Page 64 of Merry & Bright
The noise wasn’t so bad once Eilidh came to the phone—she must’ve found a quieter corner.
“Hey there!” she said happily. “Where are you? What time do you reckon you’ll get here?”
“I won’t,” he said shortly. “Get there, I mean. I’m not going to make it, Ells.”
He explained what had happened without emotion, covering up his disappointment as best he could. Eilidh wasn’t so restrained.
“Oh, Cam, this is awful!” she wailed. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling—I know you were looking forward to it.”
“It’s okay,” he said, swallowing against a lump in his throat. “I’m fine.”
Aw-light, okay.
“It’s not okay,” she said unhappily. “If I hadn’t started drinking at five like a bloody wino, I’d’ve been able to come and get you myself right now.”
“By the time we got to Glasgow, Gomorrah would be closing and we’d both miss out—there’s no sense in that,” Cam said. “You just need to go and have an amazing time and tell me all about it tomorrow.”
“God, I’m so sorry,” Eilidh said mournfully. “You’ve been having a shit time and I wanted to cheer you up and—”
“It’s fine. I’m okay.”
“No, it’s not. You’re alone for New Year and you’re depressed and I’mworriedabout you.”
“Listen, I’mnotalone,” Cam said firmly. “I’m at Rob’s—remember the guy you met at the café? He helped me shift the car off the road and I’m at his place. We’re—just about to have a beer. In fact, he’s making me dinner.”
“Rob?”Eilidh’s tone immediately changed, sharpening with curiosity. “I thought you two didn’t get along—although youobviouslyfancied him.”
Cam opened his mouth to deny that, but nothing came out—well, he did find Rob attractive, didn’t he? Who wouldn’t?
“You still there?” Eilidh prompted.
“Yeah.”
“So? What gives with this Rob?”
“I think we may have reached a new understanding,” Cam said at last, carefully. “He was cool about helping me with the car thing.” He gave a short laugh. “He’s even letting me take a bath to clean up.”
“What?Oh myGod, you’re gettingnaked?”
“I fell over!” Cam added hurriedly. “I’m filthy.”
Eilidh cackled. “Oh my God! Are you going to ask him to wash your back?”
“Shut up.”
“Admit it, you fancy him.”
“I said shut up.”
Eilidh just laughed.
“So,” she said at last, “you’re with Rob tonight, are you? I don’t need to worry about you being all depressed and alone at midnight?”
“Of course not!” Cam retorted, offended by the idea of her worrying about him.
Her voice grew wary. “You’re not bullshitting me, are you?”
Cam sighed. “No, Eilidh, I am not bullshitting you.” Okay, maybe he was fibbing about not being alone at midnight, but that was a necessary evil—he wanted Eilidh to go out and have a good time without him. Crossing his fingers mentally, he added, “I won’t be on my own for the Bells.”