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“What are you talking about?”
“Your mum. She’s the problem. Because people leave and move on with their lives, but not your mum! She just left and it’s not okay.”
Hugh sat up straighter. “I told her to go.”
“Yeah, but she didn’t call or message … she didn’t come back to check you were okay. You asked her to leave and she left without ever trying to sort things out. That’s not okay.”
A lump rose in Hugh’s throat.
“Sorry,” Damian said, through gritted teeth. “But she’s the one who screwed you over. If you’re freaking out about people leaving you, I’d argue that’s mainly down to her.”
CHAPTER 47
To stop herself from chewing her fingernails, Allie shoved her hands into her pockets.
“How come it feels like my birthday party?” she asked Daisy across the reception desk. “I have that feeling like I’m panicking about whether people are going to turn up or not.”
“Because you’re in lurve,” Daisy said, eyes sparkling delightedly. “And he’s definitely showing up, by the way.”
“This is going to be awkward, isn’t it? I should’ve said no.”
Daisy rested her elbows on the counter. “From what you told me about the phone conversation, I think everything is going to be fine. It’s like you said, he freaked out for a minute. Men are prone to that. You were right to give him some time to consider his options properly.”
“Or I’ve just spent a week torturing myself, when I could’ve been busy getting over him. I’ve probably only delayed the inevitable.”
“I don’t think anything is inevitable. It really seems like a moment of madness on his part.”
Allie pulled her hands from her pockets and rubbed them together as her nerves made her jittery. She tapped the screen of her phone on the counter to activate the display. A growl of frustration escaped.
“Still no word?” Daisy asked.
“No, of course I haven’t heard anything. I think I spent so many years getting exactly what I wanted just by asking for it that I’ve become a little bit presumptuous. Of course there was no way Alasdair King was going to throw me some tickets for his next tour just because I messaged him on social media and reminded him about the time we had drinks together ages ago.”
“You said he was a nice guy,” Daisy pointed out. “I bet he’ll still reply. And he probably has tickets to give away.”
“He’s not gonna message back,” Allie said defeatedly. “Which means I also don’t have a present for Emmy. That looks bad, doesn’t it.?”
“Kind of depends. If she’s your boyfriend’s daughter, then yeah you probably should’ve got her a present. If she’s a kid having a birthday party at the golf course you own, I don’t think a gift is expected.”
“Well, I’d really like to know which of those categories I fall into. Either way, I still think I should’ve got her a gift.”
“In fairness, you did try. It’s the thought that counts.”
“Oh yeah sure, I’ll tell her I tried to get her awesome concert tickets. I didn’t manage it, but she should thank me for the thought?”
“I got her a gift”, Daisy said smugly.
“What? Why? You don’t even know her.”
“It’s only chocolates. From the golf club, really. The receipt’s on your desk.”
The sound of gravel crunching under tyres had Allie swinging around to look out at the car park. “They’re here,” she said while her heart rate skyrocketed. Nausea swept through her as she watched Hugh and four young girls exit the car and cross the car park.
Straightening up, Allie wiped her palms on her trousers and pasted on a smile.
“It’ll be fine.” Daisy gave her a reassuring smile. “Stop stressing, you’re making me nervous.”
Allie didn’t respond but focused on the door, which Hugh had pulled open and was holding for the girls. His jeans and T-shirt combo was simple but stylish, and his lazy smile when he met her gaze had her insides fluttering.
