Page 27 of Gideon (Finding Home #3)

“Interesting.” He purses his mouth. “It was going pretty well, if I do say so myself. I was quick-witted, attentive, and all-round perfect. The food was lovely and the cake was a masterpiece.”

“So, what happened?”

He shrugs. “The ex threw the cake at me, stormed to the toilet, and my client followed him in order to have very loud bathroom sex while we all waited in an awkward sort of silence in the dining room.”

I burst out laughing. “What did you do?”

“I love the way that my pain is yours,” he says wryly. “You’ll really have to stop being so empathetic.”

“Bugger that. What happened?”

He huffs. “I pretended to be devastated for at least an hour. Then I pulled one of the junior partners.”

I shake my head. “You are truly a tart with a heart of gold.”

He laughs. “Thank you very much. Can I have that inscribed on a cup?”

“I’ll even do it in italics. So what’s next for you?”

He shrugs. “Who knows. Zeb will tell me when we get back.”

As if united, we both sigh wistfully. Zeb is his boss. Suave and absolutely gorgeous, he’s also entirely oblivious to the stunning men and women he employs, having a very firm rule about not shitting where he works.

Jesse slides a look at me. “So, how was it? This was a surprise pickup. We expected you back a couple of weeks ago.”

“I did Maria a favour,” I say, thinking of my boss at the agency. “She needed someone quickly, and I was in the city, so I said yes.”

“Another oldies cruise. Was it really boring?”

“No,” I say slowly and sigh without meaning to, thinking of that last sight of Gideon. He’d looked sad, awkward, and cross all in one go. It’s not an easy thing to accomplish. “Not boring at all,” I finish softly.

He darts a swift and sharp look at me. “You alright? You sound a bit funny.”

“Just tired,” I say quickly.

“So, who was the celeb this time?”

“You know I can’t tell you.”

“I know you won’t tell me,” he corrects me. “And for the record, I absolutely hate your discretion.”

“Duly noted,” I say solemnly. “I’ll try harder next time.”

“Just give me an age range. Was he or she nearly dead?”

I shake my head. “For fuck’s sake. No, he wasn’t. He’s in his late thirties.” I smile. “And very grumpy.”

“Oh my God ,” he says slowly. “What have you done, Eli?”

“What do you mean?”

“You fucked a client.”

“I did not, ” I say crossly. “Never. You know I wouldn’t.”

“So what’s with all that?”

He gestures at my face, and I frown. “All what? I haven’t said anything.”

“You didn’t have to. It was the way you said it and that sad, longing face.”

“It’s like being friends with Uri Geller.”

“Can I just say how relieved I am that he’s using the power of his mind to sort out Brexit for us all.” He laughs and then sobers quickly. “You sounded all soft and fond when you spoke about your patient.”

I sigh and rub my hands down my face and then stare out of the window, struggling to find the words to describe this last week with Gideon. Jesse’s endlessly patient, so he waits for me. “I wanted to so badly,” I say finally. “For the first time ever, I wanted to fuck a patient.”

“And?”

“Don’t you have anything to say to that?”

I’m definitely expecting something because Jesse is religious in not sleeping with his clients. He lives by that maxim.

“I’m wondering what he’s like to make you practically forget everything you’ve always sworn by.”

“He’s just lovely.” I sigh. “I can’t describe him properly. He’s sarcastic, funny, grumpy, and the most lonely person I’ve ever met.”

“And did he want you back?”

I nod. “He did,” I say sadly.

“Sounds like your perfect match, then.”

“What?”

He smiles. “Eli, you like looking after people. It’s why you’re as good at your job as you are. Combined with his other attributes, which you’ve always said you look for, he sounds perfect.” He pauses. “Apart from the grumpiness. I’ve never heard you express a penchant for that before.”

“It’s a new thing for me,” I say wryly and then sigh. “I can’t do anything.”

“Of course not,” he says calmly. “It would be totally wrong.”

“I know.”

“But you’re not his nurse now and you won’t be his nurse again. There’s also hopefully plenty of time to pass between you both leaving the ship and dying.”

I jerk. “What the fuck? You should be a motivational speaker.”

“I’ll leave that to Charlie Sunshine.” We smile at the thought of our other flatmate, Charlie, who is happiness personified and perennially cheerful.

“So, what are you intending to do?” He sneaks a look at me and pushes the hair back from his face. “I hope you’re not thinking of doing something self-sacrificing and quite frankly fucking stupid.”

“No,” I sigh. “I’m going to give it a few months and then see. That’ll give him the chance to work out that there are much better options around for him than a broke nurse.”

“Fucking hell, Eli. Do you want me to bake a cake for your pity party?” I snort and he punches me lightly on the arm.

“That’s better. Now listen to Jesse. You go away and give him space, but if he still wants you after that, you are to fucking go to him.

Bugger everyone else’s opinion. You’re an amazing person and a bloody good best mate.

He couldn’t do any better than you. Fuck the bills.

You got those by being brave and working for the Red Cross, not placing bets at Ladbrokes. ”

“Thank you,” I say softly, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. “You always make me feel better.”

“I make everyone feel better,” he says somewhat dolefully. “It’s in my job description.”

“But not your life description,” I say sharply. “You need to remember that.”

Jesse is a born people pleaser with an absolute shit ability to pick men. His exes have all been horrible.

“No,” he says slowly and not entirely convinced. “No, I suppose not.”

A companionable silence falls, and I grab my laptop from my rucksack.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Emailing him. I promised him we’d be friends and keep in touch that way.”

“That’s more like it,” he says approvingly. “Keep it clean, though. No dick pics, young man.”

His laughter as I pinch him rings around the car as I start typing.

GIDEON

I wake up the next morning, unsure where I am for a second.

Then I feel the weight of the sheets and blankets on me and see the sandblasted beams in the low ceiling and remember that I’m in the cottage.

I relax back against the pillows. I fell asleep with the window open last night, and instead of the noise of the sea I’d heard the steady beat of rain on the roof and smelt the sweet scent of rain on dry earth.

I look out the window. The sky is a merry cornflower blue now and the air filled with the sound of birdsong.

I stretch and hear the beep of my phone.

For a second I hesitate. I don’t want Frankie or my job in this place, as if they’ll somehow contaminate this peace.

Then I realise it was the beep of my email and hope seizes me, making my fingers shake as I grab at my phone, almost dropping it before I check my email and see one from Eli.

To: Gideon Ramsay

From: Eli Jones

I hope you got to your brother’s home safely.

I wanted to give you some tips for your health. I’m smiling as I type this because I can tell that you’re already rolling your eyes. However, you only left me a few hours ago and my contract doesn’t finish until tomorrow, so I still feel quite able to be your nurse and tell you what to do.

As such, I’d like you to remember that drinking to excess isn’t good for you. Neither are drugs, random twinks, and keeping the same hours as Keith Richards.

Now, going to bed early, eating regular meals, and leading a monastic lifestyle – they’re all fantastic for your health.

That’s my spiel as your nurse done. Now for my tips as your new friend.

Please make time for your brother and let him in.

I promise you won’t be disappointed. I know this from just a few days of watching the two of you together.

He wants to get to know you and, speaking as someone who’s done that over the last few weeks, I have to say that it’s worth doing.

Go for plenty of walks, not just for your health, but because it gives you space to think.

You really need to do this because it seems to me that up until now you’ve just bobbed along on life’s stream like an oblivious and very grumpy cork.

Take control of your life, and if it means that you won’t ever let Frankie talk to you again the way he did on the ship, then your friend will be very happy.

I’d like to see you take up some hobbies too that don’t end up with you being stoned, drunk, or passed out. I know those activities filled most of your timetable before, but trust me, there is life outside a hotel room.

Well, that was your introduction to life as my friend. I hope it wasn’t too bossy. Who am I kidding? It was totally bossy and totally needed.

I fall back against my pillow with a smile on my face.

Right at this moment it’s like he’s with me, his Welsh lilt sounding warm and sunshiny in the room as he bosses me around with a smile.

I miss him fiercely already. It just feels wrong to not have him here.

I feel awkward around my brother and friends, and it strikes me that I’ve never felt that with Eli.

When I’m with him I feel whole, as stupid as that sounds.

I’m me, and I’m not constantly looking for the door to escape.

I shake my head. Time to shower and dress.

However, the smile lasts even through my shower in the tiny bathroom where you’d be hard-pressed to wash a Borrower without inadvertently squashing them.

When I’m finally dressed in grey shorts and a blue T-shirt, I bound downstairs, feeling my stomach rumble. I’m starving.

The knock on the front door startles me but I pad over and open it, finding myself staring at a dark-haired man with a sharp-looking face and very blue eyes who has a small dark-haired toddler on his hip. She has a mass of silky curls held back by a pink bow.