Page 83 of The Breakup Bookshop

‘This is so exciting! What have you been talking about?’

‘Life. What’s happened since she left Ullapool. And we’ve been reminiscing about old times.’

I squeeze her hand. ‘Oh, Fiona, I’m so happy for you. That’s great news.’

‘All thanks to you. Listen, I’ve got to run, I’ve left Jen in charge of the cafe. I just had to come and tell you about it. Remember what I said about Seb, Ava. Don’t go back the way.’

With that, she stands up, her face still beaming, and practically bounces out of the shop. She doesn’t acknowledge Seb as she saunters past him.

‘Was it something I said?’ he calls.

‘You’ve been mentioned on more than a few occasions,’ I say. ‘People don’t just forget things.’

He leans forward on the work surface and lowers his voice conspiratorially. ‘They have a real village small-mindmentality here, don’t they? This would be forgotten in five minutes in London, where we actually have lives of our own. Here they’re practically digging out their pitchforks for a witch hunt, right?’

‘We care for one another here. Fiona’s my friend. She’s looking out for me.’

He shrugs it off. ‘Friends let you make your own choices and decisions. Anyway, I’ve got a Teams call in five. Can I borrow the sofa? I feel like it’s practically mine now, given how intimate we got last night.’

Seb’s still astounded that I didn’t just let him hop into bed beside me. As if that would ever happen.

I nod, stepping behind the counter with my laptop as Margaret walks into the bookshop.

‘Ava, dear, I just wanted to say thank you for that book you recommended to me. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.’

‘Which one was that, Margaret?’

‘The Hating Game. I just devoured it, could not put it down. I sat up until all hours last night to finish it. They can’t stand each other – Lucy and Joshua – and they’re battling it out for promotion. Have you read it?’

I nod, smiling at Margaret. ‘Yes! I loved their banter. It’s a great enemies-to-lovers book.’

‘Oh, it really did brighten up my day. I used to love curling up with a good romance but found it difficult when Bill passed. Now, I feel like I’m ready again.’

I should have known fiery Margaret would be up for a good enemies-to-lovers story. She isn’t one to shy away from a bit of confrontation, but I’m slowly but surely getting her on side, book by book.

‘Good for you, Margaret. I have another book in stock by the same author, let me find it for you. I think you’ll enjoy it.’

Seb’s call is starting as I pass him, scanning books on the shelves. He grins manically while greeting his colleagues.

So much for taking three days off work.

‘Ah, here it is,’ I say, picking it up from the shelf and carrying it over to Margaret.

‘Lovely.’

‘Yes, hello,’ Seb’s voice bellows around the shop. ‘The reception here is terrible. They’re stuck in the Dark Ages. If I cut out, send a pigeon carrier, it would probably be quicker.’

He lets out a loud chuckle.

I want the ground to swallow me up. Margaret pretends not to hear; she says nothing as she taps her card on the reader to pay for the book.

Seb continues: ‘Anyway, why don’t we circle back a bit? We need to think outside the box with this project and forge ahead with breaking down silos, don’t we?’

Margaret leans forward and whispers, ‘Is he speaking a different language?’

‘He’s bilingual, Margaret. Fluent in English and corporate jargon.’

Margaret grins, picking her book up from the counter. ‘He sounds like a bit of a twit. Okay, I’m off now. Thanks again for the recommendation. I hope you manage to drill down and move forward.’