2016

Heading to Glasgow on impulse the way I had hadn't been the most practical of ideas for other reasons too. I hadn't even brought a toothbrush. Or contact lens cleaner. And I was meant to be working at ten am the next day. I really had not thought all of that through.

Luckily I'd only had two small wines at Marie's. My mum had a small collection of extra toiletries which meant I could acquire a toothbrush relatively easily. And thankfully I kept a spare pair of glasses in the glove compartment of my car, as I'd had no choice but to bin my lenses before going to bed.

As I left the house at 6am, I prayed Iona wouldn't already be up and about. It had been awkward enough last night after she'd unexpectedly agreed to take the job. She'd made her excuses and headed to bed pretty quickly after we'd made awkward eye contact for what felt like the seven hundredth time in twenty minutes.

I somehow made it back to the hotel for shortly before ten, just enough time to shower, change and insert a new pair of lenses before I started work. As I left the accommodation block, I realised that the only spare room in there was right next door to me, and I was tortured anew at the thought of having Iona on the other side of the wall from me.

Again, I cursed my stupidity. And hoped she would change her mind about taking the job.

No such luck. At around midday, my phone vibrated with a WhatsApp message. We'd exchanged phone numbers last night. I'd tried to ignore the tiny seed of delight inside, jumping for joy that I now had Iona Stewart's phone number. It was pretty bittersweet.

Hey. Spoke to my agency. The job I'm currently doing ends next Friday. Is it okay to start after that? Iona.

Well, I could hardly say no. Plus that meant Alice could train her for a week before she finished up, and I could avoid her as much as possible until after that.

Yes, that's fine. If you come up next Saturday, and start on the Monday that will give you a day or two to get acclimatised. Will you be driving or taking the train? Ryan.

I sounded ridiculously formal. It made me cringe.

Train. I gave up my car when I got made redundant.

But her messages were brief and to the point anyway. It's not like she was giving me anything to work with.

I told her to book a train ticket and we'd reimburse her for it, and we'd sort out a lift from the station nearer the time. If necessary, I'd book her a taxi. It would cost an arm and a leg but at least it would mean I wouldn't be trapped in a car with her.

"Who are you texting?" Alice asked me. She was insufferably nosy at times. Although she liked to say that was part of her charm.

"Just your replacement. Told you I'd find one," I replied lightly. I knew my voice sounded . . . Wrong. And the way Alice was looking at me confirmed it.

"That was fast." She raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, well." I scratched my chin awkwardly. "I ended up going back to Glasgow yesterday and ran into an . . . Old friend. Iona. She's very experienced and just happened to be available."

Alice's lips pinched together. "You've never mentioned this girl before," she observed. "What aren't you telling me?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. We just hadn't spoken in years. There was no reason to mention her before now."

"Hmmm. So will I like her?" she asked, choosing to leave the other point behind for now, and get straight onto the next one. "Since I'm assuming I'm going to have to train her?"

I laughed, glad the interrogation was over. "You'll like her." I was pretty certain Alice and Iona would get on amazingly.

"Fab. Then we're all happy." Alice clapped her hands together, and got back to work. I neglected to dwell on the fact that I was not happy.

This was going to be a fucking disaster.

In my head, I was counting down the days. Not the way a kid calculates how many sleeps until Santa; this was more like the countdown to a bomb detonating. Worrying whether I'd be caught in the crossfire and, if I survived the initial explosion, how I'd cope with the aftermath.

Before I knew it, it was the day before Detonation Day. And I hadn't sorted out someone to pick up the bomb from the station yet.

I was going to have to get her myself . . . Or ask Angus to do it.

Angus had been working in the hotel for about a month now and was very popular . . . With staff and guests alike. I didn't really want to send him for Iona, but surely it would be better than having to try to make awkward conversation with her myself?

"Angus?" I approached the bar. "Can I ask a favour?"

"Sure," he grinned. He was an annoyingly happy guy. Uncharitably I wondered how he would cope when life eventually, inevitably, fucked him over. "Is it the new girl? Do you need me to go get her from the station tomorrow?"

"Yeah; Iona." I nodded. I could feel my cheeks heat up every time I said her name. It was getting quite awkward.

"No worries. What does she look like, so I know who to look for?" He asked casually.

"Small, long curly blonde hair, brown eyes. Pretty." The warmth in my face increased with every word that left my mouth. I waved my hand dismissively, embarrassed. "Sorry, I'll get you a photo; that was quite vague."

I made a mental note to myself to check her Facebook again later - her current profile picture would probably work. I should probably send her a photo of Angus too so she didn't think she was being kidnapped.

I wouldn't send either of them a picture until tomorrow though, I decided as I headed back to my room for the night. Didn't want them getting all excited about each other. Jealousy spread like wildfire through my bloodstream as I briefly imagined the two of them together.

I showered and got ready for bed, knowing I still had some work to catch up on but wanting to be able to immediately go to sleep afterwards. Still, before I switched my laptop on, I went into Facebook to screenshot a photo of Iona for Angus.

Much to my surprise, for the first time in a long time there was a new post on her page. She'd been tagged by Lily, her friend from school, and it was a photo of both of them and their other friend Claire, posted just half an hour before. It looked like Iona was wearing the same dress she'd had on the other night. She looked incredible. I swallowed hard, my fingers reaching out as if I thought I could touch her through the phone.

You fucking idiot.

I clicked out of Facebook into WhatsApp and typed her a message.

I'll get someone to pick you up at the station tomorrow.

I watched the message as the one tick turned to two and then the two ticks became blue. She'd read it.

I'd give her one last out, I decided. Never mind the fact that I'd be landing myself in the shit if she did decide not to come at this late stage. Protecting my heart seemed more important. I typed quickly and sent without thinking.

So this is your last chance to pull out.

Shit. I re-read the message and realised it sounded dodgy as fuck. What was wrong with me? Last chance to pull out??? What the fuck, Thorne? I tossed my glasses to the side in frustration and rubbed my eyes, cursing under my breath. Was I just destined to keep saying and doing stupid things around this girl? Was this going to be my life now? I was going to have to be on guard 24/7 from now on.

When I looked back at my phone, I could see she'd replied. Short and concise, of course.

I'll be there.

I closed WhatsApp without replying. Placed my phone to the side. Slipped my glasses back on and powered up my laptop.

Got on with my life. Just like I always had.

But I couldn't help wondering how much my life was going to change as of tomorrow . . .

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