Page 50 of The Jealous Girl

I heard Ryan’s sharp inhale.

‘You’re being melodramatic,’ he said, but his words were forced and unsteady. Melodramatic or not, his mother’s declaration had shaken him.

She shook her head. ‘You know what the doctor said. Are you really going to take that chance with your father’s life?’

Two Years Ago – Mid July

I spotted them the moment they stepped into the Poole Hospital café. I pushed my chair back quickly, abandoning my cold cup of tea as I reached for the suitcase handles. I’d spent the last thirty minutes watching the entrance. Waiting. Hoping. Praying his dad’s condition hadn’t deteriorated.

I awkwardly dragged the two cases into the narrow walkway between the tables, eager for news.

‘Ryan!’ The voice cut across the café. A woman rushed towards him from the far side of the room and threw her arms around his neck. She looked a couple of years younger than us, yet somehow her sun-bronzed skin, silky blonde hair and effortless confidence made her seem more poised and stylish than I’d ever felt, even when I hadn’t been travelling for hours.

Ryan stiffened in surprise for a second, then hugged her back.

Something tightened in my chest.

Who was she?

‘Excuse me,’ someone muttered beside me, trying to squeeze past. I jolted back into action, dragging the cases out of the way as heat crept into my cheeks.

I couldn’t stand here in the way. But I didn’t know where else to go. I wasn’t sure I should interrupt the reunion that was playing out before me.

Or perhaps I should? The question circled my brain as jealousy stirred within me. She wasn’t family, I knew that much. Ryan had said it was only him and his parents.

I moved forward slowly, stopping a few steps short of them. Not close enough to intrude, but close enough to be included.

If I was wanted.

‘How is he?’ the woman asked as she stepped back slightly. One hand remained on Ryan’s shoulder while her other reached for his mum’s, squeezing it tightly.

Ryan exhaled. ‘Stable. But they’re still keeping him in.’

She nodded, relief flickering across her face.

I moved the cases, letting someone else pass. The movement caught Ryan’s attention, and he finally looked at me.

‘Hey,’ he said, stepping towards me, letting the woman’s hand fall from his shoulder.

He stretched out his hand, and for a moment I thought he was reaching for me. But then his fingers wrapped around his suitcase handle. He tugged the case towards him and turned back to the others.

I flexed my fingers, missing his hand in mine.

‘Charlotte, this is Kirsty,’ he said, jerking his head slightly in my direction.

I prepared myself for the words that would follow – my girlfriend. But they didn’t come.

‘Hey,’ Charlotte said, with a small nod.

‘Hi,’ I replied. I glanced back at Ryan, still waiting for the remainder of his introduction.

‘We should probably get out of the way,’ he said. ‘We’re blocking the entrance.’

I blinked. That was it? He wasn’t even going to call me his girlfriend? Or, for that matter, explain who Charlotte was?

I forced my breath out. My jealousy was ridiculous. Ryan had other things on his mind than worrying about making introductions. More important things.

Charlotte and his mum turned and headed out of the café, their heads bent together, voices low.