Page 93 of A Change of Heart

“That’s good. You’re so sweet to look after her like that. It’s her loss if she doesn’t realise what a catch you are.”

“Yeah.” He turned and made for the door.

Holly moved around the desk and intercepted him. “I’m sorry,” she said, a hand on his arm. “Have I upset you?”

“No, it’s not you. I’m just having a bad day.”

“Can I do anything?”

“No.” He gave her a quick hug and was all set to leave when he realised how self-involved he was being. “How was it with Gavin, by the way?”

“Fine. We said hello, then politely ignored each other. It was easier than I expected.”

“That’s good.” He pulled the door open. “Sorry to dash off. Let’s hang out soon and chat properly.”

She gave him a big kiss on the cheek and he walked out into the bright sunlight. At home, he collapsed on his bed for an hour but couldn’t get his brain to switch off, so sleep was elusive.

His afternoon was fuelled by coffee and fake smiles. He gave the train tours on autopilot, barely even recalling what he’d said when he came to the end. It wasn’t his preferred way to work, and he hoped not to repeat it anytime soon.

Checking his phone after his final tour, he read a message from Seren asking what time he’d be over. She also commented that she was looking forward to seeing him, which annoyed him immensely. He tapped out a reply, telling her he wasn’t going to make it. The message was abrupt; he didn’t even bother with an excuse.

He was driving the train home when his phone rang. Muting the call from Seren felt petty, but he didn’t have the energy to speak to her.

* * *

Seren had been full of excitement when she’d typed out a message to Kit, but his curt reply immediately put a dampener on her mood. That morning he’d seemed keen to have dinner with her, so she couldn’t fathom his message. A feeling of dread swept through her when he didn’t answer her call, but she told herself he was probably in the middle of something. Half an hour later, she tried again, pacing the living room to the rhythm of the long beeps as it rang.

Something had happened, and she had a horrible feeling it involved Felix. Pushing her feet into a pair of trainers she rushed down the stairs and out onto the street. Taking her car to Kit’s place was unnecessary, but even the five-minute walk felt like too much thinking time.

After ringing the bell, she shifted from foot to foot until Kit’s voice came on the intercom.

“It’s me,” she said, leaning close to the speaker. “You didn’t answer your phone.”

“I’m just going to bed.”

“Can you buzz me in? I need to talk to you.”

“I don’t want to talk now.”

“Kit.” Tears pricked her eyes. “What’s going on?”

“I feel like crap and I need to sleep. Let’s talk another time.”

“I need to talk to younow,” she said firmly. “Buzz me in.”

The silence that ensued was excruciating, and she was about to press the bell again when the door finally clicked open. Rushing up the stairs, she found him standing at his door in only a pair of jogging bottoms.

“What’s going on?” she snapped.

“I don’t want to do this now.”

“Fine, but I’m going to need you to come up with a better excuse than needing to go to bed … it’s seven o’clock.”

“I realise that.” Reluctantly, he stepped aside as she barged inside. “But after I carried you home last night, I sat up all night to make sure you kept breathing. Then I had to work all day, so now I really want to sleep.”

She whipped around to him. “You stayed up all night?”

“Yeah,” he said bitterly.