Page 13 of The Ending is the Best Part
‘Hmm, he is a pretty nice guy, right?Exactly my type.I think we’d make a great couple.’
‘I’m sure you would.’ He lets out a humourless laugh.
‘Well, spit it out, it’s clear that there’s something else you want to say.’
‘I dunno, I just thought you’d go for a guy that’s more…’ He pauses as if carefully contemplating his next words.He looks thoughtfully away for a moment, then shakes his head, laughing.‘Arrogant. Someone who can deal with a high-maintenance princess like yourself.’
‘Excuse me?’ I guffaw.
‘You heard me loud and clear.’
‘I am not high maintenance.’
‘The fact that you refuse to speak a word to anyone before having your weird spicy latte speaks for itself.’
‘Firstly, it’s not weird, it’s a deliciously cosy drink, which you would know if you would only accept my offer of making you one!Secondly, yes, I may not be a morning person but that doesn’t make me high maintenance… I just like my sleep, that’s all.’
‘Right.You don’t have to get defensive you know, there’s nothing wrong with being high maintenance.’ Xander lets out a laugh.‘I don’t mind it actually.’
‘Why aren’t you going to Andrew’s party anyway?Surely you want to be there for your best mate?This is a big deal.Moving into a house that you’ve practically built from the ground up is no joke.’
Xander’s eyes dart all over my face, but I’m not too sure what he’s looking for.In the end, he pulls his signature smirk and replies with an infuriating, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’
Chapter Seven
Four Weeks Left
‘Amira, don’t do this to me,’ I beg over the phone.Earlier in the week she had given me her word that she would come to Andrew’s housewarming with me and now she’s backing out.
‘You know I wouldn’t if I had another choice, it’s just that Trent promised he’d stay home and look after the dog but he… you know how he is…’ She releases a sigh.Yeah, a piece of trash is what he is, but every time Maddie or I bring it up it always ends in an argument.Why she stays with him is a mystery to me.He constantly does this, makes promises he can’t keep.He’s always either cancelling plans or never making them.
‘Yeah, don’t worry.It’s fine.I get it, and there’s no way you can leave sweet little Max all by himself!I would never forgive you.’
Max is their eight-year-old adopted golden lab and he is the cutest thing to ever walk this earth.Sorry, actually, that was a lie.In fact, Max is incredibly ugly with one eye too big for the other and paws that are never clean, with his passion for muddy puddles.But I have a soft spot for animals who come from a bad home.Poor Max was just a baby when his previous owners left him for dead after neglecting him for weeks.It was a miracle he survived.
I know that if I hadn’t reassured her she would’ve been racked with guilt, and, as much as I would have loved her to come with me, I can’t do that to my best friend.
‘Thanks, Yara!And have fun.Tell Andrew I said hi.’
‘He’ll love that.Okay, love you!I got to go.’ I quickly wrap up the call.I was supposed to arrive twenty minutes ago but I’m still doing my hair.Sticking on lashes is not my forte and it takes me longer than I expected to try to get them to look even remotely similar.Before I set off, I take a long hard look at myself in the mirror, making sure everything is in place.My pink top contrasts nicely with my dark trousers, smart yet casual.I make sure I have everything, before throwing on a cute trench coat, grabbing the black Prada bag that I guiltily splurged on with my first writer’s pay cheque and which I only take out for special occasions.
The Uber pulls up to Andrew’s house just after eight.I step out and I look around the exterior of his new home.The place looks quite grand but still has an intimate, homely feel to it.As I make my way down the cobbled side street, the chatter of the guests clamouring from the back garden reaches my ears.I make it to the door, holding a state-ofthe-art blender in my hands.Even if I find it dubious how friendly Xander and Andrew are, he’s one of my closest friends at work and there’s no way I was going to skimp out and give him a crappy gift.
I’m trying to balance everything in my hands when I feel my heel get stuck in one of the cobbles and the world goes sideways.I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the fall, because there is no point in me trying to save myself.This happens often enough for me to know that the best course of action is to just let what will be, be.In a surprising turn of events, instead of the cold hard ground I was expecting I’m met with the soft embrace of a… bear?My eyes fly open, only to find something much, much worse.Xander.I internally scream.What is he even doing here?I thought he was supposed to be on a date or something.
‘How many times is that now that I’ve saved you from impending doom?Or rather, the perils of gravity?If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up owing me so much you’re going to go bankrupt.’
I’m about to retort when the front door swings open and I see Andrew’s grinning face.
‘Yara, what time do you call this?I said seven o’clock.Sharp.’ He sounds serious, but I know he’s joking.
‘Oh, behave, otherwise I won’t give you this super amazing gift.’
‘A gift?For me?’ He perks up and puts a theatrical hand to his chest.‘You shouldn’t have.Did I say no gifts?I meant to say no gifts, but maybe I forgot…’
I let out a laugh.His antics never fail to amuse me.
‘I guess you’re forgiven then.’ He hauls me up the front steps and gives me the biggest bear hug known to man.
