“You look…cute?”
“Why are you saying it that way?” I scowl, which only causes him to erupt into laughter.
“Rob, you're covered in bows! You have like, ten bows on you,” he leans back to look down at my feet. “You’re wearing frilly socks and sandals!”
“Hey, bows are in right now. You just said I looked cute!” Pushing his arm, I crinkle my nose, taking in my green cardigan that is littered with black velvet bows. I also have the top layer of my hair up in a giant bow and silver bows dangling from my earlobes. Underneath I wear a grungy floral slip. “I see absolutely nothing wrong with this outfit.” I say honestly, tugging at the hem of my mini dress.
He puts his palm to his chest. “Robbie, lie to yourself all you want, but you cannot lie to me. I know you got that dress from a charity shop two years ago. I’m taking you to a glamorous establishment and I demand something fancy.”
It’s my turn to laugh, because only my best friend could be charming and a total brat at the same time. Phin lived by his personal motto that each day should be special. He’d wear his best shirt to go get coffee, wax his hair perfectly and wear a smart jacket on a food shopping trip. Of course he’d be incredibly excited for his hotel opening, but a small part of me had hoped Merle—his boyfriend—would have reigned him in a little. I don’t know who I’ve been trying to fool, there was no taming this wild, pure hearted man.
Anxiety aside, I couldn’t wait to get on the road to spend the entire weekend with them both.
WE did not in fact get on the road.
I scowl behind me at the imposing stranger, with dark hair long on the top and short on the sides, his short beard groomed perfectly. I hug the bag of chocolate to my chest. “If we halve the bag between us, that means I only get six buttons. How is that fair?”
The guy who just grunted when Phin introduced him as Cardinal, scowls right back at me. “It’s nine in the morning, why would I want to eat chocolate?”
I lean my face past the head rest, deepening the line between my eyebrows. “What’s the matter with you? You some kind of wild animal?” I say, sharing with him my imitation of the Grinch. The pop culture reference goes straight over his head, as he looks into the mirror pleadingly for Phin to make me stop. Sitting back in my seat, I face the front, smirking as I pop more than three chocolate buttons into my mouth.
I have a feeling he’ll be able to take the back and forth banter—we’ll be quick friends.
“So Cardy, what brings you to this fine vehicle on what plans to be an adequate evening?” Looking in the mirror, he schools me with a look, his eyebrows down as he shakes his head. I study his smart hair cut, sharp jawline and well tailored suit. He’d be attractive if he learnt how to smile.
“My sister Aya is making me come. I thought she’d be picking me up from the station, but well, she texted at the last minute to change plans. Thank you again Phoenix for getting me, and for letting me stay this weekend.”
My best friend's smile is warm and genuine. “You can call me Phin and it’s honestly our pleasure. I’m so excited for everyone to see the place!” He bounces in his seat, a boyish charm laced with excitement. “The hotel and the lake house are both fully done. Construction is still ongoing on the venue and another event space. It’s all so close to being finished, so it won’t affect the weekend.” He pats my knee and gives it a little squeeze. “Wedon’t know what to do with the old bird house, but I thought you’d be the perfect person to help come up with some ideas.” A flicker of pain squeezes my heart that I clumsily try to conceal, but I've always been terrible at hiding anything from him.
Leaving York behind, we enter the quaint countryside, with the sun filtering light into the car through hedges on either side of the road, in choppy motions. Sheep are in one of the fields to my left, a tractor in another.
“Anything for you.” I squeeze his knee back, before doing what I do best; causing quick chaos to distract and change the subject. I’m still surprised he believed me on how I felt about them taking on the hotel. Not necessarily the business idea, but more the choice of location. This isn't the first time I’ll be staying at the manor house; infact, six months ago it was meant to bemyhome.
“So Cardy, what's it to be? ABBA or Harry Styles?’’ I smirk into the rearview mirror, scrolling through my playlist.
He groans. “Neither, I’d rather sit in silence.”
I whirl around in my seat to face him once again, my bangs falling into my face and I smile with malice. “Well Buddy, welcome to Robin’s car take over. I’ll be escorting you on this journey today, through the eras of the best cheesy pop music of all time.”
“I sing the chorus toTeenage Dirtybagat an ear splitting pitch. My voice breaks and beside me Phin tries to hold in his laughter. We’re thirty minutes into the journey and so close to Nightingale House.
I threw every good and bad pop song I could think of at him, singing along, turning the volume up; he gave me nothing, not even a crack in his brooding facade. I thought I saw his finger tap to Busted’sThunderbirds, so I changed tactics and put on an alternative classic. Finally with a loud sigh, he puts two wireless earbuds into his ears. Smiling triumphantly, I turn the volume down once he seems distracted and twist slightly to have the conversation I’d purposely been avoiding. Best to just get my questions out of the way.
“Do you know why Corbin is throwing a murder mystery party?”
“I’m really sorry. Over a month ago we had a meeting with him to discuss when we planned to open the hotel, and the moment we mentioned a friends and family weekend, I knew it piqued his interest. Merle said I was being paranoid, but a week ago he emailed him to say he was hosting the party, and we should accommodate his guest list. I know we should've said no, took control, but you know what he gets like. He’s already doing us a huge favour by letting us buy the property.”
I wasn’t going to pretend that his answer made me feel better, because it didn’t relieve the nausea sitting in my belly. If anything it sparks a layer of anger to it. Of course Corbin would be that much of an arsehole to force his own brother's hand, he never could have said no. It had been a surprise when the guys told me they planned on buying the house, turning it into a hotel. They wanted to plant roots and create something together, which I’m sure was Merle's subtle way of stirring my best friend away from partying. Before meeting, Phin wasn’t a stranger to clubbing, drugs, drinking and going off the deep end. He’d been to rehab twice before he’d turned twenty and just before they met, it was on the horizon again if he couldn’t get his shit together. After partying all summer, Lil and I spent weeks with him, trying to manage his come downs and get him sober againfor the new semester. He’d had other help, but I didn’t trust anyone other than us two to know what would be best.
“I get it. I’m not mad, I know you don’t have a choice. I just don’t trust him at all.” Shifting in my seat uncomfortably, I fix my gaze outside of the car, watching the sun dance between the hedges. “Remember when I wanted to throw a murder mystery party on new years? Corbin told me it was such a stupid idea. A waste of everyone’s time.Childish games.He made me feel so bad that I’d even suggested it. Knowing that’s what he really thinks about them, why is he hosting one?” My cheeks ablaze, I’m still so embarrassed by how I had let someone else make decisions for me. I really wanted to ask him Wednesday night, but after being out all day distracting myself, no wonder I’d fallen asleep. “Am I invited as your guest or his?”
Flashing me a sad look as he continues down what has turned into a single lane track, Phin sighs. “Firstly, you should have ignored him and thrown the party for new years. Secondly, he was the worst boyfriend on this planet and I think he isn’t handling someone leaving him very well. Probably a shock to the system, not getting his own way for a change.” This conversation needs ripping off like a plaster; quickly so we can move the fuck on. “Thirdly, the guest list was his entire doing. He’s invited you, Lily’s friends, Merle's brother and I guess friends from his own circle.” He motions behind us.
I almost jump out of my seat when Cardinal scoffs in disgust. “I’m not friends with that wanker!”
“So you're kind of like, your sister's plus one?” Phin asks.
Nodding, he slips out his earbuds, which I suspect weren’t even on to begin with. I have a suspicious feeling that he heard our entire conversation. “I received the invite before she’d mentioned anything. I wasn’t actually free this weekend, but she practically begged me over the phone to come, and said it meanta lot to him. It's weird because I've only met him once and thought he was an absolute twat.”
