AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Poppy frowned. He was doing a good job of sounding sincere.
‘You don’t have to tell me.’ Please don’t.
It had been enough of a sucker punch when Melissa told her, but to hear it from Ben himself… She didn’t need that.
‘You deserve to know.’ The line crackled as he cleared his throat again, this time his voice void of the confidence he’d had before. ‘I’ve been seeing Davina from work. It started after we’d separated. I want you to know that. I’d never, ever have cheated on you.’
Davina. She nodded. She knew her. She’d met her at one of Ben’s summer work dos a couple of years ago. Davina had been friendly, lovely even. She remembered thinking that at the time.
‘Davina’s nice. I’m pleased for you.’
‘Are you sure? You don’t sound very pleased.’
She was just talking normally. What proof did he want? Maybe she should switch to video call and do a cartwheel across the courtyard. Then she could show him how pleased she was. She snorted at the thought.
‘You’re not crying, are you? I didn’t want to upset you, I just wanted to be upfront and honest.’
Credit to Ben, he did actually sound concerned.
‘Sorry, no, I’m not.’ She shook her head. ‘I am pleased for you. I remember meeting her and thinking she was nice.’
‘You do? We only went on our first date that weekend you left for Cornwall, as I told you at the time, but it’s been a bit of a roller coaster, if I’m honest. Everything’s gone so quick, and I think I might actually l—’
‘I’m sorry, Ben. Aunt Flora’s calling me. I should go. Thanks for letting me know about the house. Please keep me posted.’
Pressing the end call button, Poppy walked across the courtyard towards the gate. Ben had been about to tell her that he loved Davina. Tellher, his ex.
She leaned her elbows on the gate, barely noticing the piercing cold metal, and looked out across the fields opposite. It was good news that an offer had been put in on the house. And she supposed it was good news that Ben had fallen in love with Davina. He deserved to be happy. Even if it hadn’t taken him long to replace her. That was good. Good for him.
At least he was moving on.
Looking down at her phone, she scrolled through to Mack’s name, the pad of her thumb lingering over the call button.
No, he’d made it clear yesterday’s near-kiss had been a mistake. Of course, it had. Look at her. Homeless, jobless and quite almost penniless. She wasn’t really a catch, was she? Mack had the house, the surgery, the stability.
She switched her phone off and slipped it back into her pocket. Who was she kidding? Thinking that Mack had actually wanted to kiss her? She laughed; her tone low, shallow. It had taken him less than a second to realise he’d made a mistake. Less than a second to weigh everything up in his mind and come to the conclusion that she wasn’t good enough for him.
22
‘We should celebrate the fact your house is now under offer.’ Ginny grinned as they locked the kennels up for the night.
‘Nah.’ Poppy shook her head. Everyone else had already left. Besides, she wasn’t really in the mood. ‘It’s too cold to go out.’
Ginny frowned and pocketed the keys before double-checking the door was locked. ‘How about coming over to mine, then? We can grab a pizza and a film. It’ll be nice to have a girly night.’
Poppy pulled her gloves on. ‘I don’t know. Maybe. As long as you don’t think Darryl will mind?’
‘Hey, I’m not one of those women who drops their mates and stops spending time with other people just because I have a partner.’ Looking over at Poppy, she grinned. ‘Come on, it’ll be fun. Or at least warmer than standing out here chatting.’
‘Okay, okay. It sounds like a good plan. I could do with doing something, even if it’s only a takeaway and film.’ She held her hands up.
‘Great. And you’re right, you should celebrate. This is a big moment, selling the house you bought with Ben. You deserve to mark the date.’ Ginny pulled her car keys from her coat pocket.
‘Yes.’ Poppy nodded as she slipped into the passenger side. She hadn’t meant that she could do with celebrating, she’d meant she could do with something to take her mind off things and that she stood a better chance of doing that if she wasn’t wallowing at home.
* * *
‘Yuck! Here’s another one!’ Ginny picked a sliced olive off her pizza and threw it back into the open pizza box on the coffee table. ‘Is there really any need? Who likes olives anyway?’
