‘Do you even know the meaning of the word?’
‘I’m a changed man these days, I’ll have you know.’
‘A changed man that’s still always late?’ she goaded.
‘Some things are just part of our DNA. Being late is in my blood. Always has been and always will be.’
Eleanor rolled her eyes.
‘Like being efficiently organized is in yours,’ he added casually.
‘Excuse me.’ She stiffened. ‘I could have become a completely free-spirited, spontaneous wild woman over the years.’
‘You were always a wild woman at heart, Elles.’ He looked at her affectionately.
‘Elles,’ she murmured, the familiarity a little too close for comfort.
‘Wait, sorry, force of habit. Does anyone still call you that?’ he blustered.
‘No. Although …’ She tucked her hands deeper into her pockets. ‘No one ever did apart from you.’
A heavy silence fell over the pair as they continued to make their way along the street. After a while Eleanor didn’t even bother to try and think of things to ask; she simply followed her feet in the direction of Sal’s house. Thankfully it wasn’t far from the station.
‘It’s just this door here,’ she announced loudly, turning to face Fin. ‘Are you ready? I have to warn you, she’s a bit of a whirlwind.’
‘Ready as I’ll ever be.’ Fin reached out and knocked loudly.
Before Eleanor had time to offer some last-minute words of encouragement, the door was flung open to reveal an incredibly well-dressed and made-up Sal.
‘At last! I was about to call for a search party. It’s completely unheard of for you to be the last through the door, Eleanor.’
‘Sorry, that’s my fault,’ Fin admitted guiltily.
‘Aha, so you must be the famous Fin?’ Sal pulled him into a ferocious hug and then quickly held him out in front of her. Her eyes ran up and down the length of him. ‘So lovely to meet you. In you come.’
Fin was unceremoniously pulled into the hallway whilst Sal gave Eleanor a slightly more delicate embrace. ‘You were right, definitely not my type,’ she whispered in her ear.
Eleanor squeezed her tightly. ‘I hate to say I told you so.’
‘Come in, come in. I think you might recognize a few faces …’
Before Eleanor had a chance to ask who Sal meant, she saw him. Standing at the end of the hallway was none other than Ben Ryans.
‘Come on then, go and say hi!’ Sal grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. Eleanor’s mind went blank. Every inch of her body began to sweat. ‘I know you haven’t texted him back yet so I thought I’d handle the situation myself.’
Could she leave?
No. What would everybody think!
‘Ben, darling,’ Sal cried. ‘You remember Eleanor, don’t you?’ Her words were dripping in delight.
‘Ah. Yes, I believe we met once?’ Ben smiled and held out his hand.
Eleanor took it silently and shook it. Why were her palms so clammy?
‘Hi,’ she mumbled.
He pulled her into a hug. The smell of oranges and soap filled her nostrils and her stomach cartwheeled in recognition.
