Page 102 of Quiet Longing

His reply gave me pause.

Me: Vindictive?

Rhys: After our chat the other week, she insinuated she might be interested in Aidan.

I frowned at my phone, sensing his frustration. Poor Rhys. And wow, that was pretty shitty behaviour from Stephanie. No matter the reason for a breakup, to go after your ex’s friend was low.

Me: Are you okay?

Rhys: I’m fine. Just sad you left. I was enjoying your company.

My chest fluttered, and my cheeks flushed hard, memories of us on that office couch returning. I knew he wasn’t lying because Rhys wasn’t like that. If he said something, he meant it.

Me: I enjoyed your company, too. Hopefully, next time, there’ll be a few less tears on my part.

Rhys: You never have to hide from me, Charli. I’ll take you any way I can have you.

Oh, man, what did that evenmean? Did he mean he’d take my friendship any way he could have it? Something morethan friendship? This was too confusing. I needed to end this conversation before I was up all night, replaying his words and his kiss and the way he’d made me feel until it was morning and I hadn’t gotten any sleep at all.

Me: You really are a good man. Goodnight, Rhys.

Rhys: Night, Charli. Sleep well.

On Monday morning, I arrived at the office before Barry or Maeve, settling in at my desk and making a start on things. I was head down, deep in work when Barry arrived, shortly followed by Maeve, who didn’t greet me with a friendly “Good morning” like she normally did. Had Stephanie already turned her against me just because she’d spotted me with Rhys by his car last Friday?

“Hi, Maeve,” I said, lifting my head from my computer only to be met with a blank expression and a reserved nod.

Yes, it seemed I was officially on her shit list, but I decided not to give it too much worry. I was at the hotel to do a job, not to be anyone’s best friend.

About twenty minutes later, a pair of familiar high heels clicked into the office, announcing Stephanie’s arrival. Like the first time I’d met her, she brought a fancy coffee for Maeve, the two of them exchanging pleasantries like I wasn’t even in the room. I glanced at Barry, who shot me a look that asked,Which one’s cornflakes did you piss in?His raised eyebrows were almost comical. In fact, the entire situation was hilarious.

We were grown adults, and I suddenly felt like I was back in high school.

I expected to be ignored entirely, but then Stephanie stepped over to my desk. “Did you enjoy the restaurant opening on Saturday, Charli? I saw you there, but you were gone before I had a chance to say hello.”

Lifting my eyes from my computer screen, I smiled politely, “Yes, I was there with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. The food was delicious.”

She made a small pout. “Sadly, I arrived too late to try the food, but the cocktails were to die for. You know, I had no idea you were related to the Balfes. Maeve mentioned Padraig is your uncle. How fortunate you could come work for him when he needed a new accountant.”

“Very fortunate,” I agreed.

“I also had no clue you knew my ex. What a small world, huh?”

“That’s right. I first met Rhys when we were teenagers.”

Her eyes flared slightly like this was news to her, and I instantly wondered if I should’ve revealed that. She seemed surprised but also annoyed I’d known him long before she did. Rhys had mentioned she’d been possessive when they were together, and it appeared that possessiveness was still alive and well.

“Really?” she responded, the only sign of her annoyance was a faint pinching of her lips. “He never mentioned you.”

“I’m not surprised. I haven’t seen him since I visited Ireland for the summer when I was eighteen. He probably forgot all about me.” That was a lie, of course. I knew Rhys wouldn’t have forgotten me, not after the intensity of our time together, short as it was.

“You visited for the summer?” she asked then, the detail capturing her interest for some reason, and I had no idea why.

“That’s right,” I replied, wondering why she’d gone so very still.

“I see.” There was something in those two words that put me on edge, something that made me feel like Stephanie suddenly knew exactly who I was to Rhys. He’d said he told her about the women he’d slept with in the past. Had he mentioned he’d losthis virginity to an American girl who’d visited one summer when he was nineteen?

Before I could say more, she swiftly turned and said goodbye to Maeve with an agreement to meet for lunch. Not surprisingly, I wasn’t extended an invite.

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