‘Good medicine always tastes bitter.’
‘Is that what you think you’re doing here? Making me feel better? Newsflash—I feel like shit.’
‘I’m not here to remedy anything, but it appears there’s no one better qualified to babysit you right now.’ I push the dainty jug of cream and matching sugar bowl her way.
‘Fine,’ she mutters, grasping it. ‘A splash of “I don’t give a flying flip”.’ She adds so much cream that the colour no longer resembles coffee. ‘A cube or three of get stuffed,’ she mutters, dropping in three squares of raw sugar next. ‘Stirand .. . There.’ She pushes the concoction my way. ‘You choke on it.’
Pulling her cup closer, I replace it with mine.
‘You want to have a conversation about why I wasn’t there in the morning, and I have better things to do than deal with silly drunken girls. I’ll be back when you’ve eaten a little of that.’ I point at the plate. ‘And have drunk both of those. Perhaps then we can discuss this like adults.’
I slide out from the booth and walk away without a backward glance.
* * *
I weave through the tables once more coming to a stop where Beckett and Olivia stand. We make small talk basically, waiting for the evening to wrap up. But all the while, half my attention is focused on the girl across the room. Despite her earlier attitude, she looks so forlorn sitting there all alone. Something about her makes me want to go to her, to take her in my arms and tell her that whatever it is, I can make it better because something is obviously going on.
But that’s not me—I don’t do complicated—so I stay where I am.
And I watch.
The crowds of would-be daters begin to dissipate, taking their drinks and their further introductions elsewhere as three men nearer her age slide themselves into the booth, one next to her and two opposite. She smiles and is polite enough to answer their questions, but they don’t seem to pick up on the fact that she’s not in the mood for company.Not acquaintances. Not friends. Not lovers. She’s not flirting at all, and her body language isn’t at all relaxed. The most they’re getting are small, forced smiles. But at least they’re getting her smiles.
‘I’m sorry, what was that?’ I turn to Olivia with what I hope is a blank expression. ‘I was miles away.’
‘I said I don’t know what’s gotten into her tonight.’ She gestures in the direction of Miranda. ‘She looks like she’s sobered up a little.’
‘Carbs, coffee, and water in that order.’
‘Harry, you sound like a man who knows his stuff.’ That she uses the moniker that Beckett introduced me with is entirely normal. No one calls me James unless I’m in trouble. Or your name happens to be Miranda.
‘I’m sure we’ve all been there,’ I answer evenly.
‘She’s usually so together. It’s just not like her to be so careless.’
‘You don’t think someone could’ve spiked her drink?’ My gaze slides back to the booth, my hands suddenly balled as tight as the fist that’s clutching my innards.
‘What? You mean theLust Islandguys? I don’t see how. It wouldn’t be good for their image in the first place.’
‘I take it they’re some kind of celebrities?’
‘Reality TV,’ she says with an apologetic shrug.
‘In my experience, the accolade tends to make them feel above such things as good. But on second thought, she’s too lucid to have been drugged.’
‘I agree. She’s been drinking, but she’s not wasted.’ Her expression twists. ‘Heather, our intern, said she had a phone call earlier in the evening and that she hadn’t been the same since then.’
‘Interesting.’ Even though it shouldn’t be. Why should I give a fuck?
She’s just some girl I... I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
‘There’ll be a disciplinary, of course.’ Beckett’s arm sliding around his wife’s waist.
‘Maybe there would be if you were in charge,’ she says, placing her hand on his chest as she sends him a withering look. ‘But as it’s my company, I think the answer isnot. Oh, save your glowers for someone they work on,’ she adds, her hand now in the air between them like a stop sign. ‘Quit while you’re ahead.’
‘Never.’ He pulls her closer to his chest, her face tilting in anticipation of his kiss. ‘I’m wise enough to know I’m never ahead when you’re around.’
It appears the beast is tamed.
