Page 24 of The Breakup Bookshop

‘Ah, Donna and I go way back,’ I say with a smile. ‘We’ve been friends since I was a kid and, before you say anything about my accent, I’m at least half Scottish. I used to come here every summer to visit my granny.’

‘Well, isn’t that something?’ Finlay smiles widely at Rory, who shoots Finlay a withering look.

I catch a glimpse of Donna over Finlay’s shoulder.

‘Ah, here she is.’ I grin, standing up to hug her. ‘Speak of the devil.’

‘Donna… hi.’ Finlay stands up behind us, as though waiting in line for a hug, and then realizes it’s not a queuing situation. He clasps his hands together like a jilted groom before taking a seat again. ‘Didn’t know you were coming.’

‘Neither did I. Ava invited me. Hi everyone.’

As Donna attempts to drag a heavy chair over to join the group, Finlay leaps up to help her. Their hands meet on the back of the chair and Donna jumps back like she’s been electrocuted. Finlay clears his throat and stands tall, squaring his shoulders.

‘The usual?’ he asks, gesturing to the bar.

‘Yes, please,’ she nods, not meeting his eye.

‘What a gentleman.’ I smile widely at Finlay before directing my gaze over to Rory, who hasn’t moved a muscle to help. So much for being a helping hand to everyone. He sips his pint.

Finlay’s dog edges his way towards me and places his paw on my shoe. I let out a loud ‘aww’ and lavish all my love on the dog, exclaiming how utterly gorgeous he is while stroking his fur. The dog yawns in return, bored with being adored.

‘What’s your name?’ I say in a sing-song voice.

‘Piper,’ Rory responds, looking me dead in the eye. ‘She’s mine.’

‘She’syourdog?’ I ask. ‘I thought she belonged to Finlay.’

‘Nope, she’s mine.’

‘I didn’t have you down as a dog owner,’ I say, pursing my lips.

‘Why’s that?’ He cocks his head to the side.

‘I thought you’d be more the goldfish type,’ I shrug. ‘Maybe a cat, at a push.’

He frowns. ‘Agoldfish? What does a goldfish owner look like?’

His face flushes with annoyance. Why is he so touchy about everything with me?

‘Just, you know, they’re very low maintenance. Don’t require too muchaffection,’ I say as Finlay returns with Donna’s ‘usual’ drink. ‘Anyway, I see Finlay out walking with the pups all the time, so I assumed he’d have a dog of his own.’

‘I walk Piper,’ Rory interjects, before Finlay can respond. ‘We’re out all the time.’

Now Rory is getting defensive because he thinks I am insinuating he never walks his own dog.

‘Erm… congratulations?’

Eilidh and Donna look at Rory, then back at me, with puzzled expressions. Donna quietly thanks Finlay for the drink, and he nods as he rests his welly boot over his knee.

Rory takes a long sip of his pint and plonks it back down on the table, the last of the frothy foam dancing at the bottom of his glass. ‘I’m going for another round. What’s everyone else having? I take it you’re okay, Donna. Eilidh? Finlay? Ava?’

There is an edge to the way he says my name. A stumble. A hesitancy. The last thing he wants is to buy me a drink, but it would look strange if he didn’t offer. Around his friends, he is being forced to conform to social norms, and I like it.

‘Yes, please, that would be lovely,’ I say.

As Rory makes his way to the bar, Finlay makes conversation with me. He’s energetic, easy to talk to. I can see why Donna likes him so much – not that she would admit it. But I notice her looking at him proudly as he leads the chat. When he hears about my daily walks, he takes his phone out to show me the best local walking routes. As Rory returns to the table with the promised drinks, we are in full discussion about local landmarks, gorges and waterfalls.

‘You should definitely go further afield,’ Finlay advises. ‘There are a few routes and climbing paths that are a short drive away but well worth it. Corrieshalloch Gorge has some great scenery. You’re not afraid of heights, are you?’