‘There’s really no need…’ I started, feeling ambushed.
‘Absolutely you can,’ Heidi cut in, talking over me. ‘It’s a small world in PR and always better to stay friends.’
I dragged my feet behind the two of them, trying to think of a good reason to go home. Leo looked heartbreakingly handsome in a charcoal suit and tie, his hair combed into his trademark quiff. I couldn’t sit opposite those silvery-grey eyes and play nice knowing he’d slept with Brooke – and God knows who else – while I’d fallen headfirst for his seduction technique.
Heidi stopped to answer her phone while Leo and I walked into the empty pub. Crammed with antique tables and chairs, the afternoon sun shone through the dust in the air and there was a whiff of freshly sprayed furniture polish.
‘A Guinness and two large vodka tonics please, mate.’
‘Sure. Take a seat and I’ll bring them over,’ the barman said with a nod.
‘Crisps and nuts?’ Leo asked. We were alone, together, for the first time since we’d parted ways at Dover.
I shrugged. ‘Why not?’
He waved a bag of smoky bacon and some honey-roasted cashews at the barman then handed them to me. Which was annoying because that was exactly what I wanted – it was like he’d read my mind. We sat in the bay window, with the sun in our faces, making it difficult to see, and I felt a deep tiredness in my brain and in my bones. I’d given everything to this process.
‘You must be relieved it’s all over,’ Leo said.
‘Relieved to still have a job,’ I said, busying myself with opening out the crisp packet and then the nuts and popping one of each in my mouth. ‘Even though it’s the same job I had before this whole palaver started, so nothing much changes in the grand scheme of things.’ My thumbnail had a small chip in the corner, and I checked the others as I ate my nuts. They needed a fresh coat of polish.
‘You can stop the dismissive “I’m too important to bother with you” act now, Kat. You’ve won. It’s over.’
I smarted at his change in tone. He wasn’t usually the snarky type. That was my job.
‘The what?’ He silently raised his eyebrows in answer. ‘That’s rich coming from the best showman in history. How dare you accusemeof putting on an act.’
Heidi came rushing in. ‘Guys, I’m so sorry but that was Sam on the phone and Penfold has been in a street fight. I’ve got to go and meet them at the vet’s.’
‘Oh no! Poor old Penny in the wars again. He’s making good use of his nine lives,’ I said, standing up to leave. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘Yeah, we can do this another time,’ Leo said as the barman slid our drinks onto the table.
‘No, no. Absolutely not. You’ll have to celebrate for me,’ Heidi said, gathering the pitch boards. ‘I’ll take these in case of any prying eyes. We don’t want to give the game away twice.’
She waved her phone at us in goodbye and dashed off, leaving me exactly where I didn’t want to be – on a pseudo-date with the enemy.
‘You look worried,’ Leo said archly, clearly amused. ‘I won’t bite… unless you ask nicely. But feel free to get a takeaway cup if you can’t bear to sit with me.’
‘I’m worried about Heidi, not you,’ I said, snootily. ‘And… Penfold.’
‘Yeah, right.’ Leo took a long drink of his Guinness and was left with a white moustache. ‘Can we address the elephant in the room here?’
‘If you must,’ I shot back, feeling very self-righteous.
‘What is your problem?’ he said, wide-eyed. ‘You heartlessly led me on, slept with me, waited until I started to catch feelings, then dropped me like a hot potato. No explanation, no communication, barely even any eye contact since we left the cruise. Don’t you think I deserve some kind of apology? Or an explanation at least?’
I drank down the first vodka tonic in a rage. I was almost too angry to speak. ‘How you’ve managed to spin the narrative like that is beyond me,’ I hissed. ‘The scary thing is you seem so genuine. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were telling the truth. That I was the baddie in all this.’
‘Neither of us are baddies, Kat. But you’ve got to admit –
your behaviour has been totally uncalled for.’ His eyes searched mine, seemingly bewildered.
‘You’re a fascinating study, you know. Is this compulsive lying or is it pure schadenfreude? I can’t work out if it’s deliberate or not. You don’t even seem to know you’re doing it.’
‘Doingwhat?’
‘Isawyou, Leo.’ I paused to let him hear the words. To let it sink in that Mr silver-eyed, silver-tongued charm school himself had been caught out. ‘I saw you with my own eyes.’
