Page 46 of That One Heartbreak

Was it time to go home yet?

She glanced over to see Shana watching her in the corner. Her friend lifted her thumb up and then down, trying to work out how the date was going.

Kate shrugged. She wasn’t going to give a verdict yet. It was her first date in almost fifteen years, and her first date since losing Paul. She should at least give the guy a shot.

“So then she told me she’d found somebody else. We were standing at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. And I was like, ‘excuse me, we’re in the most romantic city in the world, couldn’t you at least wait until we’re in Barcelona?’”

“She ended things with you in Paris?” Kate asked. Okay, maybe she felt a little sorry for the guy.

“Oh no, things were over before we even went. She didn’t want to go, but I’d already paid for the flights and hotels. So I insisted.”

He insisted? Kate took a mouthful of her water, really wishing it was wine.

“I pointed out how ungrateful it was that she was telling me about another man while she was on a vacation I paid for. And do you know what she said?” he asked. “No, you’ll never guess. She actually told me that if I wanted to pay for somebody to be romantic with me I should have taken a hooker. Can you believe that?”

“No,” Kate squeaked.

“And then I told her that at least a hooker would have put out during the trip. Rather than making me sleep on the floor, because all those expensive hotel rooms in Europe don’t have two beds.”

Kate checked her watch. It wasn’t even eight-thirty yet. “Um, I just need to go make a phone call. Check that my kids are doing okay.”

Allen blinked. “How many did you say you have again?”

“Three.”

“Only one’s a teenager, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm. A handful, I bet.”

“He’s a good kid.” She wasn’t going to tell him about the teenage growing pains. She felt stupidly protective of him right now.

“You don’t look old enough to have a fifteen-year-old.” Allen said, looking at her. “How old are you again?”

Kate opened her mouth to tell him, but then shut it swiftly. Because it wasn’t any of his business. She didn’t like him, and she really wanted to go home. But she’d finish her dinner and leave.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, grabbing her clutch and walking outside. The air was cooling, finally, and it felt like a caress to her skin as she stepped into the inky dark night.

“Hey, everything okay?” Shana asked, following her out through the door. “Are you leaving already?”

“Did he see you follow me out?” Kate frowned. Not that she cared what he thought.

Okay, she did care. But not forthatreason. But because she still had all that training from childhood inside her somewhere.Don’t make a fuss. Be a good girl. Men like it when you’re nice.

“No. But what happened?”

“It’s fine,” she told Shana. “I’m not leaving. I’m just going to call Marley to check on the kids.”

“They’re all good. I’ve been messaging him,” Shana said.

Kate’s stomach tightened. “You have? Why?” The thought of the two of them chatting without her made her feel weird.

It made her wish that Shana was the one on the date and she was the one messaging him.

“Just to keep him updated.” Shana shrugged. “They’re watching a movie.”

“What movie?” Kate asked, wishing more than ever that she was home with them right now.

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