Page 37 of The Breakup Bookshop

He points. ‘You’ve got water coming in too.’

‘Oh no, the mural!’ I exclaim, running towards the wall.

Shit, shit, shit.

The mural’s vibrant colours are blurring together as the water drips down the ceiling and splashes onto the floor. Rory moves straight over to inspect the till area, grabs a cardboard box and places it underneath the mural.

‘Not ideal, but it’ll do for now. Let’s go upstairs so I can have a look,’ he says, moving towards the stairs. ‘There’s a lot of water coming down here, how many baths are you having?!’

I pad along after him, still very much in my towel. I suddenly feel guilty.

I’d let the water run for some time before I’d popped the plug in. I was supposed to be waiting for the water to heat up, but then I’d been distracted and forgotten about it. Meanwhile, I had been flooding Rory’s shop, and my own, the night before my launch.

This is the last thing I need.

Rory takes the stairs two at a time. ‘Have you got a bucket? That cardboard box is going to get pretty soggy.’

‘Erm, I’ll check in the cupboard upstairs.’

I grab my dressing robe and wrap it around my body, tying it tightly, then retrieve a small orange bucket from the airing cupboard and run downstairs to place it under the leak. Back at the scene of the crime, Rory has removed the bath panel and is inspecting underneath.

‘I think it’s just a faulty seal,’ he says. ‘I should be able to get something to fix it.’

I empty my toothbrush holder and and use it to scoop water out of the bath and tip it down the toilet.

‘Less water means less strain on the bath seal,’ I murmur.

Rory nods. ‘Good idea.’

I continue to scoop the water out of the bathtub as he crouches down underneath.

‘How bad is your shop? I’ll get straight on to my insurance and pay for whatever it costs to fix it up… I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s not bad. I just saw some water coming down the wall. I ran upstairs to check on Margaret, but she hadn’t been using any water, so I figured it must be coming from you. I think your shop is worse. The mural is the real victim here.’ He smiles weakly, trying to make it a joke, but I can see he’s disappointed.

I can’t believe it. The mural that I pestered Rory to paint for me is ruined. He spent hours working on something that he hadn’t even wanted to do. Now it looks like a rainbow has cried on the wall. I haven’t even paid him for it yet. He keeps dodging my suggestion of a bank transfer, so my plan is to leave an envelope of cash in The Toolbox when he isn’t looking.

‘Brilliant,’ I groan. ‘The night before the grand opening. Although, it could have been worse. For a second, I thought you were my ex, hollering at me from the street.’

Why did I say it out loud? Any time something goes wrong, my thoughts seem to switch to Seb, but there’s no need to voice it to Rory right now.

Rory frowns. ‘Why would your ex be here? Is he coming?’

‘Oh God, no. He’s the last person I’d invite. I just, I don’t know, my mind must have been playing tricks on me.’

The relaxing evening I’d planned has gone straight down the plughole.

Rory fixes the bath seal while I change quickly, before going downstairs and mopping up the water on the bookshop floor. I sigh, looking at the mural. It is supposed to be the focal point of the bookshop. How can I unveil the bookshop tomorrow when it looks like it has been shot by a paintball gun?

‘I think I’ve fixed the bath, but you should get a plumber out to double-check it before you use it again,’ Rory advises. ‘I’m just going to close The Toolbox for the day. It’s past closing time anyway. I’ll be back.’

Now this is the helpful Rory the whole village praises at every turn. Apparently, all it takes is pouring water down his walls, ruining the mural he’s spent hours painting and completely screwing up my grand opening plans for the bookshop. Who knew?

‘Rory,’ I say.

He turns around and looks at me, eyebrows raised.

‘Thank you,’ I say earnestly.