Page 135 of The Invitation

What was that?

“I’ve got to go,” Charley says. “We have date night.”

“Tennis club?” Abbie asks on a cheeky smirk, making Charley curse her before hanging up. “So,” she goes on, arranging the flowers. “You’ve finally admitted it to yourself.”

“He drives me nuts.” I sigh. “But ... I don’t know. Something’s holding me back from embracing it fully.”

“Like?”

“I found some antidepressants in his bathroom cupboard.” I cringe to myself. “I was looking for eye drops.”

Abbie fetches herself a glass and joins me back at the table, filling it with wine. “So he’s taking antidepressants. Is it any wonder after what you told me about his parents?”

“That’s just it. I don’t think he’s taking them. They were tucked at the back, and the date on them was only last month, so he’s been to see a doctor recently about it.”

“You should ask.”

I nod mildly to myself, falling into thought for a few moments. “I’ve never experienced grief, but I guess it’s common to need help after, right?” Even years later?

“Different people handle it in different ways.”

“He’s volatile,” I say, almost reluctantly. “It’s like there’s a beast inside him that he’s constantly trying to keep contained.” His temper makes me wary. As does his possessive streak.

“But you’re still in love with him,” Abbie muses, resting back in her chair. I don’t answer. I don’t need to. “We all have our faults. If Jude’s is a short fuse, then—”

“He fucked a married woman,” I point out. “Who’s hanging around like a bad smell.” What the hell does Katherine’s husband make of it? How can any man be cool with that? She’s a lovely-looking woman, of course, but being an A-rated bitch makes her ugly. Is there something more I don’t know? I groan at the pace of my thoughts, holding my head as I drink.

My phone dings on the table, and both our eyes fall to the screen.

I’ve booked a table for tomorrow night somewhere special. Let’s get deeper.

My heart flutters in my chest. My damn heart flutters. And then he does things like that, and all doubt is momentarily lost. But ... let’s get deeper? Why does that make me nervous?

“It sounds like he feels the same as you,” Abbie says softly.

“Unsure?”

“He’s sure. What more can you ask for?”

I nod and hit reply.

Look forward to it

And I’m taking you away. Just us, your body, my body, and champagne

I smile down at the screen, my body responding to the reminder, and Abbie chuckles, getting up and tending to her flowers. “Shall I cook?” she asks as she fills a vase with water. “There’s a new series started on Netflix that’s getting a lot of hype.”

I bite at my lip. “Do you mind if I pass?”

She looks over her shoulder. “Are you dumping me?”

I smile, getting up. “I miss him,” I admit, the flutters inside real, just at the thought of him. I don’t know why I didn’t just see him tonight. Going to my parents’ turned out to be a shitshow, and I feel wholly dispirited. Jude can fix that.

Abbie turns and leans back against the counter, her smile knowing. “Are you going to tell him how you feel?”

“That I’m in love with him?”

“Yes, that.”

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