Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to interrupt,” I say. “I just want to drop this and go. I’ll get the next ferry back to Mallaig.”
He frowns, then steps aside and opens the small door as wide as it will go. “Come in.”
“Honestly, it’s a long journey back, I shouldn’t stay.” I’m exhausted. The prospect of a four-hour drive back to Glasgow after another two-hour ferry journey doesn’t fill me with glee, but sitting around making small talk with someone I barely know—even if he is hot as hell and has seen my knickers—isn’t going to make the idea any more appealing.
“Come in, Ellie.” His forceful tone catches me off guard. “There are no more ferries today.”
I shiver and my ribs ache with cold. What does he mean no more ferries today? “I took the first one over. I’ll get the afternoon one back.”
There are two ferries a day. I checked.
“There isn’t an afternoon one. Not in November. You must have looked at the summer timetable.” He shuts the door and passes by me.
A ball of anxiety sticks in my throat. I’m the assistant. I’m meant to be organized and proactive. I’m meant to be able to read a ferry timetable. “I’m sure there’s another,” I mumble.
“Do you want a tea or coffee?” he calls from wherever he’s disappeared to.
I glance up. The cottage is tiny. The front door leads straight into the living room, where on the left there’s a red brick inglenook fireplace at one end, with a large sofa opposite. Other than a basket filled with logs, that’s all that will fit. Beside the fireplace there’s another small door, where Zach’s voice is coming from. I put my case down and go through. The kitchen is larger than I expected but still small, and looks even smaller because Zach is so big.
“I don’t want to put you to any trouble. I’m fine, I just need to find a hotel and I’ll go back on the morning ferry.”
“There are no hotels on the island. You’ll stay here tonight…” His voice fades out as I realize I’m stranded and the boss, who I’m supposed to be helping, is making me a coffee.
This is ridiculous. I’m hopeless. No wonder this is the only job I could get that paid more than minimum wage. I’ve got no skills or qualifications. I’m no good at doing anything other than planning my boyfriend’s calendar.
Buried tears push to the surface and threaten to spill over. “Excuse me,” I blurt out before fleeing the kitchen and out the front door. What am I doing here? What was I thinking? I lean against the house and then sink to my knees and cover my face with my hands.
I’m useless. Shane was right. How am I going to handle a year at Le Cordon Bleu when I can’t even travel to Scotland without fucking it up?
My parents were right, too. Ditching university for my boyfriend was the worst decision of my life. The people I’ve managed to keep as friends are busy climbing their career ladders and here I am in the middle of nowhere, not even able to deliver post properly. I’ve spent the last six weeks doing nothing. That’s all I’m good for. If Zach actually ever gets patients, he’s going to fire me because there’s no way I’ll be able to handle it.
“Ellie?” Zach’s come outside and is standing over me.
“Can you give me a minute?” I ask, not taking my hands from my face.
“It’s cold out here. Come in.”
“I’m fine. I just need a minute.”
I’m not fine and it’s going to take a hell of a lot longer than a minute to recover, but I can’t cope with my boss witnessing my going under.
I hear the door close and I exhale, thankful that at least now I can melt down without an audience.
Deep breath in. Long breath out.
Realistically, I messed up. But at least Zach has his mysterious package. If he could have waited three to five days, he should have said. The only way to get this package to him today was to bring it myself, so that’s what I did.
He’s going to have to put up with an overnight guest, but at least he got his package. I stand up. Worst-case scenario, he’ll fire me. I’ve been fully expecting that for a few weeks now, so I’m no worse off now than I was before I left London this morning. Well, I’m close to five hundred pounds worse off, but at least I’ve got an example of my proactive nature.
I take a deep breath and turn back to face the house. Zach’s looking back at me through the glazed door. He looks concerned. Or irritated. I don’t know him well enough to know the difference.
I need to deal with what I’ve got, not what I’d like. I step forward and he opens the door almost immediately.