AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m too wound up to even think straight, let alone drive, and I pull out my phone, going straight to my message app. My last text was from Zara and simply says ‘Love you, too’ followed by four kisses. She’d also told me I could collect on her kisses later, and right now, there’s nothing I need more.
— Have you finished work yet? xxx
I press send, hoping I won’t have to wait too long for her reply, and smile when she comes back to me within moments.
— Yes. How did it go? xxx
— Not great. I know I said to come to my place later, but can I see you now? xxx
— Of course. I’ll be home in about ten minutes. xxx
— It’ll take me that long to drive back to Hart’s Creek. I’m still in Willmont Vale. xxx
— In that case, come straight over. xxx
— Thanks, babe. I love you. xxxx
— I love you more. xxxxx
She has no idea how much I needed that, and I smile, going to my contacts list and connecting a call to Katie.
She takes a few rings to answer, and when she does, she sounds a little out of breath.
“Sorry. Did I interrupt something?”
“No. I was just helping a customer choose a recipe book, and I’d left my phone by the counter.”
“Oh, I see.” I glance out the window at a woman pushing a stroller, like she doesn’t have a care in the world, and I wonder what that must feel like. “I have a favor to ask, Katie?”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. My meeting with Sabrina didn’t go very well, and I’ve just arranged to go over to Zara’s place to talk it through with her. Can you…?”
“I’ll look after the store and close up at the usual time,” she says, interrupting me.
“Thanks. I owe you.”
“You don’t. I’m just sorry things didn’t go very well. Not surprised… just sorry.”
I know how she feels, and we end our call. I wait for the woman with the stroller to cross the street, then set off for Zara’s place.
“Are you okay?” She pulls me into her arms and inside her house, closing the door.
“No.” I hold her close, breathing her in, and she lets me, without a word, even though she must be full of questions. I know I would be in her shoes. Eventually, I lean back and look down at her upturned face. “Can we sit?”
“Sure.”
She leads me into the living room, sitting on the couch and waiting until I’ve joined her before she twists, turning to face me.
“It was awful, Zara.”
She nods, leaning closer. “In what way?”
“In every way. She told me not to tell Nash about us.”
“Why? Did she have a reason?”
“Not a logical one. She seemed to think it would upset him… like her moving her so-called boyfriend into her house wouldn’t.”
