“Fucking hell”, Nina remarked, sipping her hot chocolate with relish, letting the warm mug heat up her freezing hands. Her eyes were wide as she took in what Eilidh had just relayed.
“I know”, Eilidh agreed, sighing and lifting her own mug. “It’s nuts. I have no idea what to do”.
Nina nodded thoughtfully.
The two girls were in Tinderbox, a cosy and adorable coffee shop in Glasgow, three days since the night in Hillhead Bookclub.
Eilidh’s preoccupation with Rudy’s absence that night and every other night since had worried her enough to call in her best friend for some advice on the subject. It was easy to forget when Harry was with her, but he had flown back down to London the night before, leaving her with far too much free time to think.
“Its not… that surprising though”, Nina broached hesitantly, making Eilidh’s eyes widen.
“Don’t tell me you knew about this!”, she exclaimed, sitting back on her chair and adjusting her beanie so it covered her eyes as she groaned.
Nina giggled, and threw her mittens at Eilidh. “Don’t be so dramatic”, she chided. “Course I didn’t know. I’m just saying it’s not that much of a surprise”.
Eilidh lifted her beanie to peek out at Eilidh. “ How can this not be a surprise?”
Nina shook her head and sat back in her seat, still nursing her mug of warm, sweet liquid. “Eil, he has been in your life since you and Al were little. He has watched you grow up, as the older, hot sister. I mean…”, Nina spread out her arms to emphasize her point. “It’s not unheard of”.
Eilidh sighed, and leaned her elbows on the table between them. “I just feel bad”, she muttered, pulling the sleeves of her woolly jumper over her hands. “When I think of all the things he’s listened to me harp on about…”, Eilidh’s cheeks flamed when she thought about it. “About Fraser, about Harry…”, she groaned in embarrassment, berating herself for not reading the signs, for probably seeming so heartless.
Nina watched her with sympathy. “You can’t beat yourself up about this, Eil. You weren’t to know. Look, we all know Rudy. He’s the sweetest, nicest guy in the world. He’s not gonna be sitting in his house hating you. He’s probably more embarrassed than you are. Go round there, talk to him. Make it so we can all move on and be friends again”.
Eilidh couldn’t help but grin at her friend. Right now she had a tiny crease between her eyes and her blue eyes were troubled at the thought of conflict. “Such a huppie”, Eilidh teased her. “You just love everyone to get along don’t you?”.
Nina giggled. “Shut up”.
Eilidh eyes her fondly, knowing how lucky she was to have someone so sweet at her brothers side. Apart from the occasional embrace, they both acted the same towards one another in front of Eilidh, both of them as sweet and tender and considerate to each other as they always had been. It made Eilidh shake her head for not realising, not noticing beforehand how perfect they were for each other. Alex had never been happier, that was clear to see, he was even more amiable than usual, and Eilidh even noticed that he deflected suggestive comments and flirting from the girls in the salon when he came in to visit. And Nina…. Nina glowed. She had gained a little healthy weight, and her eyes shone, not to mention the smile that never seemed to be off her face. She even seemed to be more relaxed about uni than usual, something that used to stress her out greatly.
Taking up her chocolate again, Eilidh sipped at it, letting it slide down her throat like molten gold. She couldn’t help but grin when she saw her phone light up with a text from Harry, just a short one telling her he loved her.
