Page 104 of Fling

Claire: Hi Jack, I know you probably hate me and you might not even see this message. But I want you to know how sorry I am for standing you up again

I don’t deserve a third chance, I know that

But I’ll be at Dún Laoghaire Harbour tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Halfway down the West Pier, there’s a quiet walkway

I know there’s probably no chance you’ll show up. But I’ll be there, Jack

I promise I’ll be there x

Chapter 36

‘You said we were going to a bar,’ Emily sighed as she and Tara were getting pedicures in Oscar’s Hair and Nail Salon.

‘Technically, I didn’t lie. It’s a nail bar,’ Tara said, knowing well she had misled her.

‘Well, I’d rather be getting hammered.’

‘Emily, it’s Sunday morning.’

‘Exactly. Have you never heard of bottomless brunch?’

‘Come on, I need you here for moral support. I want to look perfect for Jack from head to toe. And Suzanne here gives the best mani–pedi in Dublin,’ Tara said to Suzanne, who was currently working miracles on her feet.

‘Aw, thanks, hun,’ Suzanne said, smiling up at her.

‘So let me get this straight. You’re here getting all done up to meet Jack at Dún Laoghaire Harbour even though he didn’t respond to your messages and you have no idea if he’ll even show up?’ Emily asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Jesus, that is some next level Gemini shit,’ Emily laughed.

‘Oh come on, Emily, you’re telling me you’ve never gone somewhere on the off-chance a man would be there?’

‘Hmm . . . touché,’ Emily said. ‘Still, I hope you don’t put all this effort in for Jack, just for him to stand you up.’

‘I’m not doing it for Jack, I’m doing it for me,’ Tara explained. ‘I need to feel like myself again. And if he doesn’t appear, then I’ll know it wasn’t meant to be and I can move on with my life.’

‘Fair enough,’ Emily said, looking back down at her phone.

‘How many views does the video have now?’ Tara asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

‘Do you really want to know?’

‘Well, I need to know how many people in the country are laughing at me.’

‘One point two million.’

‘WHAT?’ Tara said, accidentally walloping Suzanne in the face with a kick. ‘OH MY GOD, I’M SO SORRY, SUZANNE!’

‘Jesus, Tara, I thought it was your husband who was going around knocking people’s blocks off. Not you,’ Suzanne said playfully.

‘Oh God, you’ve seen the video too?’ Tara said mortified.

‘Your reaction to the punch is even funnier than the punch itself. Look,’ Emily said, showing her screen.

On Emily’s phone, Tara could see a close-up of her reaction at the moment Colin punched Dick Mulligan. It was the most unflattering photo that Tara had ever seen of herself. It was an image of pure shock caught on camera. People online were making memes by adding different captions to the image of Tara’s face. One read, ‘When you realize you left the immersion on.’ Another read, ‘When you stub your toe on the corner of the bed.’

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