The sentence hangs in the air as I’m bombarded with mental images I shouldn’t be having. I’m realising now that talking about showering with this man was not a good idea.
But I still really want to ask him about his shampoo.
I segue quickly. ‘I might give up washing my hair altogether. This damnable new fringe is a nightmare.’
‘I like it,’ he says, and I feel a tug in my stomach.
‘You do?’ He nods and I lean closer. ‘Are you just saying that to be nice?’
Edward shakes his head. ‘No, I don’t tend to do that. My friends say I’m a little too honest at times, and with a face like mine, I shouldn’t be.’
I squint one eye at him. ‘A face like yours?’
He nods. ‘Apparently I have a – what’s the phrase? – a resting bitch face. Fran and Jamal have both independently of one another told me I have, and not just a standard resting bitch face, but a Karen-y resting bitch face.’ He sits back in his plastic chair. ‘My return rate for new clients is actually not too great because a lot of people think I hate them before we’ve even exchanged a word.’
‘I thought you hated me!’ I say without thinking. I’m quite taken aback to hear Edward express anything other than total confidence in his professional status.
He cocks his head, looking at me penetratingly. ‘I know.’ He pauses, then adds, ‘I don’t. I never have. I like you a lot.’ He pauses again. ‘And, for the record, I really respect youand your work. I’ve always been in awe of your job. You’ve demystified counselling and made mental health support more accessible. I think you’re pretty incredible.’
I look down at the limp cold fries before me, feeling bad. ‘Sorry.’
‘It’s fine,’ he says neutrally. ‘Let’s blame my stern face.’
I laugh shortly, but the guilt weighs on me. It wasn’t his face’s fault. He has a nice face. It was me, all me. I made assumptions about Edward. Unfair ones.
‘We should get back on the road.’ I clear my throat, and he nods reluctantly.
‘It’s probably a good idea.’ He collects our leftovers, loading up the tray, and turns to find a bin. ‘I’ll text my brother and tell him we’re half an hour away.’ I follow him back to the car, an unsettled feeling creeping through my stomach. I tell myself it’s junk food-related.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
We arrive at Edward’s parents’ house at last and I hover anxiously in the hallway, feeling like an interloper. An interloper with very stiff legs after that journey.
The first responder is still here, and she speaks in low tones with Edward, who nods, an air of authority about him.
‘I’m still confident it’s not serious,’ she’s saying. ‘But of course, we’re going to thoroughly check your mum over. The ambulance should be here any minute now, and we’ll get her to the hospital. They’ll give her a CT to double check, but I really think she’s okay.’ She pats him on the arm kindly as she moves away. I feel Edward sag beside me.
‘I’ll get out of the way,’ I whisper to him, and he turns to me.
‘No, please don’t go,’ he says with urgency, then looks horrified by his vulnerability lapse. ‘I mean, god, ofcourseyou can go, Olivia. Sorry, yes. This must be very weird foryou. Thank you enormously for bringing me here. Go and live your life.’ He smiles. ‘Go scream swear words at a lake.’ He pauses. ‘Pillow optional.’
I shake my head. ‘No, no, I’ll stay, it’s fine! Iwantto stay. I can be here as long as you need me. I have no plans at all.’ I pause, then add seriously, ‘Apart from the lake screaming, of course.’
He gives me a side smile as his brother approaches. ‘Oh Ed, thanks so much for coming,’ he says, throwing himself into Edward’s arms. ‘Did you hear what she said? They’re going to give Mum a CT.’
‘I also heard her say it’s probably just a bad migraine,’ Edward reminds him, and the brother nods.
‘Yeah, I’m sorry, I freaked out. Mum had this awful headache, and her vision went funny. Then she was really sick. She seemed so out of it… I don’t know, I just panicked.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Edward says, and his professional mask is back on. ‘You did the right thing. We’ll get her checked; it’s going to be fine.’ He turns to me. ‘Jake, this is my friend and colleague, Liv, she drove me over. I’ve asked her to stay for a bit.’
Friend? Liv? I thought I’d getclient, orOliviafor sure.
‘Hi, Jake,’ I say shyly.
He grins at me, then frowns. ‘You two are both doctors, right? Do either of you know what a TMI is?’
‘Too much information,’ I supply, and Edward shifts beside me.
