‘Okay, okay. Keep your wig on.’
I let out a long sigh. ‘The thing is, Ryan, a girl has to becareful. Especially a girl who’s suddenly come into money.’
He studies me warily.
I snatch up his phone and brandish it at him. ‘I think youneed to read your latest text. Then all will become clear.’ I give a bitter laugh.‘Because things becameblindinglyclear for me when I happened to readit by mistake!’
Frowning, he clicks on the text from Tom, and his facechanges as he reads it.
Not quite meeting my eyes, he gives a sheepish shrug. ‘Okay,so I knew.’
CHAPTERELEVEN
‘Great. So you found out I’d come into money and atthe same time you decided now would beexactlythe right time to getback in touch. You bloody slimeball, Ryan. It doesn’t take much of a brain towork out that the two things happening at the same time aren’t exactly acoincidence.’
He looks affronted. ‘You mean you think I only got back intouch because I found out you were wealthy? You know me better than that,surely?’
‘So why did you lie to me and pretend you didn’t know aboutit?’
‘Well, because...’ He’s floundering, I cantell, rooting around for another lie. ‘Because I’d been thinking about youbeforeI heard about your good fortune. But then I thought that if I got in touch,you’d think exactly what you’re thinking just now – that I only phoned becauseof the money. So I thought the best thing to do was pretend I didn’t know aboutit.’ He folds his arms and eyeballs me with an air of satisfaction at havingmanaged to wheedle his way out of a tight spot.
‘Yeah, right. Good one, Ryan. Look, I know all about yourrecent... problems. It’s obvious you thought you could wormyour way back into my good books and tap me for a loan.’
‘What? But that’s rubbish!’ He frowns, his confidence wavering.‘Look, I’ve stopped the gambling and I’m going for counselling, starting nextweek.’
‘Gambling?’ I stare at him in horror. ‘Well, that’s a newone on me. So I suppose you thought I might fall at your feet and agree to payoff your debts for you.’ I shake my head in disgust – at him, and at myself forbeing such a mug. ‘Well, that’s the very last time I’m going to be taken for afool!’ Angrily, I grab my coat but, in my agitation, manage to stick my arm inthe wrong hole.
When he tries to help me, I snatch my arm away and stand up,glaring down at him.
He shrugs awkwardly. ‘Okay, you want honesty. Well, I admitit. I was hoping you might be able to help. But it would just be a very smallloan.’ He sees my face harden even more and starts to backtrack. ‘Okay, okay,sorry. Forget that. But can we stay in touch anyway? It’s been so great seeingyou again, Krystle.’
‘Er, thanks but no thanks. I’m not that desperate forcompany. Goodbye, Ryan. Hope you sort yourself out, but it won’t be with myhelp.’ And I march away from him and out of the pub.
Outside, I lean against the wall, taking deep breaths to tryand stop shaking.
I can’t believe I actually trusted him! I really thoughthe’d changed... that life’s knocks had matured him from theoverly confident, quite arrogant guy I was engaged to. But nothing’s changed atall. The bloody cheek of him! Thinking he could charm me to death and then getme to lend him money, and I’d just roll over and say, ‘Yes, Ryan. Of course,Ryan. Would you like a Rolex watch to go with that loan, Ryan?’
I’m quite surprised he hasn’t come after me, to plead hiscase. But when I glance through the window, I see the reason why. He’s leaningover the counter, chatting to the girl behind the bar. She’s respondingflirtatiously, clearly lapping up his pathetic line in chat. (Not that I’mbitter in any way. Not at all.)
I peel myself away from the wall. Ryan is already lining uphis next conquest. He really couldn’t care less about me.
Time to go home.
‘Hey, are you okay?’
Turning, I find myself staring up into the dark eyes of astranger from the pub.
*****
‘Oh. Hello.’ I recognise him from the group of guyssitting on the next table. ‘Er, yes. Yes, I’m fine, thanks.’
Oh, hell, how embarrassing! He’ll have witnessed thewhole shouting match with Ryan, including my near-death experience, choking onthe champagne.
He nods, peering at me through the gloom with a slight frownas if he can see right through my over-bright smile. ‘I couldn’t help but overhearthe... discussion you were having. And then you stormed out,looking really upset.’ He looks along the road. ‘Can I call you a taxi orsomething?’
‘Oh, no. Don’t worry about me. I’m just a short walk away.’I point along the road. ‘Where are you?’
‘Sunnybrook.’
