“You’re really not going to go home and sort this out?” I demand.
He types quickly and sends the text, then starts walking away. I run to catch him up, my longer legs keeping pace, even though he’s a fast walker.
“Mate, come on,” I urge. “You’ve got to patch things up with her. It’s Valentine’s Day.”
“It’s just another day.”
“Not to girls. Come on. Don’t do this today, of all days.”
He stops suddenly, so I walk past him before stopping too and turning to face him. “It’s not my fault,” he snaps.
“I didn’t say it was.”
“I’m not going to put myself through that.” Full of fury, he pushes past me and strides down the drive to the gate.
I catch up with him again. “Through what?”
“Everything. I’m done. I can’t be what she wants.” His speech slurs slightly. He’s more drunk than I thought.
“Come on, she’s put up with you for two and half years. She must have some feelings about you.” I joke, but my attempt to defuse hismood falls flat; he doesn’t even smile. “She’s crazy about you, bro,” I insist.
We reach the open gate, and he walks through and pauses on the main road. “It’s over,” he says simply.
The Ark sits on top of a hill, overlooking the Bay of Islands. The road left leads to Waitangi and then Paihia, and to the right the lights of Sunrise Bay twinkle in the darkness. He lives with Beth in Sunrise Bay, but instead of heading toward where his girlfriend has undoubtedly gone, he turns left and starts walking toward Paihia.
“Jude,” I call after him.
He doesn’t stop.
I hesitate, not knowing what to do. Loyalty to my best mate makes me feel as if I should make sure he’s okay as he’s obviously drunk, but Jude is a solitary, somewhat secretive guy who has never appreciated being mollycoddled or handled. I stand there for a few minutes, watching him walk down the hill, and then see a car’s headlights coming up, approaching him. The car slows, then does a 180 and pulls up alongside Jude—Bran, no doubt. Jude opens the door and gets in, and the car heads off, back to Paihia.
Well, at least he’s safe. Now I’ve only Beth to worry about.
I slide a hand into the pocket of my chinos and pull out my phone. Then I pause. Maybe I should go and find Isla and tell her what’s happened. She could go to Beth’s house and offer consolation and a willing ear. But she’d probably have to take Max, and it’s getting late.
I shouldn’t contact her. I have to be careful.
Frustrated, I fight with myself for thirty seconds. But in the end, my fear for her overrides everything else.
If I’m going to message her, I usually use Snapchat and include Jude, as it doesn’t seem right to message your best friend’s girl without him knowing. But tonight, any guilt is overridden by the fact that Jude didn’t follow her or ask me to check that she’s okay. He’s not putting her first, and that makes no sense to me.
After pressing the speech bubble icon and bringing up my texts, I tap Beth’s name.
Me:I’ve just seen Jude. Are you okay?
I press send, expecting her to reply that she’s gone home.
I stand there for a couple of minutes. No reply. I text again.
Me:Please just let me know you’re okay
Still nothing.
I frown. I’ve no doubt she’s upset, but she’s the most thoughtful person I know. She would hate to think I or anyone else was worried about her. It’s unlike her not to respond.
I try a third text, this time with a bit more detail in the hope she’s reading them and is choosing not to reply to me.
Me:Jude said you had an argument, and I’m worried about you. You don’t have to tell me what happened. Please, just tell me you’re okay
