“Any chance you can drop me home when you leave? I’m getting a headache.” I lied, needing an excuse to get out of here. I’d spent most of the day on my own, leaving the office only to make tea or use the bathroom and I was already in dire need of more time alone. My mind was buzzing, and the confines of this office weren’t helping. I needed my headphones, to get some fresh air in the greenery and restore my equilibrium before I could do anymore.
“You okay?” he asked, suddenly concerned and I ignored the way I could feel Cooper’s gaze on me also.
“Yeah, yeah, too many numbers, just need a reset and can do more later at home.”
“Coop’s going to show me a couple of the new pours really quick but I’ll come grab you before I leave.” Seb confirmed and I nodded.
Once they left, I slipped off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. No headache yet, but I was certainly flirting with one - too many hours spent with uncertainty and too many unanswered questions still hanging in the air. I was very ready to go home, take an absurdly long shower, and unwind with some baking. Unfortunately, I’d be dragging work along with me. After hours of cross-checking, things still weren’t adding up, and the frustration was becoming unbearable.
Maybe mint brownies would help things make sense, and if they didn’t, well, at least there’d be chocolate.
CHAPTER 22
Eva
One long, hot shower. Check.
One true-crime podcast in my headphones. Check.
Muscles - finally relaxed.Check
Although, there had been those few rough seconds when I realised the volume was set to eleven.
Eleven.
Odd. Uneven. Unacceptable. Relaxation only came in even numbers or multiples of five.
The house carried the scent of mint and chocolate - brownies cooling on the rack. Check.
But that was where my success rate ended. The dining table was still buried under papers, scattered and stubborn. A mug of mint tea waited beside them, cooling too fast and the numbers refused to add up. More stock than floor space suggested something was amiss or there were errors in the logbooks. I hadn’t yet decided which direction to chase, but either way the mess was waiting.
Hair twisted into a bun.Check.
Two green bamboo sticks slid through to hold it in place.
Glasses back on. Check.
Heart steadying - I was ready to begin again.
The sun had long ago dipped below the horizon and knowing I had the place to myself for the evening was as comforting as it was unsettling. I had always been a lover of my own company, although there was something about this place which evoked my inner loneliness. The soft hues of mint and chocolate were bested only by the intoxicating reminder of all things Cooper in the familiar leather scent which coated every room of the house. The warmth of knowing he would be home later, grounded me, and beside the chaos presented before me, it was that knowledge which promised clarity - or at least comfort. Even if the emotional back and forth was still frustrating and entirely unpredictable.
Despite the unspoken agitation he greeted me with this morning, I was no closer to understanding him or what had caused him to offer me the kiss of my life before refusing to even look at me - as if it were me who had crossed the line of our agreement. Seb remained tight lipped on the way home, no matter how many questions I asked, answering only that he knew Cooper could be difficult, especially when he was in hismoods, but reminded me he was still the same kid we’d grown up with. The same boy who’d spent almost every weekend at our house because it was with us where he felt safest. Us he loved the most. And that remained the same now. His demons just took hold stronger, and he refused to talk to anyone about anything, my brother included, so he battled everything alone.
I’d nodded, not daring to share details of our impassioned tryst and almost certain Coop hadn’t either.
Skipping the song, I fanned papers out before me, needing to leave the things I couldn’t control aside for now. Numbers always made sense, and it was here I would find my stability. My peace.
Only hours later, it was with a deep sigh of irritation that I admitted something was off. The inconsistencies were too frequent and that was with the predicted evaporative loss of product already factored in. Sliding my headphones off, I leaned back from the table and stretched, trying to shake off a day full of miscalculations. They’d still be there tomorrow, alongwith the awkward conversation I’d need to have with my maddeningly inconsistent boss. But for now, I was claiming the night for myself. A movie, a blanket and maybe even a few hours of uninterrupted sleep if my housemate was able to be quiet for once. I settled onThe Wedding Date- comforting, familiar, and exactly the kind of distraction I needed.
It was just before midnight when I caved and checked my phone.
No message, no update, no missed call.
My fake fiancé and I weren’t dating. I didn’t deserve or need to know where he was, yet I couldn’t help the nervous energy that he still wasn’t home.
Was he avoiding me, still at the distillery having lost track of time or was he out with someone else?
The jealousy of that thought, almost too much to bear.
