‘So, that’s Tara.’
‘I figured that out.’
‘Effie, please, let me explain.’
‘I’m not stopping you.’ She moved past him, picked up her mug and perched on the edge of the sofa, not inviting him to sit. ‘What’s going on? Are you still on a break or are you back together? Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?’ she snapped.
‘Yes.’ Jake sagged into himself. ‘But it’s not what it looks like, honestly, Eff, it’s a mess, a huge, huge mess. I was honest when I said I didn’t know if I was staying. Tara and I were on a break and we do have unfinished business. But, you have to believe me, it’s not of the romantic sort.’
Effie sat back, curling her feet underneath her. ‘I don’t know what to believe any more, Jake. What’s going on?’
‘We still have some professional ends to tie up.’ Jake dropped into the chair. ‘It’s one of the reasons I was trying not to lead you on,’ he began. ‘Things between us are complicated. We decided to spend time apart to see if we missed each other.’
‘And do you?’ Effie asked even though she knew the answer would sting.
Jake considered this. ‘Maybe. At least in the beginning, but now, I don’t know. I didn’t think I’d meet you and that made things complicated. Effie, I’m not explaining this very well, am I?’
Sipping her tea, she shook her head.
‘You see, it was all true, all the stuff about me being burned out by the travelling. The putting our relationship on a break. The not knowing what was going to happen. We’ve been in touch recently, trying to resolve things. There’s still so much to sort out. I’ve always tried to be honest with you, Effie, but it’s been difficult when I’ve not known what I want. But the longer I was here, the less appealing going back became. But it turns out, I have to go back with Tara.’
‘Why? What do you mean?’
‘We have one last contract to see through. A joint one. In the Maldives. We can’t get out of it. Believe me, I’ve been trying.’
Effie stared at him in disbelief. ‘What?’
Jake squirmed. ‘It was all organised before we went on a break. If we cancel, Tara will have to pay back the fee she’s been paid and she’s already spent it.’
‘Can’t you just not go?’
Embarrassed, Jake shook his head. ‘I spent my fee too.’
Silence spread between them.
‘I spent it on the flat, the website, printing those photos,’ he explained. ‘I saw it as a way to start again. I was just planning to be here a few months to decompress, make some decisions. Meeting you has confused things for me.’
‘Don’t blame this on me, Jake.’ Effie’s voice was cold. ‘So that’s it? She turns up and you ditch everything here to go and play fake boyfriend?’ Effie couldn’t help her hurt spilling out. ‘You are going to be a fake boyfriend, aren’t you?’
‘Effie, I know it’s hard but please try to understand, I can’t not go,’ Jake’s voice was strained. ‘I need to do this. We both do. We were together ten years, we built a brand, we have a lot to discuss and sort out. This is the perfect opportunity to do so.’
Effie sipped her tea, trying to process what Jake was telling her. ‘You didn’t answer me, Jake, are you and Tara getting back together?’
‘I don’t know,’ he admitted in a small voice. ‘We still have a lot to talk about.’
‘In the Maldives? Such a hardship.’ Effie rolled her eyes.
‘Eff—’
‘When?’
Jake’s eyes were pained as he looked at her. ‘Tomorrow. I’m leaving with Tara tomorrow. We have an early-morning flight the day after.’
Effie studied him whilst trying to process everything he was trying to say. Realisation that she was exhausted by all his excuses washed through her. Yes, that flicker of attraction still lingered between them, but Jake’s commitment to everything seemed as fragile as a pattern in the sand.
‘I’m so sorry, Eff, this wasn’t meant to happen.’
‘Us? Or Tara coming back?’
