“I didn’t think you’d be here today.” Deena pulled out a chair, confusing Finn. She hadn’t invited her to sit down, and she didn’t particularly want any company. “You still have those plans next Friday for your birthday?”
“I…yes.” Finn had stupidly invited Deena to the bar next week. It would be great to have company, to not sit alone drinking beer on her birthday, but Finn was kind of hoping those bar plans may have changed. If Gillian wanted her over at her place, the bar would be the last thing on her mind. “I think so.”
“Cool—I can make it now. What time?”
Finn chewed her lip, glancing over Deena’s shoulder to where Gillian still sat. Her stare was practically burning through Deena’s back. But Finn got it completely. She would rather sext with Gillian than have actual interaction with someone else. “I’ll…let you know. Your number is on the forum, right?”
“Yep. Looking forward to it.”
Finn closed her laptop and gathered her notebook and diary from the table. She quickly shoved it all into her satchel and got to her feet. She eyed Gillian, a silent plea to meet her somewhere other than here, and cleared her throat when she looked down at Deena. “I should head off. I need to get home to take care of a few things.”
“I’ll walk out with you. I’m leaving, too.”
For the love of fucking God! Finn smiled a fake and frustrating smile. “Great.”
She quickly brought up her messages, furious that Deena had so rudely interrupted her conversation with Gillian.
Tonight.
Chapter 5
Gillian whistled as she stood in the middle of her empty new living room. The ceiling was huge, and the light flooding in was quite something on this clear winter morning. This was her dream home. One hundred percent. How she had managed to nab it when it had multiple offers, she would never know, but it was hers. Her new life. Her new project. Her…new sanctuary.
The apartment had been sufficient when she’d walked out of her marital home, it did what was required of it, but this was Gillian. The expansive back garden that she could use to entertain friends. The huge hallway with the original flooring still intact. The quiet neighbourhood where everyone knew one another.
Yes. This was Gillian through and through.
“If that’s everything, Ms Masters, I’ll leave you to enjoy your new home.”
Louisa, the estate agent, came from the hallway into the back section of the living room. “Don’t hesitate to call if you come across anything that requires our attention.”
Gillian beamed a smile. Louisa had been great throughout this whole process. “There’s no ex-husband here, so I’m sure anything else I come across will be a walk in the park.”
Louisa regarded Gillian with an understanding smile. “I see. Was the divorce recent?”
“Officially, almost two months, but I left him just on a year ago.” Gillian twirled her keys around her finger, her heels echoing around the empty room as she took in each and every detail. She smiled again, hoping this could all work out for her. “Best decision I ever made.”
“Me, too.”
“Isn’t it freeing?” Gillian asked, turning back to Louisa. “Having nobody to answer to. Having your own space. I didn’t realise how much I’d needed it until I’d left him.”
“You’d think being married to a woman was easier, right?” Louisa quirked a brow. “Well, that’s not always the case. My ex-wife made Satan look like a nice guy.”
“Thankfully, I’ve never had that issue with women. Granted, it’s been, what…over twenty years since I dated a woman? But I guess I got lucky back then. I am looking forward to getting myself back onto the dating scene at some point.” Gillian was aware that she was lying, but Louisa didn’t need to know just how much Dave had shattered every ounce of confidence she possessed. She wouldn’t give him or anyone else the satisfaction of knowing he’d done that to her. “But not until I’ve taken care of everything here.”
“I’ve had a few…interesting dates. A lot of women want no-strings these days. Unless, of course, I’m just looking in the wrong places.”
At least Gillian fell into the majority if that was true. “Maybe some women just want to enjoy life without the headache of commitment right now. The last few years have been a lot for everyone to deal with. I know I’m at a point in my life where I don’t particularly want to settle down. I hope to in the future, but no-strings isn’t the worst idea in the world if you find the right person.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
Gillian almost blushed, but then she realised that she was proud of where she was at in her life. She had no shame or embarrassment for enjoying Finn Ashton. Well, when she was off campus, anyway. Gillian chose not to think of Finn as her student. That reality was too painful to deal with.
“I am. And if you want my honest opinion, it’s quite exciting. I’m learning a lot about myself. I’m putting my needs first. You should try it some time.”
Louisa narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping up Gillian’s body. Louisa was probably the kind of woman Gillian ‘imagined’ herself with back in her twenties, femme and pretty, but she was on a different path right now. Finn…oh, Finn and that handsome smile had Gillian weak at the knees.
“Maybe I will.” Louisa held out a hand. “And maybe I’ll see you around the town if you go out drinking around here.”