Page 98 of The Weekend Getaway

“I’m not really qualified for anything.”

“You’ve got loads of experience and you’re great at what you do. But you could also just take any job you can find.”

Keira drew her chin to her chest. “You think I should move to Scilly?”

“I don’t want you to, but I honestly can’t understand why you’re not considering it …” When Keira opened her mouth to jump in, Mel cut her off. “Don’t start with your flimsy excuses … You don’t have one real reason not to.”

Keira slumped forwards, resting her elbows on her knees. She actually didn’t have any particularly compelling reasons not to move to Scilly. The thought of leaving her job without having anything else lined up terrified her, but realistically she’d probably find something.

“I was hoping he’d suggest moving back here. I want to know he’d make that sacrifice for me. Is that really pathetic?”

“No, it’s not. But I also don’t think it’s worth getting hung up on. If you want to be with him and long distance isn’t working, go and be with him there.” She stuck her bottom lip out. “I can’t believe I’m giving you that advice.”

“Maybe I should give it more time,” Keira said, brushing the idea aside before she let herself fully contemplate it. “He only moved a few weeks ago. We haven’t even given long distance a chance. Besides, I couldn’t leave you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but you should know that if someone offered to whisk me away to paradise you wouldn’t see me for dust.” Mel raised her eyebrows. “If you want to leave, you’re not allowed to use me as an excuse not to. I’d miss you, but it’ll take more than a few hundred miles to disrupt our friendship.” She gave a teasing grin. “Unlike Noah and you, our relationship would survive long distance.”

“Oh god.” Keira winced. “You’re putting crazy ideas in my head.”

“They’re not crazy. And I don’t believe this is the first time you’ve thought about it.” Mel smiled gently. “I can rent your room out in about a second, so there’s no worries there either.”

“Now it sounds as though youwantto get rid of me.”

“No way. But I want you to be happy, and I think being with Noah will make you happy.”

Keira shuffled over and hugged her. “I’m going to think about it.”

“Don’t think too much. Sometimes you need to act on your instincts and hope for the best.”

That would be easier said than done. Keira was sure it went against her nature to do anything without considering it from every angle and carefully weighing the pros and cons.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The sound of someone banging on the door dragged Noah from a deep sleep on Thursday morning. Checking his phone as he stumbled out of bed, he found two missed calls from Trystan. He hit the button to call him back.

“Is that you making a racket at my front door?” he asked, trudging down the stairs. The noise stopped immediately.

“Yes. Why are you ignoring me?”

“I was asleep.”

“It’s ten o’clock.”

Noah ended the call and unlocked the front door. “Don’t you ever need to work?”

“I’ve done two hours of work this morning.” Trystan sauntered in and dropped into the armchair. “I’ve also been for a jog and a swim.”

“And eaten some horrendously healthy breakfast no doubt,” Noah said through a yawn.

“Yep.”

“You’re sickening. How long are you here for this time?”

“A few days. I’ll stay for the weekend. Mum said you need cheering up, so I thought you could come to Bryher with me. Pay Lowen a visit.”

“How is that going to cheer me up?”

“It’s got to be better than moping around here.”