Kinky Boots(40)

It sounded really stupid when Meinrad said it, but that was pretty much it.

‘Jill doesn’t really seem the type for that,’ Meinrad said. Then he sipped his lime and soda. ‘Still, I suppose she might have a go at Chelsea if you leave them alone together and she’s angry enough, which she probably is.’ He shook his head. ‘She has quite a temper. What a revenge fuck that would be. Might stop by myself – if nothing else, just to watch.’

Finn flipped him off.

‘You’re a fool, Finn. If the woman were interested in anyone else, she wouldn’t look like she does every time she sees you.’

‘Look like she does?’ Finn said. ‘Like how?’

Meinrad downed the rest of his drink and stared into his glass. ‘Like you’re the only person in the room, or at least the only person she can see.’

A bout of raucous singing erupted at the bar and the two scooted a little further away. Finn downed the rest of his pint and realised that Meinrad was giving him the evil eye.

‘What?’

‘Finn –’ Meinrad leaned closer to be heard over the singing ‘– Jill’s not Lisa. She’s not anything like Lisa. Surely you can see that? What happened with Lisa won’t happen with Jill.’

‘We don’t know that, do we? We don’t know what will happen when Eleanor leaves Jill, or even if Eleanor stays. Maybe what happened with Lisa always happens. Maybe it’s the result of being possessed by a several-thousand-year-old lust demon. Maybe …’

‘Maybe lots of things, Finn. But there’s no going back now, is there? And you won’t let what happened to Lisa happen to Jill, none of us will, now that we know. I promise you.’

Finn wiped his hands on his jeans and pulled a deep breath. ‘It’s just that Eleanor can be so …’

‘Eleanor’s fine, mate. Eleanor’s in good hands with Jill. Jill’s not a pushover, and Eleanor’s not stupid enough to make the same mistake.’

‘Isn’t she? She was stupid enough to risk it all again, wasn’t she? Stupid enough to throw caution to the wind, even after everything that happened with Lisa.’

‘People get impulsive when they’re lonely,’ Meinrad said.

‘Eleanor’s not a person, and besides she has us.’

Meinrad raised an eyebrow. ‘With that kind of attitude towards her, I’d say it’s no wonder she went looking.’ Before Finn could respond, Meinrad raised a hand. ‘Listen, mate, it’s complicated, I know that. We all know that or we wouldn’t be fit to do what we do. But as far as I can tell, Eleanor’s fine. Jill’s fine. Jill’s exquisite, in fact. The only one who’s not fine is you.’

The two sat listening to the sound of glasses clinking, and the usual Monday-evening pub noises, calmer than weekends, but never truly quiet.

At last Finn spoke. ‘You think I should go find her?’

‘She just got a big promotion and you were a twat. You figure it out.’ Meinrad looked down at his watch. ‘I’ve got a date to tie a woman up, or do you need me to come hold your hand?’

* * *

‘You alone?’

Jill was startled to look up into the eyes of Rugby Man, leaning on the bar beside her. She hadn’t noticed him sidling in next to her. She had to catch herself before she said no. She was, after all, never alone any more. ‘Yep, alone. You?’

‘I came here with some friends,’ he said. ‘Just for a few laughs, you know?’ He nodded to her glass. ‘You’re drinking fizz. Special occasion?’

‘Big promotion,’ she said. Inside Eleanor felt way more reticent than she had last time Rugby Bloke was in the picture. But hadn’t she said he was OK? And he did seem nice enough. If he wanted to shag her, well, so what? Isn’t that really what most people were looking for? And the other night, had it only been such a short time ago? Back then she might have possibly considered it. But now, now when she should have taken a bit of pleasure in the idea of making Finn jealous, in the idea of shagging Rugby Bloke’s brains out, she didn’t have the heart for it.

He ordered her another fizz without asking, and himself a Stella. She didn’t protest. ‘Seems strange to be celebrating something like that alone. It was a good promotion, wasn’t it?’

She forced a smile. ‘A really good one, actually, and totally unexpected.’

He nodded sagely. ‘Well, that explains why you’re here alone then. It was so unexpected you haven’t had the chance to share the good news.’

Inside she felt Eleanor bristle.

‘You said he was a nice guy.’