Page 74 of Meet Me in Berlin

My heart swells. ‘Me too.’

‘I just wanted to say hello and check you’re okay. I need to catch up with that couple over there,’ she says, jutting her chin towards the far corner. ‘You’ll be okay for a bit?’

‘Sure, I still have half the exhibition to look at.’ Felix’s husband approaches and hands me a fresh glass of wine. ‘And Matias is keeping me company.’

‘And hydrated,’ he says.

‘Cheers, Matias,’ Casey says, then disappears into the crowd, turning heads and drawing people in.

Chapter 24

Casey, Berlin

I’ve just secured the sale of Katarina’s painting when my jeans’ pocket vibrates. I excuse myself and pull out my phone to see Eva’s name flash on the screen like a warning siren. My stomach drops. I’ve been calling her for the past three days, wanting to tell her the truth, but she’s brushed me off each time with a hey, babe, busy, busy, speak later. I scan the gallery and spot Holly still talking to Matias. I feel sick that I haven’t been honest with her.

I disappear through the staff entrance and into Felix’s office. As much as I don’t want to have this conversation tonight, I can’t leave it any longer. Lying to both Holly and Eva is eating away at me. If Holly can leave an unhappy relationship and fly across the world, I can have a difficult conversation with someone I’m no longer in love with.

By the time I’m in the office, the ringing stops, but within seconds it starts again. I slide the call answer icon. ‘Hiya.’

‘Hi,’ Eva says quietly.

I take a deep breath. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to call me back all day. Eva, I need to talk to y?—’

‘Daddy’s in hospital,’ she sniffs.

‘What?’

‘He was in a car accident.’

‘Oh, God. Is he okay?’

She lets out a small sob. ‘We’re not sure.’

‘Shit. What happened?’

‘I don’t know. We haven’t been able to speak to him.’

‘But is it serious? Is he conscious?’ I ask.

She sniffs again. ‘We’re not sure. We’re waiting to see him and the doctor.’

I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes.

‘Can you come back, please?’ she says. ‘You don’t have to stay there for the rest of the week, do you?’

‘Oh, I’m not sure?—’

‘Casey, I need you!’

‘Um…’ Fuck. ‘It’s just that?—’

‘Oh my God. Seriously?’

I cave. ‘Okay. Yes. I’ll … I’ll come home.’

‘Thank you. See you tomorrow, then.’

‘Tomorrow? I’m supposed to be working here tom?—’

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