Page 59 of The Weekend Getaway

“Are you all right?” Noah asked, looking at Seren with a softness to his features that immediately put Keira on edge.

“I’m fine,” Seren replied. “I might need to go and help Charlie in a bit. He said he’d message me if the pub got busy.” After patting her pockets, she realised she’d left her phone in the car and went to fetch it.

“She’s been working loads recently,” Kit remarked after Seren left.

“She always works a lot,” Trystan said, then redirected the conversation, asking Kit about the train and how business was picking up as tourist season began.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Keira whispered to Noah. She slipped out of the backdoor and hurried after Seren, catching up to her halfway to her car.

“I was hoping to catch you alone for a minute,” Keira told her, breathing in a lungful of salty air. “I just wanted to say thanks for lending me the clothes.”

“It was nothing.” Seren smiled weakly. “It’s a good thing we’re about the same size.”

“I’ll wash them tonight and leave them at Mirren’s place when we leave.”

“Thanks.” The gravel path crunched underfoot as they walked slowly towards the gate.

Torn between saying more and heading back up to the house, Keira glanced out over the water, stalling for time. “I hope it’s not been too weird for you this weekend,” she blurted out. “Having me here I mean … I guess if I wasn’t here you’d have spent more time with Noah.”

Seren paused with her hand on the low gate, then straightened up again. “Yeah I guess I would have. I’ll have to get used to it though I suppose.”

“Not really,” Keira said, a slight quiver to her voice. “It won’t be long until he moves back here and you’ll have him all to yourself again.”

Irritation flashed in Seren’s eyes. “Noah’s my friend, that’s all. I realise no one other than he and I can grasp this concept, but we really are just friends.”

“Even so …”

“Even so nothing,” Seren snapped. “I won’t have him all to myself because he’s not going to move back here.”

“What?”

The fight went out of Seren’s eyes. “He’s not going to move back here,” she said wearily. “Surely you realise that.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Keira shook her head. “He told me he’s moving back here.”

“That was his plan. But now he’s met you, his plans will change.”

“I don’t think so.” Much as Keira hoped it was true, she couldn’t let herself believe it.

“I know him,” Seren said. “Well enough to know he’s not going to give you up easily. I’ve seen you two this weekend and it’s clearly not just a fling. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. If you ask him to stay in Bristol he will.”

“I hadn’t planned on asking him.”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I guess you won’t even need to ask.”

“Are you annoyed with me about this?” Keira asked.

“No.” She blew out a breath. “I was looking forward to having my friend back, and now I’m fairly sure that’s not going to happen. I just need some time to get used to it. Sorry for taking it out on you. It’s really nothing personal.” She flashed Keira a small smile as she opened the gate. “If anyone’s going to steal my best friend, I’m glad it’s at least someone I like.”

“Do you really think he’d stay on in Bristol?” Keira sounded desperate but she didn’t care. “Because I’ve been panicking ever since he told me he planned to leave. It’s like I don’t dare to get too attached.” She lingered by the car while Seren retrieved her phone.

“You seem pretty attached to me,” Seren replied.

“I am,” she admitted. “I don’t seem to be able to help that. It’s more that I’m terrified that I’m going to get my heart broken very soon.”

“He’ll stay in Bristol for you. I pretty much guarantee it.” After closing the car door, she gave Keira’s arm a squeeze. “Ignore me being grumpy about it. I’m being selfish, but I’m also glad that Noah’s happy.”

“Ifhe stays in Bristol,” Keira said as they started back towards the house, “you’ll just have to come and visit us a lot.”