Page 23 of The Jealous Girl

They weren’t true. Not any more.

I had managed. At university. Here. I’d figured it all out. But⁠—

I swallowed.

I hadn’t really been on my own, had I?

Ryan had been with me.

After we’d met on the first day of university, he’d quickly become my anchor. And after that…

My gaze lifted to him again as he set his phone down on the table, crossed to the fridge and pulled the door open. ‘Orange juice?’ he asked, reaching for the carton.

I shook my head.

He looked relaxed and unbothered. It was all easy for him. Stay. Go. Whichever option he chose, he knew he’d be okay. He’d find his place.

Whereas me…

Did I even have one without him?

9

NOW

Late August

Monday

My thumb moved slower as I scrolled back through Charlotte’s Instagram feed, pausing on each photo that included Ryan. I’d rushed past them before. Intentionally avoiding looking at them properly, because looking was painful. But I studied them now.

There were so many of them. Shots of him with his arm draped around her shoulders. Or her hand resting on his forearm. My breath caught as I stared at him. Seeing him with her made something inside me ache.

Tears welled in my eyes. How long had this been going on? I glanced at the posting dates and gritted my teeth. Charlotte had been posting photos of the two of them together all through August.

When Ryan was supposed to be with me.

He looked happy. Grinning at her with that familiar smile I’d once believed was only meant for me.

My fingers twitched, desperately wanting to reach out and touch him. Before I could stop myself, I slid my fingers across the screen, enlarging the image, bringing his face closer. Clearer.

I wanted to run my hand through his hair, to⁠—

I froze.

Something was wrong.

My pulse quickened as I leaned in, my breath catching.

I frowned, my gaze sharpening as I stared at his forehead just above his eyebrow.

His skin was smooth. Unmarked.

Except that couldn’t be right.

The scar…

The cut from his stumble on the steps in Malta. I could still recall that day clearly. His yelp from behind me as I’d stormed ahead, angry and hurt, refusing to listen. Until he fell.