Page 53 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘I hear there’s a plan involving your matchmaker.’

‘Poppy’s not my matchmaker any more,’ I say, a terse edge to my voice. I don’t want Willem thinking I’ve re-engaged Poppy’s services.

Because you want to make it clear that you’re available, says the voice inside my head. It’s not wrong but it’s also not helpful.

‘Sorry,’ he says, his brows knitted.

‘Doesn’t matter,’ I say, making light of it. ‘Anyway, the agency’s managing that side of things – I’ve spent the last two hours with Poppy, filling her in on all things Jon – but I’ve raised my hand to go to Verona and inform Lucia.’

‘Really? Are you sure that’s best?’ he asks, which is a little irritating. ‘You could call her, send an email…’

‘Your own sister didn’t believe you until I fronted up at your house.’

‘True,’ he acknowledges with a slow nod.

‘And do you thinkIwould have believed you if you hadn’t shown up in person with irrefutable proof? If you’d called me or emailed, I would have thought you were a scammer,’ I continue, driving home my point.

‘I understand.’

‘Even then I was dubious. I googled you, you know. Before I met you at the pub.’

‘I would expect nothing less,’ he retorts with a smirk, and I can’t tell if he’s teasing me. ‘Kate, I can come with you – to Verona,’ he adds, catching me by surprise.

I’d hoped he would offer, but I didn’t expect it, and I didn’t dare ask.

Especially not after I spent the entire Tube ride home from Ever After imagining being in Verona with Willem. Only we weren’t there for Lucia – we weretogether.

This fantasy climaxed in a rather steamy scene beneath Juliet’s balcony where, surrounded by a crowd of romantic pilgrims, Willem held me close to him, his fingers splayed against my stomach, while his other hand surreptitiously slipped beneath my skirt and worked its magic between my legs.

Highly unsuitable thoughts for the Tube. The woman across from me must have been a mind reader. When I snapped out of my steamy fugue, she was staring at me with a knowing smile. I got off at the next stop even though it meant I had to walk half a mile to get home.

‘You’re not saying anything,’ he says. ‘You don’t want me to come?’

Are we still talking about travel plans?As well as chiming in at inopportune moments, it seems my inner voice also has a dirty mind.

‘It’s not that,’ I reply.

‘So, youdowant me to come with you?’

I do, but not for the reason he thinks, and I sigh. ‘Look, Lucia deserves the truth, and I think it should come from me – or Adriana, but it’s a lot to ask of her.’

‘It’s a lot to ask of you too.’

‘Well, yes, but she’s— Never mind.’

I was going to say that Adriana’s having a harder time with all this than she may be letting on – a girls’ night out only has so much healing power – but I’m not sure she’d want me say anything.

‘Kate, you might be right about Ady sitting this one out. Most of the time she seems okay, but last night she called me crying.’

Ah, so he does know about Adriana.

‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’

And I am sorry, especially asIhaven’t cried over Jon since the night Willem showed up and Margot came over to console me. My pragmatic mind taking charge, I suppose. No sense in crying over someone who doesn’t exist.

‘Mmm,’ he murmurs, his expression pained. He sighs. ‘It’s a big mess,’ he concludes, and I chuckle wryly.

‘Astutely put. It is a big mess, but it’s not yours to clean up,’ I say, as much for myself as for Willem. I may want him to accompany me, but it’s for ulterior motives and that’s not fair on him.

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