Page 88 of Meet Me in Berlin

I spot Casey returning to the table with a glass of wine. My heart leaps and I start towards the door.

‘I’m her fiancée,’ Eva says.

I freeze. My hand drops to my side, but the call is still connected and coming through my headphones. ‘Sorry?’ I say, staring at her through the glass.

‘Her fee-ance-ay.’ She pronounces each syllable clearly and slowly. ‘You speak English in Australia, don’t you?’

The narrow street closes in on me as my disbelieving gaze shifts to Casey. Her eyes are wide, and she shakes her head at me before she rips the phone from Eva’s hands, and I hear, ‘Fuck you, Eva.’

My fingers tremble as I end the call, shove the headphones back in their case and race off, alternating between a jog and a fast walk.

‘Holly, wait!’ A hand grips my shoulder. ‘Please.’

I spin and wipe my face. ‘Your fiancée?’

Casey’s face crumples. ‘I’m sorry.’

I clutch my hand to my chest as though I’m trying to stop my heart from falling out. ‘Your fiancée.’ It’s not a question now; it’s a bitter accusation.

She shakes her head. ‘She’s not.’

‘No?’

‘No.’ She places her palm against her forehead and screws her eyes shut. ‘Not anymore.’

‘When did she stop being your fiancée? Like, months ago?’ I wait, willing her to say yes.

She looks down at the footpath and shakes her head.

I swallow. ‘Weeks ago?’

She meets my gaze and shakes her head again.

I close my eyes not wanting to look at her because in my heart, I know the answer to my next question. ‘Was she still your fiancée on the weekend?’ Reluctantly, I open my eyes.

She bites her bottom lip and nods.

‘Fuck, Casey.’

‘I wanted to tell you.’

‘Then why didn’t you?’

‘Because, well, she wasn’t in my head. Like, I mean, it was over for me and I was about to tell her, and I met you and things happened so fast and it was so brilliant, and I didn’t want to hurt you, and I…’

‘What?’

She clasps her hands behind her head, a pained expression on her face. She’s only in a T-shirt, and her arms are covered in goosebumps from the cool air. Despite my hurt and anger, I’m desperate to pull her close and keep her warm. But I restrain myself because I’ve been here before with Lily. I won’t fall for it again.

‘How could it be over if she was still your fiancée? And she clearly doesn’t think it’s over.’

‘It is over. Now.’ Casey shakes her head. ‘No. Then. It was over then. I was going to tell her on the Friday night. I was going back to my room straight after work to tell her, but instead I found you. We got on so well and you kissed me?—’

‘I kissed you? That’s your reason for not telling me?’

People navigate around us, throwing curious looks. Casey steps closer and lowers her voice. ‘No. All I meant was, when you kissed me, I didn’t want to stop.’

‘I asked you that first morning when we were out for breakfast. I told you about Tom and asked if there was anyone recent. You said no.’

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