Page 62 of The Breakup Bookshop

I almost fall off my chair. Elle. An older version of the stunning girl I’d been friends with as a child stands in front of me. She shrugs off her beautiful double-breasted plum-coloured coat, revealing a sleeveless black and white waistcoat, a pair of black tailored trousers and trainers. ‘Trendy’, as my granny would have said. Elle takes a seat in between Donna and Fiona and sighs with a smile, looking around the circle.

‘I’m ba-ack!’ she grins.

Donna smiles at her friend. ‘Elle’s only here for one support group. We were just talking about how hard it is to be a woman, Elle. Care to join in?’

Elle grins, taking the book. ‘Aye, it’s shite, isn’t it?’

The group laughs.

‘What’s going on for you, Elle?’ Donna asks.

‘Well, first off, thanks for having me here. I love the idea of a breakup bookshop and the group, Ava. Genius. And this place looks amazing.’ Unlike Donna’s energetic, propulsive voice, Elle’s accent has the softness that I remember, a romantic Highland beauty. ‘I’m back home for a few weeks for a friend’s wedding. I’m so happy for her, but it’s just made me think how behind I am, you know?’

I hear you, sister.

‘All of my friends are getting married and having babies,’ she continues. ‘I’ve been so focused on my career that I haven’t got round to the serious stuff yet. It feels like I can suddenly hear the ticking timebomb that everyone talks about, you know?’

I nod. Elle is a kindred spirit, feeling like a failure, even though I bet she’s achieved so much in her career already.

‘And then right before this, I bump into my ex here. And I realize how simple it could have been if only I’d stayed, you know?’

Oh shit. No, I don’t know. Well, I don’t want to know. Abort mission. I can’t listen to this. I don’t want to know that she wants Rory back. I want to cover my ears and sing myself a happy song to block this out, but I can hardly do that.

‘And what does your ex think?’ Fiona asks.

‘Oh,’ she blushes.

Leaning forward to hear her answer, I almost fall off my chair. Oh? What does ‘oh’ mean?

‘Well, we were first loves, I suppose. Everyone always said he’d have me back in a heartbeat,’ she reveals. ‘I’m not too sure about that, to be honest. I guess you never really know. He’s going to the same wedding, though. I thought I could tell him how I feel while we’re there?’

Fiona nods. ‘You have to! No regrets. If you feel something for someone, tell them now. Life is too damn short.’

Noooo, Fiona! That’s terrible advice.Well, not for you, but for Elle!

But everyone in the circle nods in agreement.

‘Definitely too short,’ Margaret adds.

‘What if he feels the same way and is afraid to tell you?’ someone else chimes in.

Christ. I nod along, pretending I don’t know she is talking about Rory. I shoot an anxious look over at Donna, but she doesn’t even look like she’s listening.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s not Rory. Perhaps Elle has a string of exes to choose from. He hasn’t mentioned anything about a wedding. He’d struggle to get cover for The Toolbox, wouldn’t he? I exhale. This might just be okay. Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions.

‘So, you think I should say something?’ she presses, looking around the circle.

Everyone nods. I find myself following suit; I don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb.

‘Why did you break up?’ Eilidh asks.

‘I was offered a job in Edinburgh. He couldn’t come with me. We tried long distance for a while, but it just fizzled out.’

‘What have you got to lose?’ Fiona asks brightly. ‘A wedding is the best place to rekindle a romance. Love in the air and all that. Gosh, you need to keep us posted. We’re invested now.’

‘Oh yes! You never know, it could be us coming to your wedding next,’ Margaret adds.

‘Okay, I’ll do it,’ Elle smiles. ‘I can’t promise it’ll end in wedding bells, but I guess you never know.’