Page 33 of Sinful Temptations

“How long were you together?”

“Seven years.” Something flickered across her eyes. Like she was on the verge of telling me a secret but had reeled it back just in time. She shrugged. “High school sweethearts.”

“I can relate to that. I met my fiancé in high school, and we broke up after seven years too.” The urge to place my hand on her arm and try to reassure her was so strong, but I feared she wouldn’t like it. She didn’t need me to add to her discomfort.

“Maybe there’s some truth to that seven-year itch thing.” Her grin was lopsided, forced.

“Maybe. I know it’s hard to see it now, but I can honestly say that I would’ve been miserable had we gotten married.”

She tugged her lip into her mouth, verging on tears. I racked my brain for a way to make her feel better. “Roman just broke up with his girlfriend after fifteen years. She cheated on him.”

Oh my God. I can’t believe I said that. I’m a terrible friend. That was his private information—I had no right to share it.

“Wow.” Laura met my gaze. “We’re a sorry bunch then, aren’t we?”

“I guess so.”

I wanted to eat the lasttarteon my plate, a little lemon cream topped with meringue. I’d been fighting it, telling myself that I didn’t need it, nor want it. But the damn thing was calling to me.Eat me. Eat me.

I grabbed my champagne glass instead and held it toward Laura. “Let’s have a toast then. To getting rid of assholes.”

Her chin quivered and I knew I’d gone too far. She wasn’t ready. She still loved him. It was possible to love assholes. I’d done it myself for years.

“I can’t . . . I’m . . . I’m pregnant,” Laura blurted.

I swallowed my drink, and it burned all the way down. “Oh, Laura, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s his,” she stammered. “Richard’s baby. In case you’re wondering.”

I shook my head. “I . . . I wasn’t wondering.” That thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.

“He never wanted children. I knew that. He’d made me promise that I also felt the same way.” She didn’t look like she was crying, yet one tear slipped out of her left eye and as it trickled down her cheek, she did nothing to wipe it away.

“Then he should have done something permanent about it. To make sure.”

“He was going to. Had it booked in for September. He’d said it was his wedding gift to me.”

I didn’t mean to, but my face scrunched up. “I’m sorry. I have no idea what to say.”

“That’s half the problem. Nobody knows what to say. His entire family has stopped talking to me. Both his sisters were going to be my bridesmaids, and they won’t even take my calls. It’s like I have a contagious disease growing inside me and not their flesh and blood.” For the briefest of moments, a blaze of anger flashed across her face. Sadness followed in its wake.

Channeling my inner Zali, I raised my glass again. “You know what, Laura? Even though I barely know anything about him, I believe your separation was a blessing in disguise. I think you dodged a bullet.”

“No, I didn’t. That bullet is lodged deep inside me. Now I just have to figure out what to do with it.”

I met her gaze and for the first time, I saw a different side to her. Courage.

A shrill bell sounded, and I jumped. It was time to go.

“Thank you for talking with me.” I placed my hand over her arm, and to my relief, she didn’t flinch. “It’s going to be okay. You’re a strong woman. The fact that you’re here proves it.”

A smile wobbled across her lips as she returned the treat she’d been nibbling back to her plate next to all the other ones she hadn’t eaten.

Thinking of Zali, I said, “You know what? You’re here now. You might as well have the best possible vacation you can. It may be the last one you get for a while. And maybe the break will give you clarity and help you decide what to do.”

When she didn’t respond, nor even look up from her plate full of treats, I hoped I wasn’t speaking out of line. When I’d broken up with William and crossed the globe to get as far away from him as possible, it’d turned out to be the best decision I’d ever made. Then again, I’d only had to think about me—not a baby as well.

Considering what Laura was going through, my breakup was a breeze.

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