Page 14 of Expiry Dating

It was Sunday, her supposed day of rest and Alice’s phone was ringing again. This time she answered it without so much as a glance at the caller ID. She just assumed it was her mother, likely calling back to finish off her “you need to come home” lecture. But it wasn’t her mother’s voice at the end of the line this time. It was much worse.

“What the hell do you want, Rob?”

So much for a relaxing day off.

“Um ... I have some news, and I ... and I wanted you to hear it from me first.”

“Let me guess. Becky’s pregnant. Congratu-fucking-lations. Good luck raising the harpy’s spawn—was there anything else?”

“Ali, please. Please don’t be like that. How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?”

“Was there anything else, Rob?” she prompted.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah. I got an offer on the flat, and I’ve accepted. I just need your signature on the paperwork, and then you’ll get your half of the deposit back.”

“Fine. Email it over.”

“Yeah, see, that’s why I was calling. I’ve got a client meeting down your way, and I was just ... uh, I was just wondering if we could meet and you can sign the papers in person.”

Is he being serious?

“And why in the hell would I want to do that?”

Her heart was hammering. At least it wasn’t from the pain anymore. Now it was just pure unadulterated rage.

“I just ... I just don’t like the way we left things. We were together a really fucking long time, Ali. Can’t you just give me this? Just give me an hour. You don’t even need to do anything; I’ll come to you. I’ll come to Bluestone.”

One part of her wanted to tell him that she’d rather gouge her own eyes out. But the other part of her, the side that was trying to do what Lily suggested and heal, that part won out.

“Fine, Rob. Text me the details.”

She hung up before he had a chance to reply and slumped so far down into her sofa she was practically laying down. Maybe seeing Rob again would be good for her. Cleansing even. And if it wasn’t she could always resort to violence. She didn’t have to decide right now, she supposed.

Tonight, a bubble bath wasn’t going to cut it. Tonight she needed a big ole drink.

***

For a Sunday night, Mickey’s was pretty busy. There was just the one lone table free when she arrived, which she quickly nabbed and lined up her two drinks.

I really need to stop coming here alone. Teddy is going to think I have a problem. I mean, buying two drinks probably didn’t help either.

Country music bellowed out of the jukebox as she slurped on her gin and tonic. She looked around at all the smiling faces and suddenly felt a pang of loneliness. It was a new feeling, one that didn’t have anything to do with her lack of company.

Deciding to push that particular feeling aside and save it for later, she gulped down her first drink. When she was halfway done with her second, a familiar face approached her table.

“Care to dance?” Ryan held out his hand.

“What are you doing here?” She matched his wide smile and took hold of his hand, allowing him to pull her up.

“What are you doing here? You seem to be making a habit of drinking alone.”

She followed behind as he led them to the dance floor. “Yeah, well, I seem to be lacking in the friend’s department. It’s one of the downsides of picking up your life and moving halfway across the world.”

He came to a stop and pulled her into him, strategically placing his free hand on her hip. “I’ll be your friend.” A mischievous grin overtook his face as he started to sway them to the music.

“Hmm, something tells me that you expect a certain kind of benefit with your friendships.”

His eyebrow arched. “Would that be so bad?”

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