Page 123 of So, I Met This Guy . . .

Bare-faced, her hair pulled into a ponytail, and without her signature eyeliner, Flick looked much younger than her years and Maggie felt a sudden maternal protectiveness.

‘I didn’t feel like a good person for a long time either,’ she told Flick. ‘After everything that happened, losing the business, my home, my fiancé, my mind . . . I felt so stupid and so ashamed. I hated myself. I didn’t know what to think or who to trust – I was just so lost. And then I met you.’

Maggie’s eyes welled as she cast her mind back to the person she was less than two weeks ago.

‘And you made me feel like me again . . . Driving the car was like getting back behind the wheel of my life . . . it got me out of my head, gave me some control, a purpose, some fun.’ She smiled, remembering all the laughter they’d shared, laughter she hadn’t been expecting. ‘You brought me back to life, gave me myself back, you listened, let me tell my story.’

‘That’s my job as a journalist.’

‘That’s not your job, Flick – it’s who you are. People talk to you because they like you. Because you understand, you’re empathetic, you’re kind.’

‘I wasn’t very kind to Rory.’

‘Yes, you were. You stopped him sleepwalking into a marriage, saved him from spending years with someone that wasn’t the right person, from you both being unhappy. You had the courage to speak up, to listen to your gut. It means you’re both free to be with the right person. Believe you me, many husbands and wives would wish their partners had been so honest.’

Flick turned to look at the waves crashing against the hull of the boat.

‘Trust me, I should know. I got married in my twenties and it was a disaster, both of us knew from the start but we just did it anyway. It was short-lived, thankfully. We didn’t waste years of our lives, but we did waste a lot of money on a stupid wedding and a dress that made me look like Princess Leia—’

‘Wait. On purpose?’

‘The groom was a huge fan. I even wore my hair in two buns on the side of my head.’

As she cringed at the memory, Flick started laughing.

‘Please tell me you have photos.’

‘Nope, all evidence has been destroyed.’ Maggie shook her head. ‘See. Look what you’ve avoided.’

Flick gave a small smile, then sighed. ‘I’m just so confused about everything.’

‘That’s OK.’ Maggie shrugged. ‘Truly, most people are confused about most things most of the time.’

Flick looked at Maggie. ‘Why are you being so nice to me? You should be angry.’

‘I am, but not with you.’

‘But I’ve lied to you this whole time.’

‘You haven’t lied, you just haven’t been completely truthful and I think we’ve both been guilty of that.’

They looked at each other, both wondering how they got there, both realizing they didn’t want to be anywhere else.

‘So what are we going to do when we get to Valencia?’

‘Meet George and celebrate my birthday.’ Maggie smiled ruefully.

‘Oh God, of course – happy birthday! I’m sorry, what with everything, I totally forgot.’

‘Lucky you, I’m trying hard to forget. I can’t believe I’m fifty.’

‘I can’t believe I got wasted and slept with one of my girlfriends.’

‘I can’t believe I slept with your dad.’

It just came out.

‘Shit, I didn’t mean—’ Mortified, Maggie cursed at her crassness. ‘Honestly, me and my big mouth.’