Page 73 of My Heart to Find

“Uh, what?”

“Just because you found Damien here.”

“I never said I was perfect,” I say.

“But it’s not love, and it won’t last.” He points a finger at me. “He’s only been pairing up with you because this retreat it encourages it. But you’re boring, Cara, and out in the real world he wouldn’t look twice at you.”

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. My mouth dries, and I stare at him, try to think of something to say. Try to...

But I can’t.

He smirks. “Must hurry. We’re leaving soon.” Then he leans in closer. “Smile, darling. You don’t look anywhere near as cute when you’re frowning like that.”

I swallow hard, turning away from him. My fingers fidget at the zip of my hoody. David’s wrong—completely wrong. Damien likes me, and he’s not just with me because the retreat pressures people into couples. I mean, if that was the case then everyone here would’ve paired off. But they haven’t. It’s just me and Damien, and Jana and Ray. Though I did see Freda and Bianca getting cozy too.

But still, David’s words have sunk into me, and I can’t shake them. When Jana returns, I mention it to her, trying to sound all casual and not affected at all by David, but Jana’s my best friend and she sees through my bravado instantly.

“Ignore him,” Jana says. “He’s just jealous. Remember what he said in his introductions? How he was going to find ‘the one’ here? And of course he’s a dick, so no one’s interested in him like that. So, he’s just trying to ruin your happiness because he’s jealous.”

“But what if he’s right? What if Damien isn’t interested in me outside of this retreat?”

Jana rolls her eyes. “You know he is, girl. You—”

“Phones!” Mrs. Mitchell’s voice booms out, and I jump, find her standing in the middle of the lobby with a wide grin. “Come and get your phones.”

There’s a flurry of movement as people gravitate toward her. Practically everyone else is here too now, and I search for Damien. Just seeing his smile will reassure me, I know that.

There he is. I spot him at the back of the room, and I wait until he’s going to get his phone from Mrs. Mitchell before I approach for mine too.

“And these two are the last ones left,” Mrs. Mitchell says, smiling even brighter. “Let’s hope they’re your phones else someone’s thought they’d do a swap!”

All around us, everyone’s powering their phones on. Two weeks without phones has been strange, but I know I found it easier than others.

“Swap numbers?” Damien’s voice is low and rich, and he’s so close to me I can feel his breath on my face. He smiles, but I’m searching his face now for insincerity. What if David’s right and Damien’s not interested in me? But he is asking for my number...but what if that’s just because he feels like he has to?

He might never reply to my texts.

“Sure,” I say, and my voice wobbles, and I’m telling myself not to be worried. If David hadn’t said anything, I’d not be thinking about this at all.

Damn. My phone won’t turn on. I grab my charger from my rucksack and plug it in, but it doesn’t do anything.

“Is it broken?” Damien’s squinting at my phone, and he looks worried.

“Probably just the charger,” I mumble. “Not the best one.” Or at least I really hope it’s the charger. I can’t afford to get a new phone.

“Well, I’ll take your number then,” Damien says.

“Uh...” I look at him. “I don’t know it. It’s a new SIM card, one I only got a week or so before flying out here. I hadn’t learnt the number yet.”

He looks momentarily surprised. “Well, let me write my number down for you,” he says. “Got any paper?”

I search through my bag, my heart pounding. It’s too hot in here, and my fingers are sweating. The only thing in my bag that contains paper is the book I’m reading.Gone Girlby Gillian Flynn.

“I’ve got a pencil,” Damien says, nodding to the book. “Hold on.”

I wait for him to produce the pencil from his own bag, and then he’s writing his phone number on the inside of the cover.

“Now you won’t lose it,” he says with a smile as he hands the book back to me.

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