Lost and Found

Chapter - 15

Chapter 15

Amelia fell into Li’s embrace, “you little minx!” She held her best friend at arm’s length before pulling her back in to her arms, “what are you doing here? You told me you couldn’t make it...” Shaking her head she sighed, “I don’t actually care Li, this is becoming the best birthday present ever.”

                “I didn’t know that we could come until the end of the week, but Clay managed to help me find flights, so I thought surprising you would be the best. We’d just landed in JFK when I called earlier, I was dying to see you, but I knew the surprise would be worth it!”

                “How long can you stay?” Amelia asked sliding off her coat then sitting opposite her friend.

                “Till Tuesday...”

                “And you’ve got Monday off!” Clay added, “You almost discovered it yesterday morning, but Marilyn assured me she was discreet!”

Amelia was shaking her head in wonder, “when did you all get so conspiratorial? I can’t believe you pulled this off and I knew nothing!”

They ordered more champagne and various food, then ate and chatted really easily. There were no awkward silences and no stalling topics. Li was so excited to both be in New York and about her imminent book launch. Daichi was a really calm and friendly man, and he seemed to worship Li, and that pleased Amelia more than she imagined. She’d worried about leaving her friend, but now she knew that he was looking after her...taking her place? She shuddered at the thought.

As they finished the meal, Clay suggested a nearby wine bar. Entering the darkened room, he made for the bar with Daichi as the two girls found a booth somewhere in the depths of the bar.

                “He likes you!” Li exclaimed as they sat down.

Amelia snapped her head to look at her friend, “he’s my boss! And he’s a kind man.”

                “That’s it?” Li’s face was incredulous, and Amelia could see she didn’t believe her.

                “That’s it. I like him a lot Li, he’s been a friend to me, I’ve found it hard being here, and he’s been a rock for me. But that honestly is as far as it goes.” She twiddled her thumbs awkwardly as she tried to decide how much she told her friend. Now that the deal was done, would it matter that she knew about Sol? Or would that knowledge still jeopardise things in the future?

The decision was taken out of her hands by the men returning with beer for themselves and Cosmos for the girls. Slipping into the booth next to her, Clay’s thigh pressed up against hers, and she was suddenly very aware of the contact, in the past he’d held her hand, put an arm around her shoulder, there’d been an abundance of physical contact, on so many occasions, but now after the events of the day, she knew she was now thinking of things in a different way. Did she like him? Until now she couldn’t get past her ties to Sol, did this mean she was finally passed him? Finally she could move on? She’d avoided the chance of any intimate situation up until now as she couldn’t imagine getting involved in a relationship that she wasn’t devoted to, and whilst the ghost of Sol flitted so realistically around her life, there’d been no room for anyone else. That’s why she’d ‘dated’ Cole, it was safe, and didn’t risk anything. But Clay? It could be the best thing in the World, but it could also ruin everything, be her downfall.  If Amelia was one thing, it was careful, cautious, but as she watched Clay laughing animatedly, enjoying her friends, a little tug deep in her chest told her that she may be considering throwing that caution to the wind.