Page 121 of Meet Me in Berlin

‘Wow,’ I say, watching her saunter out. ‘She’s something.’

Casey laughs. ‘That’s one way to describe her. She’s also the best mate anyone could have.’ She turns serious. ‘Just so you know – I don’t want any secrets – the person she’s seeing is Leila, who’s a good friend of Eva’s.’

I didn’t expect to hear Casey mutter Eva’s name so soon after arriving, and I try not to react to the jealously rippling through me. ‘Oh. Does that mean Eva’s in your circle of friends now?’

Casey shakes her head. ‘No. She’s busy with her life and her new partner.’

‘I saw her post last week that she’s met someone,’ I say sheepishly.

Casey’s brows shoot up. ‘You’ve been cyberstalking her?’

I scrunch my nose. ‘A bit. She actually has some really good make-up tips, although she doesn’t post as much as she did.’

‘No. She’s giving it a rest for a while, she said. Busy getting a make-up line going and?—’

‘I kissed someone,’ I blurt out.

Casey’s face falls.

‘I know we had that big conversation about everything, but I wanted to tell you in person so we could talk about it if you wanted to.’ I pause to let her speak, but she stays silent. ‘I don’t know why I did it; it really meant nothing. I’m sorry.’

‘You have nothing to be sorry for.’

‘It was?—’

‘You don’t owe me any explanations,’ she says, taking my hand.

‘I don’t want us to get back into this with any secrets.’

She nods. ‘Okay.’

‘It was that woman from the wine bar. The one in the photo I showed you in Berlin.’

She pulls her head back slightly. ‘Oh. She found you again. Or you found her…’

‘I was at the same wine bar. Had too much to drink. I was convinced you’d be sleeping with heaps of people. She was there, recognised me…’

Casey swallows. ‘It’s none of my business, but … was it just a kiss?’ She cowers a little, waiting for my answer.

‘Yes. A brief one at that, because all I could see was you. That made me cry and I ran off and called Jaz.’

Her eyebrows pull together and she gives a short laugh. ‘What?’

‘I called Jaz, and then I called you. It was when you were out for lunch with your family.’

‘Ah, that’s why you were upset.’ She pauses. ‘I deserve it, I guess. I haven’t, just so you know, kissed anyone or been with anyone since you.’

‘I know. Jaz told me.’

‘You asked Jaz that?’

I nod. ‘I needed to know.’ I take Casey’s hand, her skin soft and warm, and it feels so right to be touching her again. When I look up, she’s gazing at me, her eyes soft. ‘Should we maybe forget everything in the past and start again?’ I ask.

Casey nods. ‘Mmm. I won’t let you down this time.’

‘You might.’

She frowns. ‘True, but I’ll try really hard not to. Is that better?’

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