Page 84 of Quiet Longing

“Thank you,” I said once he was back in the car and had started the engine. “It’s very kind of you to offer to drive me, but you really don’t have to take me every Friday. You might like to be alone some weeks, and—

“Charli,” he cut me off. “I insist. I like having company on my drives, okay? Now, quit being so awkward about it.” This last part, he said gruffly like he didn’t appreciate me acting as thoughwe were some kind of strangers or brand new acquaintances who had to be all polite and stiff with each other. I understood his annoyance since there was a time when I felt like I’d known him deep down to the depths of his soul. But that had been so long ago, and now … well, now, I still felt like I knew him, but we’d both changed in different ways. It was impossible to just act like no time had passed.

Silently, I nodded, unable to come up with a solid argument against accepting his offer. It wasn’t like I could say the idea of being confined in a car with him every week, close enough to touch, gave me butterflies I hadn’t felt in a long time. I didn’t think I was still capable of feeling such things. I thought Jesse had killed it all. But he hadn’t. It was yet another small victory, and with that realisation, I smiled faintly to myself.

“Good day at the office?” Rhys asked, noticing my smile.

“What? Oh, yes, it was good. A good first week though I still have a bunch of tax forms to submit, and the revenue office only opens from nine to five on weekdays. It’s so inconvenient because I work during those hours. I’m going to have to try and get away during my lunch break on Monday—”

“I can take you,” Rhys offered, cutting me off mid-complaint.

I blinked. “Really? I don’t want to be a bother. Besides, I can easily take a cab.”

“No need. I’m happy to do it. I know where the office is, and I can have you back at the hotel before the end of your lunch break. If you take a cab, you might end up having to wait for one to become available to bring you back.”

That was right. Dublin still mostly ran on an old school cab system. Uber and Lyft weren’t as prevalent yet.

“Well, all right, then. I accept. Thank you.”

Rhys smiled faintly. “No worries.”

We drove in silence for a few minutes, and my gaze drifted over the passing city before my thoughts returned to Maeve’srequest. I remembered Nuala’s comment about suspecting Stephanie had done something to make Rhys break up with her, about her possibly pressuring him to start his own business. It reminded me all too much of the pressures Jesse had put on me to do the thingshe’denvisioned rather than allowing me to decide for myself. Not that I thought Rhys’ relationship with Stephanie was anything close to my marriage. That was an extreme example. But there were other, more subtle versions of manipulation and control between partners.

And it did seem like Rhys had been the one to call things off since Stephanie was depressed and missing him. Going behind his back to ask Nuala if she’d consider speaking to Stephanie felt a little wrong, not to mention unfair to Rhys, considering I didn’t know what transpired between them. I decided I should mention it to him and see how he felt. Nuala, Tristan, and Derek were his friends first and foremost, after all.

“So,” I said, reaching forward to turn down the volume on the radio, which had been tuned to a classic rock station. Rhys cast me a quick, speculative glance before focusing back on the road. “Maeve found out Nuala and I are cousins.”

A slight frown pulled at his lips. “Is that a problem? You sound worried.”

“Oh, it isn’t a problem for me. It’s just—you know how she and your ex-fiancée are close?”

“I’m aware of that, yes.”

“She mentioned how Stephanie is depressed about losing Nuala, Derek, and Tristan as friends since you guys broke up. Maeve asked if I’d speak to Nuala about possibly reaching out to Stephanie, but I wanted to run it by you first.”

When he didn’t immediately respond, I blew out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I really don’t want to be in this position, but she just laid it on me today in the office, and I don’t know her very well yet, so I didn’t feel comfortable saying no. However, if you’d prefer Ikeep out of it, I will. I hate meddlers, and I certainly don’t want to become one.”

Rhys’ frown intensified. “Why would you feel uncomfortable saying no?”

Huh? That was an odd part to focus on. “Well, I guess we’re new colleagues, and I don’t want her to dislike me.” I gave a self-conscious laugh. “I’m a bit of a people pleaser.”

“You shouldn’t say yes to anything that makes you uncomfortable, Charli, even if people might not like you for it. You need to set firm boundaries.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t just started a brand new job, one you got because your uncle owns the hotel. I’d rather not make my coworkers think I’m a bitch who only got the gig through nepotism.” So, I wasa littledefensive, but he’d touched a nerve. My inability to stand up for myself and set boundaries was half the reason I’d spent the last decade and a half in the marriage from hell.

Rhys exhaled, his features softening. “I’ve upset you. I’m sorry. I just …” He trailed off a moment, and I practically held my breath waiting for him to finish. “You used to be so confident.”

“I was?”

Rhys nodded. “When we were teenagers, you didn’t let people get away with any kind of bullshit. I remember this one time I was ogling your chest like a typical nineteen-year-old horn dog, and you immediately called me out for it. I was so impressed by that.” He chuckled fondly.

The memory hit me like a sledgehammer. The carefree, teasing, easy-going girl I’d been. I’d carried the weight of my father’s passing, but that was nothing compared to the weight I carried presently.

“I just enjoyed embarrassing you,” I said, my voice low. “But I know what you’re trying to say, Rhys. I’m aware I’ve changed.Life has been … it’s had its challenges. But I’m working on myself. Baby steps.”

I stared straight ahead, hands sweaty in my lap, aware of his attention on my profile. A prolonged silence fell before Rhys finally said, “Just don’t let the likes of Maeve push you around. As far as I can recall, you’re the head accountant. She answers to you. Don’t be afraid to remind her of that.”

I let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh. “I’ll try, no promises.” I paused before continuing, “So, about the whole speaking to Nuala thing?”

---