Page 69 of Don't Believe A Word

No word from him so far this morning, and she wished shecould stop checking just in case. Fortunately, the past hour with Robert had been a very welcome distraction, and there was such a lot to get through today regarding the next pod that there was a good chance she’d go for hours without thinking about him again today.

‘I thought it was you.’

She looked up and her heart immediately somersaulted. ‘Matthew,’ she declared, as if one of them might have forgotten his name. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you.’

‘No, I guess you weren’t,’ he said, pulling out a chair to join her. ‘So who was the guy who just left? You seemed to be getting along very well. Don’t tell me you’ve joined Tinder already. Didn’t think it would be your style.’

Keeping her voice low, she said, ‘Could you please fuck off.’

He laughed, and his smile immediately reminded her of why so many people were drawn to him. ‘I know you don’t mean that …’

‘I do.’

‘… so I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you another coffee.’

She would have got up and left, but they were already attracting attention thanks to who he was. The last thing she wanted was to find herself back in the press as an object of pitying speculation.

‘So have you?’ he asked.

‘Have I what?’

‘Joined a dating site now that Mr Guernsey is no longer on the scene.’

‘There are times,’ she told him quietly, ‘when I’d like to smash your face in and this is one of them.’

He laughed again. ‘I love that I can still inspire such passion in you,’ he told her cheerily.

Her look was deadly.

‘OK, so not a date?’ he ventured.

‘Not that it’s any of your business,’ she retorted, ‘but he’s helping with the new series. How’re Marley and Bear?’

He seemed to sink a little at that. ‘They’re doing OK, I think. She asked me to tell you that she understands you might be finding it difficult to know what to say to her now she’s had my baby, but maybe it would help if you could think of him as yours too.’

Cristy stared at him, dumbfounded.

He shrugged.

‘That woman is certifiable,’ she stated. ‘She surely doesn’t think … Actually she does think I want to be part of your family, so please can you disabuse her of that idea?’

‘I’m doing my best, but it’s not easy when I want you to be involved too.’

Her eyes closed in despair. She couldn’t allow herself to get drawn into this or she’d end up as crazy as they were. Changing the subject she said, ‘Where’s Aiden?’

‘Cardiff, checking out a new band, back tonight or tomorrow. Haven’t you heard from him?’

‘Not for a couple of days. Has Hayley told you about her relationship issues?’

He grimaced. ‘Do you think I should call her?’

‘For God’s sake, Matthew, why are you asking me? You never used to be like this …’

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know, pathetic, unable to make decisions for yourself. I’m not your mother, any more than I’m your wife, so please stop asking me what you should do in any given situation. Especially where Marley is concerned.’ She glanced up as a server put two steaming Americanos on the table. ‘I really don’t want that,’ she said when they were alone again.

He came over so helpless at the prospect of her leaving, so ridiculously at a loss, that she grudgingly set aside the urge to abandon him. It might be satisfying for her to have everyone think she’d walked out on him, but it would be embarrassing for him. So, for the next ten minutes or so, she chatted with him about his work, how busy he’d been lately which, apparently, was why he hadn’t been in touch, until inevitably they came back to Marley.

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