They stayed another hour. The guys said their goodbyes and headed off to some back-room poker game that Ciar had been invited to. At home, the girls decided to put on pajamas, make popcorn, and settle in the living room to watch the newest episode of Amazing Race UK. The show had to be in its hundredth season.
She had been texting Dagr since she’d gotten in the Uber, and they were still texting. Unfortunately, she’d also had a few strange messages from Justin.
Gray glanced at Bébhinn’s phone when she sighed and read the latest message, where Justin said he’d missed her at the Club’s indoor rock climbing that evening. He also wondered if she had any plans for the weekend.
“You’re going to have to be blunt. No one likes to hurt someone’s feelings, but in this case, where you’ve never encouraged his feelings and he still keeps on, you’re going to have to.”
“Here,” Mags said, holding her hand out, “give me your phone. I’ll do it.” She held up her other hand to stop Bébhinn’s instant protest. “I promise not to hit send until you’ve approved it.” Bébhinn shrugged and handed it over. Thirty seconds later, she heard her phone ping while Mags was texting.
Mags touched Blair’s leg to make sure she was still lip-reading the conversation. “Dagr just texted, by the way, and said his dick got hard during a video conference because he thought about you coming on his tong—argh!” She squealed when Bébhinn snatched her phone back.
“You’re such an asshole, Mags.” Gray practically fell out of her chair laughing, and Blair’s soft chuckles further kicked Bébhinn’s blush up to fire mode. “You’re all assholes, come to think of it.”
Mags threw a handful of popcorn at Bébhinn, still chuckling. “At least read my message to Justin.”
Bébhinn read the message out loud. “‘Hope you guys enjoyed the rock climbing. I saw the pics on Facebook. It looked like everyone had a great time. I’ve been swamped with work, and this weekend my boyfriend and I are going house hunting.’ And then Mags put a house, diamond ring, three hearts, and five aubergine emojis. Christ, I’m at least taking the purple dicks off. The rest isn’t bad though. Thanks.” She pressed send and prayed Justin finally got the hint.
Gray was on her phone again, which she’d been on since they’d started watching the movie. Since voyeurism amongst friends clearly wasn’t out in this group, Bébhinn gave a meaningful glance toward Blair and Mags before leaning into Gray’s side and asking, “So who’ve you been texting, Miss MacGregor?”
Gray flipped her phone over so fast, Bébhinn could have sworn her hair ruffled from the resulting breeze. She, Blair, and Mags all had similar faces of raised brow suspicion as they observed the normally unflusterable Gray become very, very flustered.
Finally, Gray found her voice. “A difficult client.”
The responses were “Hmm,” “Ahh,” and from Mags, “Bullshit.”
Gray stayed silent. Bébhinn took mercy on her, knowing well there were times that the truth wasn’t an option. “No matter, Gray. We all need to keep a few things secret.” She bumped Gray’s shoulder to let her know that she genuinely meant what she’d said. She held up her glass of green tea. “To best friends,” she cheered.
“Best friends,” Mags repeated.
Blair nodded in agreement and held her glass of Diet Pepsi up.
Gray shrugged off her unease and raised her glass of wine. "Cheers."
fifty
THE WATCHER
He kept wafflingon what to do. He heard her tell that man that she loved him. He said it back. However, she had been sleeping alone for two nights now.
It didn’t matter. Not really. She spoke to him on the phone while she lay in bed. She touched herself and let him watch. He tried to pretend she was putting on a show for him, but she kept saying that man’s name. It ruined the moment.
His life was in ruins. His finances were critical. He had no money, debt collectors hounded him every moment of the day and night, and he’d lost the will to try to fix them. He had no way to fix them.
He couldn’t continue this way.
He sat now in the dark and quiet of his apartment, days from being evicted, simply staring at Bébhinn’s empty bedroom and wondering if he could let her go…thinking about all the opportunities he’d let slip away.
His life had shrunk down to one video feed.
He should have been bolder. Braver.
His life was in shambles, and he was to blame. He tried to hate her, but his conscience wouldn’t let him. She had no idea the lengths he’d gone through to make her happy. The hours of studying her videos, learning her habits, her favorite position to sleep in, her favorite colors, and even how she liked men to touch her body. That had been the hardest, but it was still a lesson on how to please her.
Could he wait through another boyfriend? Could he go on hiking excursions with The Ramblers and see her smiling face and know that another man had put it there?
No. He didn’t think he could.
Her bedroom door opened, the light shining through her fabric blinds haloing the dark crown of her head. She looked over her shoulder, and that’s when he realized that she wasn’t alone.
