“It was because we wouldn’t all be able to hang out together. You two would have had to pick sides and I was going away, so you would have taken her side because she was staying.”
“For someone who is so intelligent you can be bloody stupid sometimes. Of course, we wouldn’t have taken sides, we love you both. And I can tell you right now, even though she wouldn’t tell us what happened. I know for a fact she loves you and missed you, even if it was just as a friend. Why don’t you come watch me play rugby on Sunday morning, then we will go out for lunch talk properly and see if we can sort this out.”
“I couldn’t face her, look another week and I’ll be gone, there is no point in dragging up the past to her.”
A look passed between Nate and Jake, Jake shook his head, Gwen didn’t notice.
“Gwen, you come and stand on the touchlines with me and watch the boys plough into each other then we’ll eat. I promise no surprises we will ask her about what happened BUT I promise we will be tactful. You have a house here now and hopefully you’ll come back and see us more, and we are certainly coming to visit you. No way are we letting you disappear again. We just want to make sure if you can put it behind you, that if we bump into each other, it isn’t awkward for either of you. Now finish up that drink and let’s get you back to the hotel.”
“Thanks, I love you guys!” Gwen wrapped an arm around each of their necks pulling them over before leaving smeared lipstick marks on their cheeks. “You’re bloody awesome.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sunday morning was cold and grey, Gwen huddled against Jake under the umbrella.
“Remind me again why we are here?”
“Because we love Nate, and he loves rolling around in the mud with a lot of men with muscles. I have to be honest days like this I wish he was into an indoor sport, like basketball, but I still make sure I come to every match I can.”
“I’m so glad you two are still together, you almost make me believe in true love again.” Gwen laughed.
“What about your mum and the American hunk, don’t they make you believe in love? Aren’t they happy?”
“Yeah, but… I don’t know, I have trouble believing that my mum can ever really love again after what my dad put us through.”
“So, you are going to stay single forever rather than take a risk?”
“You sound just like Kristal now, you, my mum, everyone, keeps telling me to take a risk, but I did, and I was right. All that happened was I got hurt and lost people I cared about.”
“Yeah, because you were an idiot.”
“Idiot or not I tried it. Now, I’ll stick to enjoying myself and not getting involved.”
“Okay, whatever you say.”
They were distracted by Nate charging past them close to the side line, he ran almost the length of the pitch before setting down the ball to score. Gwen and Jake jumped around on the touchline, the umbrella flying out of Jake’s hand, leading to a two-minute chase as he ran after it.
When the match ended, they waited at the bar while Nate got changed. Nate had booked the table, so Gwen had no idea where they were going for lunch. She was thrilled when he arrived fresh from the shower to tell them they were heading out for pub grub at a city centre bar. She had hated the reason she had been forced to take this trip, but one perk had been the food. There were plenty of cool bars and restaurants in New York, but she had missed Sunday roasts, she hadn’t realised how much until she had been back home.
Home! That word again she thought to herself. People always used the phrase home is where the heart is but until this moment, she had never really understood it. The problem was even if her heart was here, her life was thousands of miles away.
After a quick drink they jumped in a taxi and heading to the bar. Nate kept looking at his phone but when Gwen asked him if everything was okay, he told her he was expecting a text about a house. She thought it strange but didn’t want to pry, she felt she had been away too long to expect them to let her into all aspects of their lives despite the fact once upon a time they would have known everything.
They walked into the pub, around half the tables were filled but as she looked around Gwen saw a familiar face stood at the bar, Elise.
“Look, don’t be angry, me and Nate spoke to her, and we thought it was best you two talk in person and sort this mess out. And don’t even think about walking out or Nate will physically pick you up and put you in your seat because I know the way your brain works.”
Gwen pouted, not speaking - Jake was right, it had been her first thought, to turn and run – but she had done nothing wrong, and didn’t her gran tell her to sort this out? Elise turned to see them, a faint smile played on her lips, but she looked nervous. Maybe she was as scared of this meeting as Gwen was, this was not something Gwen had ever considered. A realisation struck her, Elise had never said anything that night on the roundabout, it was the look on her face that had sent Gwen racing home. Was it possible that she had been wrong to react that way? That she had done her friends an injustice by fleeing from them instead of sorting it out?
One thing that Gwen couldn’t deny was that Elise looked good. If she had been introduced as a model no one would have batted an eyelid. Tall and slim, blonde hair in loose waves cascading halfway down her back. She was wearing jeggings and loose-fitting shirt, but for all her clothes said casual the tension in her body was apparent. Jake led the way toward her greeting her with hugs, as did Nate, then the moment where Gwen and Elise found themselves stood face to face, unsure of how to greet each other.
“Hi, I wanted to talk to you when I saw you the other day, but it didn’t seem like a good idea, especially when I heard your dad shouting.”
“He certainly knows how to make sure he takes centre stage. How are you? How is your family? Are your mum and dad okay?”
“Mum died last year, cancer, dad is struggling to learn to live without her.” The pain was clearly etched on Elise’s face.
“No! Shit, I’m so sorry.” Without thinking Gwen stepped forward and hugged her former friend, at first Elise resisted, Stiff in the embrace but then she relaxed and the two stood for a few seconds before suddenly realising where they were and stepping back. They were led to a table and ordered drinks, Gwen disappeared behind the menu despite knowing what she would order, she just needed a minute to regroup and compose herself.