Page 72 of The Bad Wedding Date

“Jonah’s done that?” she said, her tone and the mention of her best friend making me open my eyes and stare at the floor while she carried on her conversation. “I don’t understand. He never changes shifts. Especially not so last minute.” Charlotte paused. “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him since yesterday. Yeah, okay, sure. I’ll get there early. No, no, it’s fine. I’ll try ringing Jonah and find out what’s going on. Okay, Jean. See you then.”

She ended the call and stared down at her phone.

“Everything okay?”

Her eyes found mine as she rubbed her forehead with her free hand and let out a sigh. “Yeah, but Jonah was meant to be on shift with me tonight, only he’s phoned in and told them he can’t make it.”

“Is he sick?”

Charlotte shrugged. “That’s what they said, but my manager also said he sounded… off.” She shook her head, and her eyes found mine again. “Anyway… that’s Jonah for you. He’s been acting weird lately, dipping in and out of life more and more. I’m sure he’s got a new secret girlfriend he isn’t telling me about.” She wafted a hand through the air before she allowed her irritation to grow. “I’ll check he’s okay later, but I’d better get ready now. They want me there soon.”

I stood quickly, thumbing over my shoulder, trying to ignore the rock-hard problem in my trousers. “I’ll be out in the living room, waiting.”

“Waiting?” She scowled.

“To take you to work.”

“Fraser, you don’t have to do that.”

“Bodyguard duties, remember?”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Don’t act like you’re not loving the attention, Charlotte.” I winked, not missing her dreamy sigh before I left her alone in the bedroom when all I really wanted to do was get back to what we’d just started so I could finish it in a way she’d never forget or call me ridiculous again.

23

Charlotte

The ride to work had been quiet—the silence between us oddly comforting. When it had been time to say goodbye, Fraser had leaned over to kiss my cheek—nothing more—leaving me with a smile I couldn’t tame as I pushed through the security door and stepped into work.

The first person to greet me was my favourite resident Cecile Murphy, who had enough energy in her nineties to put my twenty-four-year-old self to shame. Her bones were frailer now and her movements more rigid than they once were, but that didn’t stop Cecile from tottering around the building with her rounded shoulders to get in everyone’s business. She just did it in a way that made it impossible not to love her.

Cecile walked towards me on fragile legs with her white, curly hair twinkling against the bright ceiling lights. Her crooked finger rose, and she offered me a knowing smile.

“Who was that handsome young man I saw kissing you in the front seat of that car just now, Miss Charlotte? Hmm. Don’t think I missed it. You know I make it my business to watch who comes and goes around here.”

Pulling my lanyard over my head, I tucked it into the front of my uniform. “Now, Cecile, what have we told you about curtain twitching?”

“It’s not my fault my apartment is right next to the car park. I keep asking Jean for an upgrade.”

“Yours is the nicest room in the building, that’s why there’s no upgrade available.”

“Then, it’s not really my fault that I am where I am when certain things happen, is it, Miss Kissy?” She puckered her lips and made kissing noises.

“Oh, stop.” I chuckled.

“You’re not going to tell me who it is?”

“No.” I smiled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to work. I’ll see you in the dining room for supper.”

“Fine.” She huffed as I walked past, my back to her when she called out, “But don’t you be bringing that handsome man in here, or I may have to snatch him right out from under you. Believe it or not, I had every man in this city wrapped around my finger when I was your age.”

“Why do you think I’m not telling you his name, Cecile? I know he’d choose you over me any day,” I called back, not missing her giggle of approval when I disappeared around the corner to the lower ground staff room.

Jonah hadn’t answered any of my calls on the way to work, and my concern for him was growing. He hadn’t been in touch at all today, which wasn’t like him, especially not after something as monumental as my sister’s wedding. Normally, he’d be the first to call and ask for the gossip. A feeling of unease washed over me as I met some of the other carers in the staff room and asked which unit needed me to cover for Jonah until my shift officially started an hour later. After being assigned to the middle floor, I went about my business, checking the medications with another staff member before doing the rounds required of me. Every now and again, I would check my phone for… anything, my worry for Jonah only growing and growing when a text came through an hour later, just as I was about to make my way to the manager’s office to speak to Jean and see if she’d heard anything else.

Unknown Number: Hey. I forgot to give you my number before. Here it is if you need it. Fraser.

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