Page 121 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Okay,’ she replied solemnly. ‘But if you change your mind, I’m there in a heartbeat. You’re the closest I’ll ever have to a sister –andI’m older than you. It’s my sisterly instinct wanting to protect you – with or without the use of gardening shears.’

We shared a smile at that. Then she gave me a tight hug, told me she loves me, and made me promise to send a selfie once I’m coiffed and dressed today – for posterity.

Though I suspect ‘posterity’ means she reserves the right to whip it out any time she assesses that I’m doubting myself. I can just imagine it: ‘Look at how fucking gorgeous and fierce and brave you are, Kate!Look!’

Margot is a lot sometimes, but I love her just as fiercely as she loves me.

She left right after that, heading to Adriana’s hotel, and I tried not to be jealous that she wasn’t spending the night alone.

The kettle dings, yanking me to the present, and I make a coffee. If I weren’t so nervous, I’d eat something, but I can’t bear the thought of food. Maybe after Jon gets what’s coming to him.

Right as I’m stirring in the milk, my phone chimes. It’s probably something pithy from Margot – most likely a meme of some kick-arse woman doing something kick-arse.

But it isn’t Margot.

It’s Willem and my stomach plummets. Forget eating breakfast, I doubt I can even finish my coffee.

I swallow – hard – and summon all my courage to tap on the message.

I hope it goes well today. Thinking of you.

I expel a short sharp breath of relief. Surely he can’t hate me if he’s sending messages like that. But the relief is short-lived, and I’m wracked with guilt –Ishould have been the one reaching out with an olive branch, not Willem. Regardless, it means more to me than he can possibly know, and I type out a reply:

Thank you. Just want it to be over.

My thumbs hover over the screen. I want to ask about seeing him, but what if that’s pushing my luck? What if he’s only being friendly – or worse,polite? And didn’t I tell myself I needed to get past today before I could properly make things right with Willem?

No, I should wait. I want to have a clear head and an unfettered heart before I see Willem again – or even ask to see him.

I set my phone down and go shower.

* * *

As the cab stops in front of the Langham, everything I want to say to Jon, along with everything Poppy has coached me on, flies out of my head. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been mentally rehearsing for days now. I’m a ball of nerves.

Though a gorgeous ball of nerves, I’ll admit, having spent a couple of hours at the salon to have my hair and makeup done. I’m also dressed to kill in a tailored suit, lacy camisole, and black heels. But no sense in looking like a million pounds if my mind is blank and I can’t utter a coherent sentence.

I should have expected that showing up here, where much of our courtship took place, would knock me sideways. Hopefully, seeing the others will stem the rising tide of panic.

I pay the cabbie and step out into the sunshine, and the doorman, dressed in opulent finery, marches up the steps ahead of me to open the door.

‘Good afternoon, madam. Welcome to the Langham,’ he says, his warm smile shaving a sliver off my nerves.

‘Thank you.’

Once inside, I cast my eyes about for the others. Poppy’s meeting us in the lobby to take us up to the suite Jon booked. As instructed, she checked in earlier as Penny to ‘freshen up after her flight’ while Jon is at Mayberry’s for a manicure and straight-razor shave.

I was worried about him showing up earlier than expected, but Poppy assured me the agency has eyes on him and will know precisely when he’s on his way up to the suite. No doubt that odd French woman is lurking nearby disguised as a topiary.

I catch sight of Poppy and she waves me over.

‘You look fantastic,’ she says, eyeing me from top to toe.

‘Thanks,’ I say before sucking in a gulping breath.Breathe, Kate, breathe.

‘Hiya, we’re here.’

I turn at the sound of Lucia’s voice and she and Adriana are striding across the lobby, their footsteps echoing. They also look gorgeous – Adriana in a floral silk maxi-dress and Lucia in a fitted linen shift in siren red. Like me, they’re both wearing heels, and I wonder if it’s for the same reason – to be as tall and formidable as possible when we face Jon.

---