Another buzz—she’s calling again.
The room is too noisy, so I slip outside to take the call.
“Hey, Elle, is everything okay?”
“Oh, things are more than okay. They’re insane!” she cackles.
“Are you at work?”
“Not anymore. I just walked out with my stuff and—oh, for fuck’s sake.”
“What’s wrong?”
“They gave me the world’s tiniest cardboard box. Everything keeps falling out.” She exhales. “Anyway. I quit my job!”
I freeze. “Wait—what?Why?”
“Needed a change. And I’m coming to Whitstable.”
My mind spins. “You’re…coming here?”
“Yep. I booked my flights. Weekend after next.”
“That’s quite soon.”
“It would’ve been sooner, but I’ve got to move out first. Hey, you have a couch there, right? You don’t mind if I crash on that?”
“Technically it’s Brandon’s couch,” I point out.
“Oh, Brando won’t mind. He loves me.”
“Ellenor,” I warn. The word ‘love’ makes me bristle, even though I know she’s joking.
She breezes past that. “I want to be there for you. To cheer you on. Sucks I can’t be there tonight.”
“I doubt I’ll play.” I glance back at the café. More people are filing in and claiming tables. “Elle, I’ve got to—”
“Sure. Oh, before I forget, I thought we could finally do thatHarry Potterroad trip we always talked about. Is Derbyshirenearby? I’m dying to see Malfoy Manor.”
As she rattles on, a mix of excitement and unease settles in my chest. I’d pictured this time as quiet. Mine. And—if I’m honest—shared only with Brandon. With Ellenor here, quiet would be the last thing on the agenda. She finds a way to turn everything into an adventure.
The line grows quiet.
“Unless you don’t want me there,” she says cautiously. “I know this was meant to be your soul-searching thing.”
Guilt pricks sharp and immediate. It’s been so long since I’ve had proper time with her. Toby made sure of that.
“Of course I want you here,” I say, and I mean it. “But we should probably ask Brandon first.”
She snorts. “Please. Brandon won’t mind. I’ll call him next.”
“Ellenor—”
“Relax. I’ll call him next.”
“Okay. But…”
“Unless you want him all to yourself?” she teases.
