Page 81 of The Hideout

“Me. This. Us.”

Juliet chanced her luck, reaching a hand forward to Paige’s. “You don’t have to do this, Paige. I know where we stand with one another, and I’m okay with that. Whatever you see in your future…that’s what matters.”

“Everything is a mess. And I don’t want it to be that way for us. You’re scared to be in a room with me, and I’m scared to even contemplate the future. We’re better than that. We…were happy.”

Oh, they were. They were so happy for the shortest time. “But you’re going, Paige. I can’t pretend that’s not happening because it is.”

Paige slumped back in her seat, exhaling a deep breath. “What you did for me…getting the divorce,” Paige paused, offering a painful smile in Juliet’s direction. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“It was all you wanted. To be free. Soon you will be. And for the happiness you’ve given me since we met, it was the least I could do.”

“I know, but for you to take matters into your own hands like that, I’m not sure how to repay you.”

By not leaving me, Juliet wanted to blurt out. “By living your life on your terms. That’s how you repay me, Paige. By being happy and fulfilled and being the exceptional woman you are. That’s all I want from you. To see you happy.”

“I’m not going to be, though…am I?”

“You will be. I know it. And living in a gorgeous country somewhere, you really can’t ask for more.”

Paige stared at Juliet, a tear working its way down her cheek. “I won’t be happy without you.”

Juliet opened her mouth to speak, but Cara came up behind Paige and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Thought you were sick?”

Paige tumbled out of her chair, practically running through the table between them, and sunk to the floor at the side of Juliet’s couch.

“Paige.” Juliet slid to her knees, hiding Paige from the clients in the bar. “Baby, it’s me. You’re okay.”

Paige shook, protecting her face with her hands. Juliet heard her sobbing, her heart breaking all over again for this woman.

“Paige, it was just Cara. I’m sorry; I should have tried to warn you that she was about to interrupt us. Baby, please…” Juliet’s voice trembled, her own emotions spilling out. She placed a gentle hand on Paige’s knee, soothing her palm over it. “Come on. Let me get you into the office. You need to be alone where it’s quiet.”

Paige suddenly wrapped both hands around Juliet’s forearm. “No. Don’t leave me.”

“I won’t. But you can’t stay down there.” Juliet glanced over her shoulder to find a shocked Cara watching on. “Make yourself useful and get me a large whiskey.”

Cara rushed away, and as Juliet turned back to Paige, she found Paige watching her.

“Is everyone looking at me?”

Juliet smiled. “No. They’re all too busy caring about themselves.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” Paige’s hand still shook, but the fear in her eyes was beginning to lessen. “God, I feel like an idiot. I just…I didn’t expect her to come up behind me like that. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t dare apologise. She’s getting you a whiskey and then you’re coming into the office with me.” Juliet helped Paige up from the corner, one arm around her waist. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“No. I’m okay.”

Juliet turned to Paige, their bodies touching, and brushed her hair from her face. “Did you still want to have that talk?”

“Yes.”

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Juliet guided Paige through the bar, taking the whiskey from the counter as Paige snuck off into the office. She eyed Cara. “Sorry about that.”

“What the hell was that about? And why is Paige’s face smashed in?”

Juliet pinched the bridge of her nose. “If you could keep that to yourself, I’d appreciate it.”

---