Page 19 of The Fool

I don’t know what to say when he finally finishes, so I end up saying nothing. I had no idea about his past, and I also have no idea how to respond.

“Anyway, I’m going to grab an Uber,” he says, jacking his thumb out over his shoulder. “Thanks, Nick, see you next week.”

“Bye, Sam,” he replies, “wish Harry luck for me on Sunday.”

“I will, thanks.”

I watch him march away on his long lanky legs before turning off around the corner to catch his ride home.

“Who’s Harry?” I eventually ask Nick, who has now come to stand beside me.

“Sam’s kid brother, still in high school but a whizz on the football field,” he tells me.

I say nothing at first, just remain staring in the distance, not wanting to face him, for I know he doesn’t think a lot of me at the moment.

“See you next week, Nate,” he says with a sigh.

“Yeah,” I huff before walking away.

_____

Bea

I didn’t tell Leah or Ben about what happened while I was away because I didn’t want to hear about it anymore. I pretty much went home on Friday and slept for most of the day. Leah went back to her place to study, and Ben was at work, so I was left pretty much unbothered. Well, not until about four o’clock when I received a text message from Callie:

Hi Bea, hope you can still make it tomorrow night? C x

I’d totally forgotten about agreeing to go to Lily’s bachelorette party, but I find myself smiling over the thought of being able to go out with some female friends. I can’t remember the last time I went out without Finn by my side. Ben and Leah spend every waking moment together, usually eating one another’s faces, so I tend to leave them to it. It always used to be Emma and me, up until she turned into someone I no longer recognized. The only thing that turns my mood sour is the realization that they are also Nathaniel’s friends. In fact, he’s practically family to Lily. But still, I can kick back on a girls’ only night; surely, he wouldn’t care if he’s not even there.

Absolutely. I could definitely do with a night out after the week I’ve had. X

As soon as I press the send button, I slap my hand to my face, knowing they are bound to question me on it, and what do I say then? ‘Your soon-to-be brother-in-law and longtime friend is a total ass wipe, but please don’t tell the big boss that.’ I blame the fatigue for not being able to filter what enters my head before sharing.

Intriguing! We must talk about it tomorrow. Meet us at Bamboo 21 at 9pm. X

Of course, now I have to figure out what the hell to wear. Whatdoyou wear when you go clubbing? I’ve never been before, not even with Finn. We usually frequent bars and restaurants, avoiding places that remind me of high school parties where the popular kids would show off their fancy outfits while gyrating against one another. The thought of volunteering to go to a place like that has always brought me out in hives; Finn’s going to have a field day when I tell him where I went. Not that I’m yet talking to him after the stunt he pulled.

Unfortunately, this means I’m going to have to consult Leah and Ben, which is so not what I want to do. I’m sure Ben will insist I dress in a boiler suit, perhaps even carry a small weapon in the heel of my boot. I think back to when I used to be able to consult Emma on these sorts of things, but that was such a long time ago now. I’m sure she now has friends who are far better at all that girly stuff. Luckily for her, she no longer has to slum it with her big, dowdy sister who she found so easy to betray.

_____

Bea

That evening, still wearing my PJs, I hear the buzzer to the apartment and practically jump out of my skin. Ben and Leah are both working, and, sad as this is, I cannot think of who else would be coming around to see me. I half-wonder if it might be my mother coming over to make peace with me after our phone call last week. However, when I finally pick up the phone, it’s Finn’s sheepish voice that is begging me to let him come up. I can’t imagine how he managed to get a Friday night off but I’m glad he’s here; it’s about time we made up. I’m not going to let Nathaniel Carter spoil a perfectly good friendship.

“Come on up,” I tell him, then press the entry button to let him in. I open the door for him to walk straight through while I set up a couple of glasses and a bottle of wine that Ben hasn’t emptied. Then, just to tease him, I stand in sight of the doorway with my arms crossed, looking as though I’m about to give him hell like a girlfriend might do with her cheating lover. It works, for when he steps inside, he looks straight to the floor and rocks on his feet for a moment or two, obviously not knowing what to say for the best. I let him sweat it out for but a few seconds before I burst into laughter and bound up to his slumped body so I can kiss him on the cheek.

“I guess you’re forgiven,” I laugh. He releases a sigh of relief before surprising me with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of ‘sorry’ wine.

“Ah!” I gush, relieving him of the beautifully long, purple flowers and the bottle of red. “You totally should have!”

“Well, I know irises are your favorite,” he says with a shy shrug before taking his usual place on the sofa. “This for me?”

He lifts the glass of wine before I can answer and takes a sip of it anyway.

“It is now,” I reply, nudging him as I take my seat next to him. “Jerk!”

“I’m sorry, Bea, I mean it,” he says, now looking serious, enough to make me stop smiling. “It was shitty of me to blow you off like that. Especially from what you’ve told me about the way he treats you. You’re my best friend and I should have had your back.”

---