‘Nothing. We just had a bit of an argument, that’s all.’
‘She seems really upset. And I heard her saying she quit.’
‘She hasn’t,’ Will said. ‘Don’t worry, Mummy and Daddy love each other really.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ Rory grinned. ‘One broken home is enough.’
He went to the fridge, got a beer, cracked it open and sat down opposite Will. ‘What were you fighting about?’ he asked conversationally.
‘Kate.’
Rory raised his eyebrows.
‘Louise is upset that I don’t plan to go haring off to bring Kate back,’ he said.
‘You don’t?’
‘No.’ He had hoped his tone would put an end to the discussion.
But Rory didn’t leave it there. ‘That’s mad!’ he said. ‘Why not?’
‘We won’t be here that much longer, and Maria can cope with the cooking for the last few weeks.’
‘I’m not talking about the fucking food, and you know it.’
‘Really? What are you talking about then?’
‘I’m talking about you and Kate.’ Rory gave him a long, hardlook. ‘You’ve got to go for it, man. Life’s too fucking short. Your old man dying should tell you that.’
‘It’s not that simple,’ Will said irritably.
‘Why not?’
Will sighed. ‘Because it’sKate,’ he said wretchedly. ‘Her family’s practically my family.’
‘Well, happy days!’ Rory said.
‘But what if it didn’t work out? What if it ended badly?’
‘You can’t live your life by what-ifs. Have some balls!’
‘Look who’s talking!’ Will scoffed.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘It means you’re in no position to preach to me. How long have you been in love with Louise and done nothing about it?’
Rory looked cornered, and Will instantly regretted having said anything.
‘Sorry.’ He felt like a shit.
‘Different situation,’ Rory said finally. ‘It’s not mutual.’
Will thought otherwise, and it was on the tip of his tongue to say so, but Rory was obviously so uncomfortable talking about it that he didn’t have the heart to push it.
‘Kate feels the same about you,’ Rory said. ‘I know she does. You’ve got to go for it. What have you got to lose?’
Everything,Will thought. ‘If it didn’t work out, if it did end badly,’ he said hesitantly, ‘I wouldn’t just lose Kate. I’d lose everyone.’
