“So, this is me,” I said as I stood there, keys in hand. “I mean, I know it’s nothing to write home about, but it does get me from A to B.” I slipped the keys into the door and opened it. The car smelt a bit stale and musty since it hadn’t been driven in over a week.
“So, I guess this is . . . goodbye,” he suddenly said.
I looked up at him and, for some reason, I felt sad.
“No more lift club then?” he said, but it sounded like a question, not a statement.
“Well, unless she breaks down,” I said.
“Oh?” He seemed to perk up. “Does she break down often?”
I shook my head. “No, despite her looks, she’s very reliable.”
“Ahhh.” He nodded, looking somewhat disappointed. “Can’t judge a book by its cover, so they say.”
“So they say.” I climbed into my car.
Ryan took a step closer and put his hand on the open door.
“Okay. Right then,” he said awkwardly. “So, I’ll see you on Monday afternoon in the office.”
“Afternoon?” I asked.
“I have a site meeting in the morning, I’ll only be back later.” He said that strangely.
“Okay,” I replied. And then it dawned on me, I wouldn’t see him for another forty-eight hours. “I’ll see you then.” I pulled the door towards me and he stopped it.
“Enjoy tonight.” He bent down and looked at me.
His eyes met mine and I suddenly forgot myself.
“What’s happening tonight again?” I asked.
“Pay day drinks.”
“Oh. Yes. That. Thanks, I will.”
“Drive carefully,” he said.
“I will.” I nodded at him. “Definitely.”
“And make sure you lock your apartment doors tonight.”
I smiled at him, he was so obsessed with my one pathetic lock. It probably bothered him that my household security wasn’t done properly, or done to his standards. “I’ll lock the door. I always do.”
“Good.” He nodded. “See you on Monday then.” He closed my car door gently.
I looked at him through the window and gave him a little wave before I started the car. He waved back, put his hands in his pockets and then smiled at me. I reversed out of the parking spot but paused before driving away. I looked at him in my rear-view mirror. Why did this feel so hard? And sad?
I gave him a final wave and drove away.
CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE
Poppy
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone out for drinks with friends. Not that they were my friends yet, but it was nice. We found ourselves at some trendy bar in Camps Bay that was way too fancy and cool for the likes of us. We’d taken a table at the back of the bar and the first round of shooters had already been ordered and downed. I was introduced to some of the other staff. They all felt sorry for me, and offered me their “deepest condolences”—apparently being Ryan’s assistant was the least coveted job in the building. Extra drinks were bought for me because I “probably needed them more than anyone else.” Everyone seemed very close.
“Working in a war zone really brings people together,” Ayanda said.
