Page 31 of Lily, Unwritten

“It’s fine. It was a big ask. We’ll figure it out. Give me a minute, I’ll be right back.”

Cassie took herself inside as she wiped her cheeks. I gulped a mouthful of wine down quicker than I should have and strolled around the garden. As soon as I saw the granny flat, waves of happy memories flooded into my mind. I walked over and peeked through the window, that last night Luke and I were together so vivid in my mind. That completely unforgettable night, before my heart was torn out.

I sank down onto the grass, leaning back against the building as I closed my eyes and simply remembered.

“What are you doing over there?” Cassie yelled as she came back outside.

“Just thinking…” I tried to smile, but I knew my sad eyes would betray me.

“It’s not too late, you know that, right?”

“It is too late. Luke made the decision a long time ago now. We were both too late. Are you OK?” I asked, noting the redness around her pale, blue eyes.

She nodded. “We’ll both be fine. Come on, let’s raid the kids’ chocolate drawer.”

Eleven

All too soon, another month had passed, and it was time for Zack’s next trip to Iceland. With it being December, I’d given him a list of Christmas goodies to bring back. The house purchase was forging ahead, and we were still weighing up wedding options. Basically, an inspiring and wonderful chapter of our relationship.

“I’ll see you in five days. Miss you already.”

I kissed him before I replied, “I miss you too. You’re going to call me tonight though, aren’t you?” I raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Counting down the hours,” he whispered. “Love you.”

“I love you too.” Our fingers slid away from each other. I blew him a kiss before he disappeared through security, then headed home to curl up with a book and a large glass of wine… possibly chocolate too.

I’d been expecting a quiet day at work on Monday as I knew a mediation session was taking place in a swanky hotel in the city center, everyone important would be there, leaving me in peace back at the office. But Margaret jumped on me the minute I walked through the door.

“Lily! I tried to call you!”

I pulled my phone out of my bag, confused; it was still on silent, and I could see three missed calls flashing on the screen.

“Sorry. What’s wrong? What did you need me for?” I asked.

“The mediator’s assistant has let him down, I said you’d do it instead. You need to get to The Sandhurst now. Take a cab, just give me the receipt later,” she instructed.

“What? I can’t, I…”

“Lily,” she screeched. “How hard do you think it was to get four solicitors, a mediator, a premier league footballer, his manager, his ex-shag piece and a PR person in the same room at the same time? Get. A. Cab. NOW!”

She stomped away. Zack was going to lose the plot. Luke… fuck, fuck, fuck! I was not prepared for this.

I ran into the toilets as I swiped away at my phone for an Uber. Then I pulled the bobble from my ponytail and shook my head upside down to try and get a bit of volume. My eyes looked good, but I reapplied the lipstick that had rubbed off on my Starbucks cup earlier. My dress was nice, that was good. Knee length, dark blue.

I glanced down at my feet, this seriously wouldn’t do. I had boring, sensible shoes on because I knew I wouldn’t get a seat on the train during rush hour, and I hated sore feet for no good reason. Luke, though, totally had a thing about sexy shoes. My breaths grew deeper at the memory of a specific time in his living room, in nothing but the Guccis. I couldn’t let him see me for the first time in so long, wearing these dull flats.

I ran to Ella’s desk; she always wore sexy as hell shoes. “Ella!” I puffed and panted. “I’ll do whatever you want if you swap shoes with me today.”

She frowned and looked at my feet; A grimace on her face. “Why? That’s a bit weird.”

“Come on, please. I’ve got to go in two minutes, and I need sexy shoes. You’re my only hope. Anything Ella!” I begged.

“Cover for me on Friday afternoon so I can go meet Jake?” She smiled slyly.

“Give me the shoes, and I’ll cover for you every Friday until the end of time!”

My phone pinged to say the Uber was outside as she slid her shoes across the floor to me, unable to hide her grimace at my flats.

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