Page 37 of Faking With You

“I have to head into the office for a bit. There’s a great café around the corner for breakfast, and I’ll make sure to stop at the shop on my way back and grab some food.”

She rubs her eyes as she rolls on her back and then stretches. “I can go to the store.”

“Don’t feel like you need to. I’m going to try and finish with my father as quickly as possible so I can join you.”

She tucks the blankets under her chin as she rolls back to face me, and I can’t help the smile that hits my face as I stare at her.She looks perfect right now in a way that I can’t even put into words.

“I’ll be fine.”

I know she’s right. She’s proven she’s independent and can take care of herself, but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to be there with her.

I grab a pair of trousers and a shirt out of my suitcase and change before quickly brushing my teeth and putting shoes on. I look at Eliza one last time before I head for the office.

I hail a taxi and give the address of the office. The sky is grey as clouds cover the city; one thing London and Vancouver have in common is the weather. I check my emails during the short ride and notice my father has sent a few that he claims require my immediate attention. I glance over them, unsure of why they need attention on a Sunday, let alone my first day back in the country.

I pay the driver and step out of the taxi as I take in the building. It’s not as tall as the one in Vancouver, but for some reason, it feels more daunting. This is the same building my father was in when he started this business. He’s now expanded his company into seven different countries and several more cities and has offices in all of them, but this is where it all started.

The building is locked, and I have to pull out my keycard, sliding it across the reader until the door click open. I take the lift to the top floor and find my father in his office reading something on his computer.

“Good morning,” I say as I take a seat in a wingback chair across from his desk.

He jumps straight into business, skipping all pleasantries, and I should be used to it even though we don’t see each other in person often, but it still has me shaking my head slightly. Not all people are meant to be parents, and my father is one of them.

After hours of reviewing different things with my father, he looks at me and asks, “Do you have better places to be?”

I sigh. “I left Eliza in a city she’s never been to, all alone with zero food in the flat. I had thought I’d at least be able to help her get settled today.”

He looks at the time and starts gathering the papers that are now spread out over his desk. “Very well, get back to your girlfriend and we’ll pick this up tomorrow.”

I stare directly at him. “Might I remind you that you’re the one who insisted I find a serious relationship, now that I have that means changes.”

“When your mother and I were dating I was in the office every day building this business you hope to take over one day.”

“Yes, well, mom is from here and that relationship didn’t exactly last.”

“It was for the best, she couldn’t keep house the way she was supposed to.”

It takes everything in me not to sock him in the face, the bloody wanker. No matter his opinions of her, she’s still my mother. I stand and leave, not offering him a single word of salutation.

CHAPTER 29

Eliza

Istare at the bedroom door after Mac leaves before letting out a breath and rolling onto my back. In a strange city and all by myself. My only saving grace is that at least I speak the language, I don’t even want to think about what this situation would be like in a non-English speaking country.

Knowing I won’t be falling back asleep right now, I throw the blankets off and head to the window to check the weather. Seeing it looks like what it would be like at home, I slip into a pair of skinny jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, and a warm cardigan before grabbing my favourite pair of knee-high boots. I almost didn’t pack them, but Hannah said I had to especially because, in her words, they make my ass look like fire.

I grab my purse and pull up maps on my phone and put in the name of the café Mac texted me after he left. It’s close by, and I take my time getting there. The streets are busy, familes walking together and people popping in and out of shops.

When I arrive at the café I find a table and stare at the menu. I choose to indulge and order the Nutella and strawberrypancakes with a mocha. When my coffee is dropped off, I snap a picture and send it to the girls to let them know I’m alive.

Hannah

Reacted to your photo

Bailey

Please tell me you’re also getting food with that coffee