Page 15 of Faking It (and falling in love)
The coffee Alex returned with was a distinct improvement on the insipid chicken soup, which Philippa had abandoned at the vending machine. “Thank you. You really didn’t have to, but I appreciate it,” said Philippa.
“You’re welcome. There are very few things duller than sitting in an A&E waiting room. How’s your wrist?” Alex pointed at Philippa’s sling.
“Sore, but bearable. It’s about three times its usual size though, so I suspect something’s gone ping.”
“I think you’re probably right,” said Alex. “So let’s distract you from this place and your giant arm. Tell me about this Gerry bloke.”
“He’s a decent guy,” said Philippa, “and he’s a partner at one of the big finance firms in the city. I’ve been running into him on the corporate circuit for the last few years, and we’ve always got on. His wife’s called Alison. I’ve met her a few times. He reckons he has an opportunity for me. It used to be that if there was something to talk about, he’d invite me and Paul for dinner with him and Alison.”
“Your ex?”
“Yeah. But obviously, things have changed. And now he’s found out I have a new partner, well, he’s invited you, too,” said Philippa.
“Lucky me,” said Alex. “Do I need to say or do anything specifically?”
“Nope. There’ll be a bit of him and me doing business talk. I’m not sure what it is he thinks we can do together, given I’m a family solicitor, but he always has interesting things to say. I think he just wants the four of us to have a nice evening.”
“If it’s in that swanky restaurant, I’m sure we will,” grinned Alex. “We probably need some kind of backstory. How did we meet?”
Philippa had already thought about this. “The truth is always the best option. I think we say we met at a networking event. It’s not a lie, although he doesn’t need to know which one it was. Keep it simple, I’d say.”
“You’re a genius,” said Alex. “I was trying to think of something much more creative, like we met in a bar, and you chatted me up, all confident and bossy.”
Philippa screwed up her eyes momentarily, feeling her stomach clench with a sensation that was not entirely unpleasant. “I think that’s a little far-fetched.”
“How so?”
“Well, I’ve never chatted anyone up in a bar, male or female, and I wouldn’t have the first idea how,” said Philippa.
“Oh, I think you’d be better than you think,” said Alex.
“There speaks an expert,” said Philippa, just as her name was called. “I’ll be back soon, hopefully.”
Chapter Twelve
Philippa’s wrist was badly sprained but not broken, much to her relief, so she didn’t need a cast. She left the hospital with a wrist brace and some heavy duty painkillers.
“I’ll drive you home,” said Alex, leading Philippa to the carpark.
Philippa was grateful not to have to find a taxi. She was exhausted after all the waiting around, the poking and prodding. She was also unexpectedly enjoying having someone look after her. It wasn’t a sensation she was familiar with.
“You’ve been so kind,” said Philippa. She looked across at Alex’s face. She was concentrating on the road, which gave Philippa a chance to appraise her freckles and her row of delicate earrings. She wondered what it might be like to kiss the skin just below Alex’s ear.
“It’s nothing, really,” said Alex, turning briefly towards Philippa, who abruptly turned her own head away.
“It’s not nothing, Alex,” said Philippa. She paused for a moment before speaking again. “You said before that I might be able to help you get back on the straight and narrow. Tell me about that.”
Alex sighed. “I was with someone. For a long time, but it didn’t work out.”
“I’m sorry,” said Philippa, who could tell from the tension in Alex’s jaw that she was still affected by her heartbreak. “It’s always hard to lose someone.”
Alex paused before answering. “Yes. Anyway, over the last couple of years, let’s just say I’ve enjoyed being single and without ties. And obviously there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Of course not.”
“But I know there are a couple of people I’ve hurt along the way, and that wasn’t ok.” Alex’s jaw twitched. “I need to sort myself out a bit.”
“I get it,” said Philippa. “I guess there are always those moments when we need to take stock in our lives. Mine came when Paul and I were watching a film, and he started talking about how attractive the female lead was. And inside, I agreed. The thing that struck me was the fact that I knew instinctively that I shouldn’t say it out loud. I knew then that something had to change.” She looked ahead on the road. “Yes, this one on the left, you can pull into the drive behind my car. Do you want to come in for a cuppa?”
