And yet, I type back:
FINN
Okay.
Then I start the engine and drive back to the guesthouse, fully aware that in a few hours, I’m going to have to perform for the entire village.
“Fantastic. Truly fantastic,” I mutter.
At exactly seven p.m.,I push open the door to the Grumpy Sheep.
The smell of fried food and beer hits me instantly. The pub is half full, which in Glenfield basically means there are fifteen people inside.
Fifteen people who are all going to talk about whatever they see tonight.
No pressure.
Mary is already there, seated at a table in the middle of the room. Not tucked away in some discreet corner. No, she’s planted directly in the center, strategically positioned where everyone can see her.
She waves at me with an easy smile that seems to say,Relax. This is going to be fine.
I am anything but relaxed.
I walk across the pub under a dozen curious stares. Duncan Fraser is there, naturally. Ewan’s behind the bar. And three women I don’t recognize are openly staring at me with undisguised interest from a nearby table.
I sit across from Mary.
“Hey,” she says lightly.
“Hey.”
“You look tense.”
“I’m not tense.”
“Your jaw’s clenched so hard I can practically hear your teeth grinding from here.”
I loosen my jaw.
Mary leans slightly closer and lowers her voice.
“Here’s the plan: we get to know each other in public. Two coworkers-slash-roommates having a drink together. Nothing dramatic. Just be... natural.”
“Natural,” I repeat skeptically.
“Exactly. We talk. We laugh. We look like two normal people enjoying each other’s company.”
“I’m not particularly good at looking like I’m enjoying myself.”
She bites her lip, her eyes sparkling like she’s trying not to laugh.
“I noticed. But you’re going to have to make an effort tonight if you want this to work.”
Ewan approaches our table with a smile that’s slightly too wide.
“Well, well. Look at you two. Didn’t know you knew each other…”
I’m about to answer when a sharp kick to my shin makes me grunt.
