‘No, you weren’t. You’ve fallen for the fake boyfriend.’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Ros. Although she feared Darla may have found the simple explanation to how she had been feeling recently and behind her growing attachment to Cameron. She’d not felt like this before and she couldn’t say it was something she’d recommend, especially when it wasn’t reciprocated and was never likely to be.
Ros puffed out a sigh. ‘Even if I have – and I’m not admitting it, merely pursuing your suggestion as a possibility – then it’s pointless because Cameron is in love with Gina. I just need to recalibrate. Well, I would if I was in love with him, which I’m not.’ She broke eye contact because it felt like lying, probably not just to Darla but also to herself.
‘Oh, sweetie. You’re a terrible liar. Unreciprocated loved sucks. I know, ask Phillip Yates.’
‘Who?’
‘Long story involving a Barbie lamp. Never mind.’ Darla wrapped her in a hug. Ros would usually make such things brief but she was starting to appreciate the benefits of comforting human contact and recognised that today she needed a hug. She was feeling sorry for herself.
Darla pulled back to look at her friend. ‘Are we one hundred per cent watertight on the Gina thing?’
‘Yep,’ said Ros flatly.
‘She’d better be worth upsetting my best friend for.’
‘I’m afraid she is,’ said Ros.
Darla let go and wriggled back into her seat. ‘What you need is an exit strategy. So that when the time comes to stop playing at boyfriend, girlfriend and flatmates, it doesn’t break your heart.’
‘I think a clean break might be the answer. Maybe have a change of scenery – even a new challenge perhaps.’
‘Good idea. Now tell me about this Gina. She can’t be that brilliant. There must be something to hate about Jaunty Gina.’
‘Nope, she’s annoyingly perfect.’ Ros sipped her fizz and wished it had been the real deal to numb a very different pain from the one in her head.
‘Perfect people are very hard to find fault with. Bitch,’ said Darla with feeling and Ros laughed.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ros had had one of her best days at work ever and was retelling it to a rapt Cameron as they made dinner together. It was her first day back at work after the incident on the yacht and it was like she had been elevated to some sort of hero status as everyone wanted to speak to her including Berlinda. Although she did have to tone down the story that was circulating because the version of events that Sonia had relayed made it sound more like a remake of Pirates of the Caribbean but with less rum and more bloodshed.
She’d also had a phone call from Alastair’s golf club associate and she had to admit that the job he had available did sound interesting, so she had arranged to meet him after work the following week, by which time she was confident she would be using shampoo again.
‘Get you being one of the cool girls,’ said Cameron, giving her arm a nudge as they chopped salad vegetables side by side like synchronised chefs.
‘I wouldn’t go that far but work does feel different from how it used to. And now I think about it, I feel different too.’ They looked at each other and she had to look away.
He stopped chopping and turned towards her. ‘How so?’ he asked.
She thought for a moment to consider her reply. ‘It’s all your fault,’ she said, wagging her finger at him, pretending to tell him off. ‘You’ve encouraged me to take risks, against my better judgement and training, and it’s shown me that there are varying levels of engagement from the superficial to the significant that can deliver benefits.’
Cameron snorted a laugh. ‘In other words, people are all right when you take a bit of time to get to know them.’
‘Exactly what I said.’
Cameron leaned forward and Ros held her breath. He kissed the top of her head. ‘You’re a legend, Rosanna Foster.’
Somehow her full name didn’t grate on her when he said it.
They chatted over their meal about everything and nothing. The mundane and pointless that had so often irked her before was a pleasure to exchange with Cameron. They were stacking the dishwasher when the buzzer went. Ros went to answer it. She was mildly concerned when she heard it was her dad and doubly disturbed when she realised Amanda was also with him. ‘This can’t be good,’ she said to Cameron while she waited for them to make it to the top floor.
‘It’s probably nothing.’
‘And that takes both of them, does it?’
‘Perhaps they just want to check you’re okay,’ he said.
‘I spoke to Dad earlier, where I confirmed that I was completely fine. I’m not feeling fine now though.’ She felt sick.
He gave her a reassuring squeeze. She was going to miss those. ‘Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. You’ve got this.’
Ros took a deep breath and opened the door. Gazza was first inside as usual and overjoyed to see them. She wished she could say the same. Barry gave her a tight hug, but her mother’s embrace was considerably briefer and less effusive. Cameron made a fuss of the dog and her parents went and sat on the sofa. There was definitely something wrong.
‘Can I get either of you a tea or coffee?’ offered Ros.
‘Or something stronger?’ suggested Cameron.
‘Have you got any wine?’ asked Barry.
This was definitely not a good sign. She looked at Cameron and she knew that he was on her wavelength. He gave her a commiseratory smile. Even the eternally positive Cameron had sensed it. ‘I’ll get the drinks; you sit down,’ he said to Ros.
She steeled herself and joined her parents, whereupon Gazza had a renewed bout of excitement at her close proximity. Ros had to admit there was something mollifying about the level of adoration the little canine showed her. She gave him a rub around his ears. She could wash her hands later.
‘You look well,’ said Barry.
‘He means how’s the head injury? Any lasting damage?’ asked Amanda.
