Page 28 of The Love Position

‘I didn’t know at the time, but he’s been cheating on me for years. Now he’s in a relationship with two first-year students. I know I can’t judge, as I was once like them.’

‘Was he in a relationship when you got together?’

‘God no! I’d never have gone anywhere near him if that was the case.’

‘Then you’re not like the women he’s with now.’

Sophia shook her head. ‘I guess you’re right. And I haven’t smoked heroin, either.’

Isaac’s eyes widened.

‘My boy—ex boyfriend, Marcus, believes he’s the reincarnation of Marcus Aurelius, who was addicted to opium. That night I came home early, they’d been burning heroin on tinfoil.’ She let out a hollow laugh. ‘You must think I’m stupid.’

‘Why would I think that?’

‘I should have known.’

Isaac was silent, his normally relaxed face tight with tension. ‘No. People who are doing wrong are often incredibly good at hiding it. And if you’re a good person, you wouldn’t think to look for trouble where none should be found.’

Sophia was suddenly desperate for a hug, but she knew she couldn’t ask that of Isaac, so she wrapped her arms around her body instead.

‘What’s happened with your project?’

She shook her head. ‘It’s not my project anymore.’

‘How come?’

‘When we started the dig, Marcus refused to allow me to open trenches where I believed we had the best chance of finding something. We only found the grave because I went behind his back one night and dug a new test pit.’

Isaac’s face lit up. ‘That’s brilliant!’

A smile tugged at her mouth, then disappeared. ‘Marcus took sole credit for the find, and has decided the man is Roman.’

‘And is he?’

‘If he’s Roman, then I’m Cleopatra.’

‘You might be.’

‘Huh?’

‘You’re both clever, powerful, and beautiful women. If your ex thinks he’s the reincarnation of Marcus Aurelius, then why can’t you be the reincarnation of Cleopatra?’

Sophia rolled her eyes. ‘He’s not the reincarnation of Marcus Aurelius.’

‘That’s true. He’s only one step up from pond life, but my money’s still on you being Cleopatra mark two.’

She grinned. ‘And who were you in a former life?’

He puffed out his cheeks. ‘No idea.’

‘Gandhi? Shakespeare? Boudica?’

‘Nah. I bet they’ve already broken the cycle of death and rebirth by now. If reincarnation is a thing, then I don’t think I was anyone exceptional before.’

‘Well you’re making up for it in this life.’

‘That’s very kind, but I’m definitely nothing special. I’m just trying to lead a useful life.’

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