‘I might have overheard something. I’m a human Alexa, listening silently for keywords that give a person’s game away like ‘secret affair’, ‘pregnant with your love child’, and ‘herpes’. I’m sure he’ll tell you in his own time. I saw the way he looked at you after the swim – even after you sweated it out in that minging wetsuit and covered yourself in mustard like an infected amoeba.’
Despite her misery, Aria smiled. ‘You’re a good friend.’
Sophie gave her a reassuring hug. ‘You’re working magic out there. Stuff is coming up!’
When Sophie left, Aria walked to the boundary between their houses, picked up Nic’s wifi and sent a text to thankhim for the fruit, triggering a stream of peach emojis and a winky face in return. She didn’t ask how he was. After that phone call she’d overheard, she knew it was none of her business. Their fake relationship had been exactly what it said on the tin. And now it was over.
44
Theo’s stress showed on his face as Nic carried two hot drinks to a small table where they could talk without being overheard. His brother had insisted on meeting away from the office and Nic had to admit it came as a fresh shock to see him in the wild. While he was thankfully walking again, it looked like an effort. His skin was grey, and his shirt was creased and slightly stained. Nic picked up a spoon and balanced it across his fingers while Theo ripped open a sugar and dumped it in his coffee before tipping in two more. This was also off. Theo didn’t take sugar.
‘You staying tonight?’
‘I plan to, if that’s OK?’
‘Fine with me. Your flat is a bit of a mess, though, as I’ve been packing.’ Theo picked up the cup, sipped from it and made a face.
‘Too much sugar?’
‘I asked for coffee.’
‘Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.’ Despite recognising his brother’s fragile state, Nic felt irritated that he was moving on. ‘You know you’re welcome to stay at my place for as long as—’
‘I want my life back,’ Theo said quietly, his voice thick with anger, as he banged his cup down.
‘I know. And you’re on that road. It will take time.’
‘I don’t want it in time. I want it now.’
Nic ground his teeth. ‘I stole it from you. Or at least that part of it,’ he gestured to Theo’s leg.
‘Stop being a martyr. We were mucking about. But the hire company was to blame.’ Theo pushed the tea away. ‘Ah fuck it, I need caffeine and an energy drink.’
Nic pushed his chair out. ‘Let me get it.’
‘If you so much as stand right now, I will kick you with my good leg.’
Nic held up both hands. ‘Understood.’
‘Check your emails for any more unpaid bills while I slug over to the counter and flirt with the cashier.’
Despite the weak joke, Nic felt relieved Theo was getting his sense of humour back. When his brother returned, the waitress following him with puppy-dog eyes and some drinks, Nic smiled to himself.
But there were zero jokes as Theo opened his laptop. ‘I know it came as a shock, but I was serious about wanting to resign. Hopefully, I’ve done enough to keep you afloat. You’ll need to hire a business manager to replace me. Do not try and do it yourself.’
Nic grabbed Theo’s hand. ‘I can’t let you leave.’
His brother pulled it away. ‘It’s not your choice, and please don’t interrupt till I’ve finished. This is hard enough.’
A scolded Nic listened intently to his brother’s speech. At the end of it, he wrung his hands. ‘How will you make ends meet?’
‘Sell the shares? Only kidding! I’m going to rent a room from a friend who has offered me a job doing his books. It’s light work. In the long term, I may move to Brighton.’
Nic’s eyes flashed. ‘Move in with Mum?’
‘Maybe help out in the hotel. Build up my strength and look for a flat by the sea. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital and recuperating, Nic, and it has given me time to think. The old things that used to matter just don’t anymore. I don’t want any more meaningless dates or one-night stands. I don’t care about cars or money. So that means looking at my lifestyle and figuring out how to make myself whole again. Or as whole as I can be with this.’ He glanced down and quickly away. ‘Working with you and navigating London with a prosthetic limb takes all my time and energy. And don’t tell me I can work from home. I will walk normally again – in fact I plan to run marathons with the help of my amazing new leg. But right now, I need to protect my physical and mental health which means making changes and putting myself first.
‘I’ve been reading a lot of books and I’m thinking of studying philosophy or something similar. And I crave the salt air you get at the seaside – the stuff that used to fill our lungs. Don’t get me wrong, your flat has been a lifesaver, getting me away from our overprotective mum and back to work.’ Theo bolted back his coffee and opened the soft drink. ‘But the flat and the business is your life. Going forward, I need to focus on mine. It’s been a horrible experience, but maybe the accident was a much-needed wake-up call. Hey, don’t look so dejected. We’re still brothers!’
