Page 49 of Don't Fall in Love (and how to break the rules)

Rae put their chin on their hands and spoke slowly. “Have you thought about whatyouthink of yourself? Have you considered whetheryouthink you’re up to it and how you might feel if you don’t take this opportunity?” They straightened up and took another sip. “What you think about it all is really important. The most important thing, really.”

“Ok, Yoda,” said Chrissie, smiling shyly.

“Another drink?” said Rae.

“Sure.”

Rae got halfway up before sitting back down. “I don’t want to alarm you,” they said, “but there’s a bloke over there staring right at you. Do you know him?”

Chrissie’s heart sank as she looked across to see the man with long white hair.

Lucian. He looked even more unkempt than he had done before.

Chapter Forty-Four

ONE YEAR EARLIER

Chrissie was hovering in the shrubbery near a layby. Her feet hurt because she’d walked for what felt like miles to reach the road. She felt strangely untethered, having left Lucian and the group behind. She felt afraid.

For the last nine months she had done everything Lucian had said, given him money, stayed in the middle of nowhere, eaten at particular times of the day. More recently the food had become more scarce – part of their spiritual test, he said. But something inside Chrissie was calling to her. There was something wrong with this. It had nagged at her before, but now she knew she needed to get away from him.

That day, he’d made a careless mistake. He’d put down his phone and walked away – a phone he denied even owning, as he’d told them all that he, like they, had abandoned his connection to the outside world, to modern technology, to western medicine. Chrissie had spotted it, and, blood thundering in her ears, she’d managed to open it, establish where she was, and get a message to Kiera.

Then she ran.

Now hiding as well as she could among the undergrowth and litter, she hoped against hope that Kiera would find it in her heart to rescue her. But would hope be enough? Deep down, she didn’t believe Kiera would come.

When the familiar car pulled up, she could hardly believe it.

Chrissie couldn’t speak to start with, and was shocked when she saw her own reflection in the wing mirror. She didn’t recognise the grey, thin face in front of her, the long, lank, tangled hair. She knew in that moment she had done the right thing by running. But she had no idea what she was going to do next.

Chapter Forty-Five

Chrissie stood abruptly, and before she had even thought it through, walked over to Lucian. He seemed startled at her approach. But it was time to take control. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life afraid of him.

She heard Rae’s chair legs drag across the floor, and knew they were just a few steps behind. That gave her confidence.

“You need to leave me alone,” said Chrissie, her voice low and strong.

“I’m just having a cup of tea in a café,” Lucian replied with a smile. “No law against that.”

“No, you’re following me. You came to my house and now you come here and stare at me. No more. You need to leave and never come back,” Chrissie told him. She could feel her voice wobbling, but drew strength from Rae, who was now standing next to her.

“I think you wanted me to find you,” said Lucian. “You always had such potential. I think you want to get back into the process.”

“No,” said Chrissie, her voice closer to a shout. “Leave me alone. If I ever see you near me again, I will call the police.” Shetook a step forward. “And if you say one more word to me I will scream.”

Lucian opened his mouth.

“Not one more word, you horrible little man,” said Chrissie.

“You heard her,” said Rae, their arms folded.

Lucian pursed his lips and glared at Chrissie. Her breathing quickened as she prepared herself for what he was going to do or say next. But she knew that whatever happened, she had to believe in herself.

Lucian looked around himself, and then stood, bringing himself close enough that Chrissie could smell the remnants of the lavender incense he loved so much. He sniffed. “The tea in here is rubbish anyway.”

He turned tail and walked out.

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