Page 39 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)

Chapter Thirty-Four

‘ E mma! Are you there? ’ Amber shouts from the other side of the door.

‘ Honey, we’re worried about you! ’ calls Cat. ‘If you’re there, please answer.’

My overriding instinct is to stay silent so they give up and go away, but if I’m off the radar for too long (particularly given the fact that I passed out earlier), I know they’ll get worried and set up a search party, or worse, call the police.

That would take my loss of dignity to a whole new level.

With a defeated sigh, I get up and open the door to my visibly relieved friends, noting to my own relief, that James isn’t with them.

‘We had a feeling you’d be back here by now, so we sent James to have another look on the beach,’ says Amber. ‘Figured you wouldn’t want to see him right now.’

‘Or either of us,’ Cat adds with a shamefaced expression. ‘We know we’ve upset you, but we can’t stand the thought of you being miserable and alone when you’re so far from home… well, I can’t anyway. ’

I say nothing. All my efforts go into stemming the tears that are welling in my eyes.

‘Can we come in?’ she asks.

‘OK.’ I pull the door wider and return to my bed, leaving them to close it behind them.

They follow me inside and sit down on the sofa.

‘We’re so sorry that you overheard us talking about you like that.’ Cat does seem genuinely gutted. ‘I imagine that wouldn’t have been nice to hear.’

I glance from her to Amber, then avert my gaze, unable to trust myself to keep it together.

‘It wasn’t. I thought you guys believed in me, but you don’t at all.’

‘That’s not true,’ says Cat. ‘We absolutely believe in you. There’s no doubt you’re heading in that direction with your career—’

‘But only if I fix myself. Because the truth is: I’m a flake who’s not up to it, right?’

‘Wrong.’ My bestie shakes her head. ‘We don’t think that at all. That label was used by someone who knows nothing about you, or what you’re capable of. It came from a thoughtless—’

‘Arsehole.’ Amber finishes Cat’s sentence for her.

‘You might not have used the label, but you clearly don’t think I’m up to tomorrow – or that I have any chance at that job. And neither does James. You even formed a bloody committee to rule on it.’ I swallow thickly, still fighting to keep my composure.

‘It wasn’t quite like that, but in hindsight, I can understand how it felt that way,’ says Cat. ‘We had some concerns, especially after what happened at the beach, but as long as you’re feeling up to going ahead with the interview, we’re behind you and we believe you can do it, right Amber?’

‘Yeah.’ Amber nods. ‘We do. ’

‘Thanks, but that’s kind of hard to believe, given I heard you all discussing how I read my presentation like a script and I can’t cope with a Q&A session.

’ I wring my hands anxiously. ‘Anyway, it doesn’t matter because you didn’t say anything that wasn’t already running through my head.

I was kidding myself going for that job and the three of you helped me realise that. I’ve called off the interview.’

‘You’ve called it off?’ Amber shares a pained and somewhat regretful look with Cat.

‘Yes. I asked Charnice to pass on the message, so Sébastien will know by now.’

‘Oh, honey.’ Cat joins me on the bed, enveloping me in a hug, which I give in to instantly. ‘We’re so sorry. We never wanted to ruin your big opportunity – or destroy your confidence.’

‘It’s fine. It’s for the best.’ I give a half-smile. ‘Let’s just try and salvage what’s left of our holiday, yeah? Have the R&R I came here for in the first place.’

‘And James?’ asks Amber.

I chew on my lip. ‘I don’t know. He’s amazing but I’m now questioning whether I’ve jumped into that too soon as well. I’m not sure if I’m ready for another relationship yet. Plus, do I really want a guy in my life who doesn’t think I’m enough? He should like me for who I am, right?’

‘Emma, I think James…’ Amber starts, then trails off as she meets Cat’s eye.

‘You don’t need to think about that right now,’ says Cat. ‘But it is dinner time. Do you feel up to going for some food?’

‘If it’s OK with you guys, I think I’ll just get some room service and an early night. I’m exhausted.’

Cat seems reluctant to leave me, but she respects my decision. ‘OK, sure, honey. We’ll probably take the opportunity for a quiet one as well, right Amber?’

Amber nods, quite unconvincingly, which makes me think she’ll be out partying with Tyler, Rob and James until the small hours.

‘If you need anything, message us,’ she says.’

‘I will, thanks… Oh, would you…’ I cringe a little.

‘We’ll tell James we’ve found you and that you need some space,’ says Cat.

‘Thanks.’

I don’t like asking them to do my dirty work for me, but I can’t face James this evening after everything that’s happened.

After seeing my friends out, I pull the curtains, climb back into bed and settle down for the night. All I want to do is to sleep. Missing one meal when I’ve been eating like a pig for the last few days will hardly be the end of me.