Page 42 of The Forbidden Fling

“Everything alright?” she asked, keeping her voice level.

“Yeah. We should go, or we’ll be late.” Molly jumped up from the bench, casting a glance behind her. “You coming?”

Faye nodded, but her face said she’d rather do anything else. They headed towards the reception where the offices were held, something unspoken thick in the air.

Had something happened?

Diana was too afraid to ask.

But then Molly filled in the gaps for her, and her eyes almost fell out of her head.

“Mum, this is Faye. We kinda used to date.”

The bundled ball of nerves in her stomach jumped into her throat. Used to…date?

A beat of silence stretched too long as Diana glanced at Faye. Her guts wound together, twisting into something ugly and sickly. Did Faye know that she was Molly’s mum?

Seeing the same horror reflected on Faye’s face, she knew the answer to that. Of course she didn’t—but god, what a mess.

When did they date? How did Diana not know about this? What else had she been missing in Molly’s life?

She hummed a response, a mixture of mild interest and intrigue. “Were you together long?”

“Mum,” Molly gasped. “You can’t ask that. Honestly.” As Faye pushed through into the reception, Molly hissed at her, “We didn’t exactly end things amicably.”

They waited by the wooden desk, time seeming to slow down as Diana’s brain fought to catch up. She needed more information than this.

“Funny how we bumped into each other here after all this time,” Molly chirped, looking at Faye in a way that made Diana want to throw up. “Don’t you think?”

“It is quite…improbable,” Diana replied, chancing a glance at Faye. She looked how Diana felt. Sick. Like she might collapse at any moment. She’d been planning to see her later, to pick up where they’d left things last night, but now…

God. She really might vomit if she thought about it too hard.

She could just imagine Jason’s reaction. Not only have you abandoned your daughter, you’ve traumatised her as well.

Her heartbeat kicked up a notch as she pictured Selena reporting her to the local news. Respected professor involved in family sex scandal.

Thankfully, the man with the hairiest knuckles Diana had ever seen walked through the doors; she’d never been so happy to see Marco Marcos, even if his name suited a tacky kids’ TV presenter rather than a doctor.

“Ah, you’re here.” He straightened his glasses. “Are you ready to start?”

“Yes.” She nodded, waiting until he’d unlocked his office and headed inside before turning back to the others. “I’ll see you later.” Her gaze locked with Faye’s, and a swirl of conflicting emotions tumbled in her belly before she looked away.

Don’t throw up. Don’t throw up.

She closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath in as she contemplated knocking her head against the wood.

So much for having a little harmless fun. She’d just made everything severely more complicated.

And if Molly found out?

All the progress she and Molly had made would be lost. Not just lost, but blown into teeny, minuscule pieces never to be fixed again.

How has this happened?

“Everything alright?” Marco Marcos asked, his deep voice jarring her upright.

Diana stepped away from the door, remembering where she was, and dusted her hands over her playsuit. Be professional. She offered him the sincerest smile she could muster, though her hands were still shaking. “Absolutely fine.”