Finn hadn’t moved. Although he had flinched when I’d poked him, which gave me some satisfaction.
‘Here.’ He passed me a beautifully pressed Egyptian cotton handkerchief. I snatched it from his hand with far less grace than I should have done and tried to mop my tears as delicately as I could.
‘Thank you,’ I said, with as much gratitude as if he’d just handed me a full doggy poo bag. ‘It took Colette ages to make me look like this and you turning up has ruined it.’
‘Sorry.’
I flicked a glance up. At least he had the sense to look remorseful.
‘But it’s not ruined and you still look beautiful if that helps?’
‘No! It doesn’t bloody help! Not in the slightest. And you don’t get to say that to me any more.’
‘Sorry. You do though.’
I glared up at him, my vision less blurry now the tears had stopped. ‘Thank you.’ This time my words were a little more dignified. ‘But you still haven’t told me what you’re doing here.’
‘I came to see you.’
I gave a head tilt.
‘Greg told me he was going to propose tonight and I’m afraid I shamefully used that as an excuse to be here.’
‘You didn’t need an excuse. I sent the invites myself so I know you were on the guest list. Inis insisted on it although I never expected you to accept.’
‘It was an opportunity to see you.’
‘Well.’ I cleared my throat and took a step back. ‘You’ve seen me now so I’d better get back to—’
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, reaching for my hand and folding it within both of his own as he once more closed the gap between us. ‘For everything you said. For all that and more. I’ve never ever walked out on a job before—’
I snatched my hand away. ‘That’s the bit you’re most sorry about?’ I yelled at him, all pretension of composure now gone. ‘The bloody job? You know what, Finn? Never mind any of what I said because you’ve well and truly shown your true colours now. What the hell was I thinking falling in love with you? But you can rest assured thatthatwill never happen again so next time we meet, which unfortunately we will due to the fact that our respective best friends just got engaged, it will be purely as acquaintances. You’ve no need to worry that there will be anyrepeat of the ridiculous behaviour I showed tonight. Enjoy the exhibition.’
Head held high, I turned away from him, every fibre of my being engaged in trying to hold it together until I could get home, which was the only place I wanted to be right now.
Finn’s long stride covered the ground quicker than I could in the heels Colette had talked me into buying and his bulk was now in front of the doorway. Bloody shoes!
‘Would you mind moving please?’
‘Yes. I would. Very much so.’
‘OK. I was being polite. I don’t actually give a shit if you mind or not. Bloody well move.’
‘Not until you listen to me.’
I huffed out a humourless laugh. ‘I think I’ve heard all I need to hear from you to last me a lifetime.’
‘Tough,’ he fired back, ‘because I have something else to say.’ I opened my mouth to parry with a smart-arse remark but he beat me to it. ‘You’re right. I made a bloody hash of that apology.’
I folded my arms, my expression still firmly set to ‘annoyed’.
‘And of course the job isn’t the main thing I’m sorry about! Are you nuts?’
‘Wow, thanks. Compliments too.’
He tipped his head back and looked up at the sky that, had it not been smothered with the city’s light pollution would have twinkled with a million stars. After a small headshake, he focused his gaze back on me.
‘None of this is going how I planned it.’
