Page 116 of 5+Us Makes Seven

I decided to wear pretty much what I was wearing before, choosing a different set of underwear than the last time. A bit less cleavage, makeup not so pronounced. I wanted Jack to see the bruise on my face. Plus I didn’t want too much unwanted attention from any drunken strangers tonight.

A while later, after having a long, hot shower and getting ready for work, I sat on a chair in my kitchen, chewing thoughtfully on a pen. My laptop sat on the table in front of me, a small scrap of paper next to it. I was browsing a local map online, zooming in and out and scrolling around town. I nodded decisively, the screen fixed on a single location. I brushed my hair back over my ear as I scrawled a note onto the scrap of paper, then hiding it in my pants pocket.

“Here goes nothing,” I said aloud, sighing as I rose to leave for the bar.

I rehearsed my story about how I’d gotten my black eye in my mind as I walked to the bar. I didn’t need Jack to believe me, in fact I wanted the opposite. And anyway, if he was as good a detective as Cindy had said, he’d see through the bullshit anyway. It was anyone else who might be listening that I needed to convince.

I needed to convince them I was still covering for Conall. And that I wasn’t interested in talking to a cop.

My heart felt slightly heavy as I arrived for work, knowing that I’d need to brush Jack off casually if I wanted the ruse to work. But something told me he was sharp, that he noticed things others didn’t. I was confident he’d understand, maybe even play along.

God, I hope so. I don’t want to ruin things before they’ve even started.

I steeled myself with a deep breath before entering the bar, looking around casually and smiling furtively at the few faces I saw dotted around. As I’d expected, there were only a handful of drinkers in so far tonight. Only a few more would likely come and go before the end of the night.

Most faces I recognized, but there were one or two I didn’t. A guy sat in the booth nearest to the bar smiled at me as I walked past, a little too suspiciously.

OK. So I’m guessing I’ve got an audience then. Stay cool, Eden. You can do this.

I swapped with the girl Amy who’d been covering the early shift. She winced when she saw my face, but didn’t say anything. We barely knew each other as we’d never worked a double shift together, and I guessed she thought it was probably better not to ask.

I was glad to not have to repeat the story for a tenth time already today.

I set about serving the regulars, chatting away with them calmly as they nursed their beers. I brushed off their concern over my bruised face, explaining the imaginary drunken fall I had on Saturday. A couple of the guys laughed good naturedly at my story. I made sure I said it loud enough for those sitting in the booths nearby to hear.

As I’d expected, only a few more drinkers turned up over the course of the evening, and the shift was slow. It would almost have been boring if my heart wasn’t hammering in my chest at the thought of seeing Jack again.

A little while later the door swung open and a tall figure walked in. My eyes widened when I saw Jack standing there as he surveyed the drinkers inside.

He was wearing his usual jeans and shiny boots, doubled with an immaculate bleached white shirt which fitted his athletic form perfectly. His black leather trench coat adorned his broad shoulders, the collar turned up against the rain that was pouring down outside.

He brushed water off of his short blonde hair as he approached the bar, and I saw the muscles of his arm strain against the leather of his jacket.

I felt a tingle of desire mixed with nervousness as I studied him, feeling immediately safe at his presence. I figured it was gonna be a short visit, but all the while he was here I was untouchable.

I smiled at him as he approached, his eyes meeting mine as he looked up. He immediately frowned with concern as he saw the bruise on my face.

“Hey, Eden. Everything alright?” he said, in a deep voice strained with genuine worry.

I think I know how you could make everything better…

“Hey. Yeah, everything's fine. Nothing to worry about. Just had an accident when I was out drinking with a friend on Saturday night. Stumbled right into a door I thought she was gonna hold open for me!” I giggled nervously, brushing my hair back over an ear as his gaze intensified, his eyes studying my features.

Good. He thinks it’s bullshit. Now for pha

se two…

“Can I get you a drink?” I said, hands on the bar in front of Jack. I longed to lean over, grab him by his shirt, bring his face down to meet mine…

He was still frowning at me as I spoke, and I could see his mind working behind his clear eyes.

“Yeah. Sure, I’ll take a pale ale.” He took a seat on a stool, drumming his fingers on the bar as I poured his drink.

I turned to look at him as I poured the beer. He was returning my gaze, his expression fixed with concern and consternation. I think he’d already worked out what had happened and was already thinking about getting revenge.

Or at least, that’s what I’m hoping…

I took a deep breath as I approached, putting the glass down gingerly in front of him. I needed to get this part just right, or I was afraid I’d never see him again.