Page 44 of The Breakup Bookshop

‘She moped around all summer long talking about you. You were her screensaver on her phone! When did you break up?’

Finlay’s face flushes even deeper. Lacey and Piper begin squabbling at his feet and Lacey lets out a low bark. Finlay bends down to scoop her up into his arms and she sticks a triumphant tongue out at Piper to celebrate her victory.

‘We were together for six years,’ he confirms. ‘High school sweethearts, but she broke it off when she was about to open the salon. She wanted to concentrate on her business. And then she was with Lewis for ages. We’re friends now. No big deal.’

‘Could have fooled me,’ I say. ‘You might have broken up yesterday from the way you were dancing around each other at the launch and the pub the other night. Does it just take longer to move on when you break up with someone who’s from here? Are Rory and Elle the same?’

‘Ach, no, Rory and I both pined for a while after our lost loves, but we got over it. Anyway, tomorrow night’s the debut of the breakup bookshop, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, but in the evening because of the Bank Holiday. I’ve got my first official day off during the day and I can’t wait! You could come along, if you’re free? Your “friend”, Donna, will be there…’

Grinning, I wiggle my eyebrows at him.

‘Ah, no thanks,’ he says with a laugh. ‘We don’t need to take a trip down memory lane. Exes are exes for a reason, aren’t they?’

‘True,’ I say, thinking of Seb.

‘Anyway, I’ve got plans with your worst enemy tonight. He’s off tomorrow too, so we’ll likely have a few whiskies tonight. What are you doing in the day tomorrow?’

‘I’ll be out exploring. I’ll look at the suggestions you gave me at the pub and I’ll see what’s next on my hitlist.’

‘I’m sure you’ll find something. Speaking of walks, I’d better get these two off for theirs. See you, Ava!’

As he leaves, I revel in the new information about my friends’ childhoods. I can’t believe I’d forgotten about Donna and Finlay, the village’s answer to Posh and Becks from back in the day. I can still picture her gazing at his picture on her phone, him with his bright red hair, and pondering whether to call him or not.

There is definitely something going on now, though. I just have to find out what it is. Didn’t Donna say something about wishing she could settle down with someone right here in Ullapool? Maybe the right man has been under her nose the whole time.

And then there is Rory, the dorky teenager, who bagged the most gorgeous girl in Ullapool and managed to lose her.

Maybe that’s what makes him so damn grumpy all the time.

*

Rory peers in the bookshop window as I’m serving my last customer of the day. She has been deliberating for a good hour over what to buy for a friend’s birthday. I’ve been on my feet for hours, I’m hangry and the sight of Rory’s sorry-looking face at the bookshop window almost sends me over the edge. I hope he’s not here to complain or rant about something else. I can’t face it, not today. I just want to close up the shop and have a (non-leaking) bath.

After the customer pays up and leaves, having picked a lovely edition ofGreat Expectations, Rory enters. I don’t look up to greet him.

‘You’re off tomorrow,’ he states.

‘I am.’

‘You bought me two tickets for the Summer Isles tour.’

‘I did.’

‘We should go together,’ he says, his tone softening. It’s not an apology, but it’s a peace offering. ‘You take the other ticket. It closes at the end of this month so you might not get another chance till next summer. If you’re still here then.’

‘Come with you?’

‘You bought two tickets and I’m going tomorrow. I’ve booked up. Finlay said you’re free.’

‘Finlay put you up to this?’ I ask, feeling a tug of annoyance in my chest.

‘Do you want to come or not?’

I nod. ‘I do.’

‘Meet me at the dock tomorrow at ten?’