Chapter Eight
Molly
I knew Alfie was already gone when I woke to sunlight leaking in through the curtains of the guest room. The sound of his staff throughout the house kept me in bed while I snuggled deeper into the blankets. If I had two weeks left before having to go back to the States to face the damage, I planned on taking every opportunity to catch up on sleep while I could. I still struggled with the time change, even days later, and I needed to think straight when it came to what I was going to do next.
And what that was, I had no fucking clue.
A headache pounded in my temples just thinking about it. I needed to call Peyton to make sure that she got back to New York just fine. I should have already done it. Maybe I could rent out a room with her for a few weeks while I looked for a new apartment in the city. She wouldn’t mind at all, and maybe having some time around her would help me with the healing process.
I had no intention of staying in London in the flat that Harry was still using. He could have it. He could pay for it. My life would be better lived back in the United States where I could soon turn his sorry ass into a distant memory.
Besides, I wanted my old life back in the city—the one that I had dropped for him because he didn’t want me split between the United States and England.
Why hadn’t I seen any of this shit before? He was such a selfish bastard, and I fell for it without asking a question. Is security that important?
It seemed so clear now that Harry and I were complete strangers. I had forced myself to look away from those warning signs that were there from the very beginning. I was twenty-eight and about to start all over again. I felt exhausted at the thought of going back into the dating scene after being tied to Harry for so many years.
Gary was going to have a blast rubbing all of it in my face. I knew he would the second he found out that the wedding was off. I could just hear his gravelly voice saying, “I told you, Molly. I told you not to hand in your resignation.”
I waited until I heard the last of the staff leave the house before taking a quick shower. I found my laundry sitting neatly in a laundry basket outside of the guest bedroom door that the maid had left there for me. Grateful, I slipped into a pair of leggings and a long-sleeve shirt to combat the chilly spring day. That was one thing that I did not enjoy about England—the very cold and rainy spring days.
My phone battery was in the red when I found it at the bottom of my purse in the living room. Plugging it in to charge, I reluctantly picked up the landline to dial Peyton’s number. Alfie had made it clear that I could use the phone to avoid international charges on my own phone plan.
“Hello?” she answered after the first ring. The sound of her voice caused relief to flood me. I’d just seen her the day before, but she was a comfort to me. She had been for a long time.
“It’s me,” I said, sitting down on the edge of a chair. “I just wanted to make sure that you made it back to the city okay.”
“Yeah. It was a long flight, but I’m home. Safe and sound.” She let out a sigh, and I could almost see her sitting on her flamboyant red couch in the middle of her modernized living room. Part of me yearned to be there with her.
“Good.” I reached up and tucked a stray hair behind my ear as one of the maids walked by and gave me a warm smile. I waved not knowing what else to do.
“Yeah, so what’s going on? Are you still at Alfie’s place in Devon?” her voice tightened a little. Great.
“Yep. I decided to stay here for the next two weeks, and then after that…well, I’m not entirely sure.” I stood and started to pace the floor.
“Okay.” She chuckled. “I like the idea of you having a mini-vacation, but I’m not so sure I like the idea of who you’re staying with, Mol. He’s Harry’s best friend.”
“No, not really.” I shook my head as if she could see me.
“Right, but they were close enough that he had Alfie as his best man.”
“I know.” I dropped back down on the couch. “But it’s just a friendship, and honestly, it’s going to be nice to have him show me the city. He’s a real gentleman.”
“Harry was too when you first met.”
I felt like I was on the phone with my mother. No, my mom would have been less evasive. I couldn’t get onto Peyton. She loved me and was simply concerned. I’d have done the same thing.
“You’re right, but I’m staying. I feel like a few weeks out here touring the city is just what I need.” I pursed my lips, waiting in silence for her to come back with a million reasons why it was a horrible idea. I was strong-willed, but she was a notch up from me.
“All right, do what you think is best. I don’t agree, but you know what you need right now, so go for it.” She paused briefly, and I thought I was off the hook. “But, make sure you remember one thing.”
“What’s that?” I held my breath.
“Alfie should remain a tour guide and a friend, and that’s all. You’re in a vulnerable position right now after everything that happened. Don’t let yourself get involved with him. It’s too soon, and you’re not ready. And besides that—and forgive me in advance for saying it—but people are good friends with others because they share similar characteristics. Which ones does Alfie share with Harry?”
“I don’t know yet, but you’re right. I’ll be on guard, and I promise you, I’m not falling for this guy. My heart is too weary to feel anything.”
“Says the girl who can’t say no to a proper Englishman.” She laughed. “Just promise you’ll be careful. You know I don’t want you to get hurt again. I’ll have to go on a rampage and burn down the whole fucking country.”
“See? There’s the characteristic that we share. We’re both passionate about the people we love.” I steered the conversation away from Alfie. She had valid concerns, but me falling in love with Harry’s old friend wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t needy, and I wasn’t desperate.
I was tired and rejected.
“Molly?” Alfie’s voice surprised me.
“I need to go.” I dropped the call with Peyton and got up to walk down the hall. We bumped into each other as I walked out of the living room door. “Oh! I’m so sorry.”
He grabbed my arms and chuckled. “Damn, woman. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
I smiled, glad to see him. Shit. Maybe Peyton’s concerns were valid. “You’re home early.”
“I am.” His eyes moved across my face as if he were searching out a hidden truth. “Go get dressed in some comfortable walking shoes. I want to take you down some of the small streets in town. You need to get out and have some fun, and I need a break from technology and marketing gurus.”
“I like the sound of that.” I walked around him into the hall before bounding up the stairs. I called back over my shoulder, “I made cookies. They’re in the kitchen.”
He mumbled something about me trying to make him fat. I laughed and changed into a pair of capris, tennis shoes, and a comfortable shirt that made my boobs look good. After running my fingers through my hair, I pulled it up and put on a little bit of lipstick. There was no reason to get all dolled up. We were just friends, after all.
“Make sure your shoes are comfortable.” His voice rose up the stairs.
“You’re not my boss, Mister Technology.” I walked down to find him watching me. I smiled. “You have plenty of people to boss around. I’m not one of them.”
“And somehow that makes me want to boss you around all the more.” He laughed and opened the door behind me. “Come on. Let’s go look in some of the small shops. I know some places around Devon that you might not have seen before.”
We walked around the various streets, Alfie seeming to know everyone. There weren’t more than a small handful of people that didn’t greet him by name.
“Small town.” I smiled over at him.
“Yep. I enjoy it quite a bit. We all watch out for each other.” He reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me back as a bus moved through the street in front of us. “That’s Henry Dilmont. He’s a bit of a drinker.” He rolled his eyes.
I snorted. “And he’s the bus driver?”
“Stranger things have happened.” He released my hand, and a part of me lamented over losing the warmth of his touch. I knew then that I somehow was saved from making a huge mistake with Harry. If I were capable of having even the slightest warmth toward another man after leaving Harry at the altar, the wedding was a joke.
Hell, my life was a joke.
“Speaking of drunks… I could certainly use a drink.” I shifted my bags from one hand to the next, having picked up a few cute outfits as we walked around the city.
“What the lady wants, the lady gets.” He reached out and took the bags before offering me his arm. “Join me for a proper pre-dinner drink?”
“Proper pre-dinner drink?” I laughed and slipped my hand around his arm.
He shrugged and walked us to the nearest pub. “It sounded a little more cheeky in my head.”
He was far too cute for his own good. “Trying to liquor me up, Alfie?”
“I’m a young, hot-blooded Englishman. It’s cold at night, lass. Of course I’m trying to liquor you up.”
“Such a scoundrel.” I reached and opened the door for us.
He shook his head and gave me a toothy grin. “You misunderstand, my lady. It’s not to take advantage of you, but to steal your blankets for my own bed.”
“Oh. I thought you wanted to seduce me.” I pretended to pout before walking into the pub. “Never mind then. Perhaps someone in here will.”
“Now, just a minute…” His voice was filled with mirth. It was going to be a fun night. Intentions be damned.