"You’re going to let Robbie move in with you?" she asks as she gets up again, fetches milk from the fridge and hands it over to me.
I know she is just joking, but I remind myself to make more time to watch Robbie and take some pressure off her.
"Funny, but no. I ran into Amelia."
"Amelia… the Amelia? The one whose heart you broke?" I flinch at her words. "Sorry," she adds and gives my arm a pat. She isn't wrong but it's also not quite that simple.
"Yes, that Amelia."
"Where did you meet her? I know she still lives in the village, but in all these years I haven’t so much as caught a glimpse of her." Fi asks as she stirs her tea .
"Uncle Ben, look!" Robbie shouts from the garden and we both direct our eyes to him. I wave and he waves back before coasting down the slide.
"I stumbled across her profile on a dating app." No need to explain which app exactly.
My sister knows that I'm into BDSM. We had to have the world’s most embarrassing conversation when she and I had dinner one evening and Gina decided to surprise me. I was in the bathroom, so my sister opened the front door to a woman with her coat open and not much else underneath, purring "Time for my spanking, Master." But it’s not something we talk about, and I definitely haven't told her that I’m a pleasure dom. Imagine that admission over Sunday roast.
"And?" she asks, taking another sip of her tea.
"I messaged her, but I didn't tell her it's me."
"You’re catfishing her?"
"No! It's my name, my details, but my photo only shows me up to here." I hold my hand at nose height. "I just didn't tell her that it's me."
"Ben. What do you think is going to happen when she finds out?" She gives me a dark look.
"I don't know. But if I tell her now, she'll just block me again. I need a chance to explain."
"Ben—"
"Fi, I need this chance. I need to see her. I need to talk to her. I need to apologise." There is desperation in my voice. I rub the back of my neck nervously.
"You guys broke up such a long time ago. Are you still hung up on her? I thought you’d moved on. You never speak about her." Fi studies my face.
"It's not that. I just want a chance to apologise," I defend myself.
"Ben, it's been years. Isn't it water under the bridge by now?"
"It's never too late," I sigh, my gaze drifting to the garden where Robbie is swinging from the monkey bars. "Never too late to apologise."
"So, what did she say in the app?"
"Oh, we just had a casual conversation." I grin and hope she'll let it go because I really can't tell her what we talked about.
"At least do me a favour and set your expectations low. I remember what a mess you were after she broke up with you." There is genuine concern in her voice.
"I'm just going to apologise."
A knock on my door draws my attention away from my computer, but before I can reply, it’s pulled open. I don't need to check who it is. Only one person would enter my office before I invite them in. Coop gives me a grin and plonks himself into the chair in front of my desk.
"If you are here to gloat that you’re taking a beautiful woman on a romantic trip, you can fuck off," I smirk.
"No gloating. And it’s not just a romantic trip." He places a small ring box on my desk.
"Ah, that's so sweet, but you’re are not my type so no, I won't marry you." I chuckle.
"Wanker," he laughs.
"Are you sure you are ready?" I ask more seriously. I feel as a friend it’s my duty to ask him, even if I know he’s doing the right thing. He and Lizzie are meant for each other.
"One thousand percent sure." He has a dopey look on his face.
"In which case I approve. Congratulations, mate."
"Thanks. But she hasn't said yes yet." Could he genuinely be worried she might say no? I lean back in my chair and cross my arms.
"Don't be stupid, Coop. Lizzie adores you." He just shrugs before taking the ring box and placing it back in his pocket.
"There’s something else, Ben."
"Yes, I'll be your best man," I grin. Coop just rolls his eyes.
"I'm serious. I want us to hire a general manager." My smile drops.
"What? Why?"
"Why? Because I don't want to work such long hours anymore and I don't want for you to, either. We have both worked our socks off for the last fifteen years. It's time to enjoy our hard work. We'll still be involved. Joined Executive Directors, just like now. All major decisions will be made by us and we’ll have full oversight, but we don't have to deal with the day-to-day stuff anymore."
