Page 119 of The Jealous Girl

This was us.

This was what I’d been holding on to.

I pulled back slightly, tilting my chin up, my lips brushing his.

His arms loosened and he stepped back.

I swallowed, withdrawing as cold, sharp disappointment settled over me. That was familiar, too.

I forced a smile. ‘Have a good day.’

Ryan was already pulling his phone from his pocket, his attention shifting elsewhere as he reached for the door.

‘You too,’ he said, without looking up. ‘See you at the restaurant at 7 p.m.’

I paused, wondering whether it was too late to suggest something else? Something he’d actually want?

My chest tightened.

But what did he want?

41

NOW

Late August

Friday

‘Janine.’ I froze. ‘W—what are you doing here?’

‘The police called us,’ she said as she glanced back over her shoulder.

My gaze followed hers. ‘Dad? You’re here too?’

‘Hello, love,’ he said as he reached us. ‘I was just parking the car.’

I looked back and forth from one to the other, my stomach churning.

‘Why did the police call you?’

What could they possibly have to do with this?

‘I’m sure it’s nothing,’ Dad said, giving me a brief hug.

It was his customary greeting. Close enough to look like affection, but not enough to feel like it. No warmth. No lingering. Just a perfunctory action as though checking something off his list. A formality.

But that’s all our relationship had been for a long time.

‘Nothing?’ Janine repeated. ‘I’m not sure getting called to a police station about someone you’ve never met is nothing.’

‘They just want to ask a few questions,’ Dad said with a shrug. ‘You’re the one who spoke to the girl. Charlotte. Though, I’m still not sure why she ever rang you…’

We both turned to Janine expectantly.

‘She had a few questions too,’ Janine said with a shrug.

‘What did you tell her?’ My question came out sharp and accusatory. From the way her back straightened, I knew Janine had thought so too.