almost as brilliant at all things coding as Harry.
Caleb, Harry’s BFF and business partner, joins us and hands me a bottle of water. He doesn’t even need to ask what I’m drinking, since he knows I’m driving later. “Not seen you much lately,” he says.
I take a long swallow of the water. “Mmm. Busy with the research placement.” It was eight weeks at the hospital’s research institute, and I worked my butt off.
It’s hard, though, when everything I do is judged by the impeccable standards set by my mum.
It’s hard when your heart’s not in it.
“How did that go?” He smiles at me, and I smother a sigh. I’ve known Caleb all my life. But unlike Will, he’s like another brother to me and there’s no way I could tell him the whole truth.
“It was good.” Not really a lie. I enjoyed parts of it, but no matter how hard I focused, I just wasn’t one hundred percent into it like the other students were. The important thing is, I didn’t flunk it.
Meg joins us, bumping arms with Caleb. “Hey, Mac.”
I’ve known her for ages, too. She used to work with Caleb before Blitz was born, and she’s so nice. When is he going to realize she’s in love with him?
Honestly, I should set up a matchmaking service. I practically had to give Harry cue cards the first time he went out with Alice.
Harry comes over, wraps his arm around Alice, and nuzzles her neck. It’s completely adorable watching them together, but he’s also my brother.
“Ugh. Eating, here.” I wave my half-eaten vegetable ball at him. “You need to—” The rest of my mockery lodges in my throat as Will strolls into the room, glances around, and then makes a beeline for me.
I clutch my bottle of water and shove the rest of my vegetable ball into my mouth, so it stops me from saying anything completely stupid. How did he know I was here?What does this even mean?More importantly, what am I going to do about it?
You’re going to be cool because you’re good friends again, right?
That’s right. No problem.Just remember, under no circumstances grab his hand or try and kiss him.
“Hey, congrats, Di.” He gives her a hug, and then she waves her hand with the ring under his nose. I choke down my food, aided by a big gulp of water.
He’s not here because of me. He went to school with Di, too.
He and Harry give each other buddy arm punches, and he shoots a smile my way before returning to the conversation. I join in, so I don’t look conspicuous, but my mind’s not on it.
This is ridiculous. It’s never been easy socializing with Will since we slept together, but up until Saturday, I could always hide behind my shield of mocking indifference. Except I didn’tneeda shield over the weekend because things were pretty great between us. Even before we agreed to the let’s-be-friends-again thing.
And let’s face it. The kiss was fantastic, too. That’s why I hoped he wouldn’t be here tonight. So I didn’t have to face him. Which is all kinds of stupid because it’s not like I shocked him with a surprise smooch. It was totally mutual.
And it can’t happen again, no matter what.
…
Will
