Page 27 of Always. Forever.

Within five minutes of walking, we are outside Chimes. After telling them our reservation, we are shown to our seats. It’s not a posh place, by any means, but it’s nice and quiet. I thought we would need somewhere like this for the chat. I also asked when I booked if we could have a particular table that is hidden away at the back of the restaurant. I want Rach to have her privacy, and if she needs to cry, I don’t want her holding it in.

We sit down and immediately pick up the food menu. Food is life, we always say, we look at food and then the drinks. However, I have already checked the menu out online and picked what I am having, because who doesn’t do that? I always scan the menu, though, just to make sure I don’t fancy something else or I missed something.

Rach being my soul sister puts the menu down. “I don’t know why I’m looking like I didn’t pick what I was having three hours ago.”

I throw my head back on a laugh. “Same girl, same! What are you having?”

“I’m going with the Chimes loaded burger and fries. I need all the grease to make me happy.”

“I’m sure we were separated at birth because I’m having that too. Did you see the picture online, it looks insane.”

“The picture is what sold it for me, I didn’t even check to see what was in it.” She laughs.

We laugh while the waiter comes over and asks us what we want to order. Rach tells him we know what drinks and food we want. We always get a bottle of sauvignon when we’re out. It’s our go-to wine.

“So . . .” I say.

“At least let the wine arrive, Ry.” She rolls her eyes, then smirks.

“Okay, okay.” I make small talk while we wait for the wine to arrive, talking about how work has gone this morning. Rach had a virtual meeting with the directors of the corporate company we are doing the year-end for to see if they have all the information we need to do the audits. Of course they didn’t but we expect this every year, you can tell yourself until you’re blue in the face that everything will run on time, everything will be done to deadline, but I can promise you, that never happens.

Our wine arrives and the waiter pours us half a glass, and as he walks off, Rach grabs the bottle out of the ice bucket and tops hers off.

“Erm, am I shit on your shoe?” I raise my eyebrow at her.

“Sorry, I wasn’t sure if you had a lot of work to get back to.” Once she fills my glass to the top, she places the bottle back down and gulps her drink.

I wait patiently, not wanting to push her or stress her out because it’s obvious the whole ordeal has her emotional.

“So, a few months back, I don’t remember what date and time exactly, before you ask.” I smirk, she knows me so well. I’m extra as fuck sometimes, I can’t help it.

“I was working late on that company’s, Braders, accounts. You know the really awkward ones that just weren’t helping us in any way.”

I nod along because, yes, I remember those, they had me up to all hours of the morning, and it didn’t help they were in London either, so the time difference made it worse. Our London office wasn’t able to deal with it as Braders also has American accounts, but their head office is in London.

“Well, I was cursing them, you know when they wind you up so much, you are literally screaming at the computer.” I laugh because this is me at least twice a month.

“Then I heard someone clearing their throat behind me, and Harley was standing at my office door, smirking. He found it funny the amount of shit I was saying and actually thought I was on the phone to a boyfriend or ex. Anyway, I explained to him about the clients and then he was telling me about some awkward ones he had in the past, then offered to help. We have a great team and always offer to help each other, so I was really grateful.

“He worked with me until half past two in the morning. I couldn’t thank him enough, halfway through he even went and got a secret stash he had in his drawer of bourbon. We were sipping that, and the next thing I know, I was lying back on my desk while he was stripping me out of my clothes. Honestly, it’s all a bit broken up. I thought we would just come into the office the next day and forget it happened, but he wasn’t letting it go that easily, and we continued to hook up.

“Now I very stupidly have feelings for him. He says all the right things but then will go two days ignoring me. Oh, and lets also add the way he still flirts with every fucking girl in the office but will have me bent over my desk on his lunch break,” she rushes out, now red in the face through anger and possibly a little embarrassment.

I stare at her for a minute, taking in everything she said.

“Uh-huh. Okay,” I say as I don’t really know what to say.

Her mouth drops. ‘“Uh-huh, okay’ is all you have to say right now, Ry? Really?”

“Shit on a stick, give me a minute to process all this information,” I say while she downs the rest of her glass and then fills it up again. She then waves the waiter down for another bottle.Oh boy.

“Okay, well the fact it’s carried on, it’s not Harley, from what we know. You know he always goes on about that cringy one-night rule. The fact he is playing with you, though, Rach, doesn’t sit right with me. You work together as well, you don’t want this affecting your job. I don’t think I have ever seen this many different emotions with you in one day either.” I purse my lips. If I could ring this boy’s neck, I would, however, Rach is going along with it, what guy would say no? They need their heads banged together, but she is a little fragile, so I won’t word it that way.

“Honestly, Ry—” She sighs. “I don’t ever remember having this many emotions. I’m doing that cringe shit girls do when they check the guy’s Instagram and Facebook to see if they are out and who they’re with, what girls they’re with. That’s not me, and you know it’s not.”

“Girl . . . you need to have a chat with him and tell him what’s what. You either put your feelings clear on a plate for him or you just end things. If he backs away when you admit your feelings, then you know what we already thought. He is a great colleague but a total fuck boy when it comes to women.”

She laughs but at the same time her eyes well with tears. I just want to hug her, but I know when you’re in this moment, hugging makes it so much worse.

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