CHAPTER38
‘Tara, my love, you can’t drive, you’ve had too much to drink!’ Beth yelled as she hobbled behind a rather irate redhead looking for her car keys.
‘Then I’ll phone an Uber!’ she insisted. ‘I’ll flag someone down, Christ, I’ll walk if I have to, I don’t care. I need to see him.’
Beth did her best to calm Tara down, but it was pointless. She was determined to have it out with Aiden. Face to face, or possibly fist to jaw, Beth wasn’t exactly sure what Tara was planning. She watched her friend throw on a coat which didn’t belong to her, but Beth thought it best not to mention that.
‘Why don’t you just sleep on it?’ Erin suggested. ‘Talk to him in the morning, yeah? You never know, you might feel—’
‘I’ll feel just as pissed as I am right now,’ Tara responded. ‘Only he might have checked out by then. It has to be now.’
‘Fine, I’ll take you,’ Beth conceded, realising that Tara would hijack a passing horse to get where she needed to be.
‘You sure?’ Pete asked quietly.
She kissed his cheek. ‘I’ve only had the one drink; I’ll be alright to drive, lovely.’
‘Perfect,’ Tara replied. ‘He’s staying at the hotel on the beachfront. I’ve googled it. Let’s go.’
Any plans to talk Tara out of her imminent confrontation were short-lived, as the moment they pulled up outside the hotel, Tara shot out of the car like a greyhound out of a trap. Beth could swear she saw dust trails. She immediately called Erin from her car.
‘We’re here. She has just gone in. Front desk might turn her away, she does look a bit mad. She’s wearing Paul’s waterproof jacket and a pair of flip-flops.’
‘God help Aiden,’ Erin replied. ‘He’ll be lucky to come out of this with his balls intact. I still can’t believe this is happening.’
‘Look, I’ll wait here for her,’ Beth insisted. ‘If the Guards are called, she might need a quick getaway. Or to be bailed out.’
She heard Erin’s soft laugh down the receiver. ‘Seems fair.’
‘How’s Alex?’ Beth asked. ‘That was quite the smack.’
‘Tearful,’ Erin replied. ‘Sore. I’ve given her a cold cloth for her face. What a mess. Keep in touch.’
As she hung up the phone, Beth put her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. Just for a moment. She might have been exhausted but that would have to wait. For this first time in a long time, she felt needed. She felt valuable. She wasn’t giving that up for anything.
* * *
‘Hi, Aiden Smith’s room number, please. In my rush to get over, I’ve completely forgotten it.’
The desk clerk looked up from his screen and smiled politely at this somewhat unhinged-looking woman in front of him.
‘Sorry, madam, but we can’t give out that information. I could ring his room for you. Let him know you’re here.’
‘Sure. Tell him Alex is in reception.’
She watched as the ruddy-faced man made the call. A few seconds later he hung up the receiver.
‘Room 31,’ he replied. ‘Mr Smith says just to go on up.’
Tara wished she could have taken a photo of Aiden’s face as he answered the door. She’d never seen someone switch from excitement to confusion to horrified so quickly.
‘Tara?’
‘Surprise!’ she said, flatly barging past Aiden. ‘Thought I’d just pop by. See how you’re settling in.’ The hotel room was impressive. Fresh white walls, a large king-size bed and a stunning sea view.
‘Jesus, nice digs,’ she said, peering out of the large windows. ‘If I’d known you could afford this, I’d have stayed here instead.’
He closed the door behind her. ‘Tara, what are you doing here?’
