Page 23 of The Breakup Bookshop

We take our drinks over to a table in the corner.

‘I take it you haven’t been out much recently? Since everything happened with your husband?’ I whisper, aware that Eilidh probably doesn’t want her business becoming everyone else’s business. I know word travels fast around here.

‘Way before all that,’ Eilidh explains. ‘Mark wasn’t a big fan of the local pubs. He wasn’t a big fan of Ullapool in general, if I’m honest. He’s a property developer, all about business, making money, doing deals. There wasn’t enough of a buzz around here for that kind of thing.’

She sighs.

‘I chased the big deals, the promotions and the money in London for a while,’ I confess. ‘It didn’t bring me any more happiness. As soon as it was all gone, it was like the fog lifted and I could actually see that. I bet he’ll regret it one day.’

‘I don’t think his enlightenment is coming any time soon. He regrets the time hedidspend here,’ she says, shaking her head. ‘He kept pushing me to move to a city, but I wanted the boys to grow up surrounded by nature and greenery, like I did, rather than smack bang in the middle of a concrete city, you know?’

‘More fool him. He’s missing out on more than just a lovely place to live, that’s for sure,’ I say, as I tap my glass against hers. ‘Anyway, cheers. To new beginnings.’

‘To new beginnings,’ she repeats, with a half-hearted attempt at a smile. ‘Oh my God, is that Rory MacGregor I see over there?’

Ah, shit. It’s bad enough that Rory and I have to share a wall every day, never mind sharing the pub in our free time. At least I can say that Rory’s true to his word: earlier today he did come round to fix the hole, though he barely uttered a word while he did. I consider hiding under the table, but Eilidh looks so excited to see him. Of course she does. He is Mr Bloody Popularity, isn’t he? Now I’ve got to explain to her why he hates my guts. Not that I’m 100 per cent clear on that.

I glance over and, sure enough, Rory is sitting there beside the roaring fire, sipping a pint across from Finlay the dog walker. One of the pups has taken up residency on the carpet under the table at their feet. I hope Eilidh isn’t about to—

‘Rory!’ She stands up and starts waving her hand in the air as I slide down in my seat.

Double shit.

Rory turns around to face us, smiling as he sees Eilidh. His expression quickly clouds in confusion when he spots me sitting across from her.

‘Eilidh,’ he calls, moving towards us. ‘Where have you been hiding?’

Rory envelops Eilidh in a friendly hug. I frown. Who is this cheery village creature that everyone seems to love and why does he disappear around me?

‘Ah, you know, the kids, the husband, all that stuff,’ Eilidh says, her eyes still sparkling at him. ‘Why don’t you come and join us?’

Rory glances down at me, as I sip my gin and tonic. It tastes exceptionally bitter. Fitting. ‘Ava,’ he nods towards me, acknowledging my presence like a state official.

‘Rory,’ I nod, tight-lipped, in return.

Curt. Polite. We can be civil towards each other, just for one evening. Can’t we? Maybe it is time to have a day off hating each other.

‘Ah, you two know each other already!’ Eilidh beams. ‘I was just about to say that you must be work neighbours. Rory’s my cousin, Ava. Well, not really. Our mums were best friends growing up, so we called each other cousins. You know how it is.’

I nod although I don’t know how it is. I had no cousins growing up, never mind pretend ones.

Eilidh beams at us both like we are one big happy family. Does everyone love Rory MacGregor, apart from me? And does he love everyoneexceptme? Every time I make a friend, he seems to be waiting in the wings to swoop in and claim them. He is always there first. It is getting beyond annoying. Now, Eilidh’s inviting him to sit with us, and he looks to be considering it. Bloody hell.

‘Where’s Mark?’ Rory asks, looking around the pub.

‘He’s… we’ve… He won’t be coming tonight,’ Eilidh stutters, before finding her words. ‘Anyway, sit down! Join us. Ava doesn’t mind, do you, Ava?’

I bloody well do mind.

‘Of course not.’ I smile sweetly, aware that I want to keep the new friend I have made. And what is it they say? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. ‘You’ll need to invite Finlay over too, though. We can’t leave him all on his ownsome.’

As a dog lover, I already rate Finlay. I decide then and there to make it my mission to get him on my side. That way, I can get in first before Rory infects him with his tales about me, the big-city girl who’ll be gone before everyone knows it. Despite Eilidh’s lifelong friendship with Rory, to the point that they consider themselves practically related, Eilidh and I also definitely have strong friendship potential. I still have time to salvage this situation and show everyone that I am a nice, civil person.

Finlay, with his pale skin, cheeky expression and short red hair, has a look of Prince Harry on country vacation. He’s almost as tall as Rory and about the same age. As we wave him over, he brings a German Shepherd to sit beneath our table.

‘Nice to meet you, Finlay,’ I say. ‘Donna, my friend from the hairdresser’s, mentioned you.’

He splutters his pint. ‘God, sorry,’ he says, wiping his mouth. ‘That went down the wrong way. You know Donna? She was in the same year at school as me and Rory.’