Page 77 of The Pop-Up Cake Shop

‘Did you tell her about me?’

He nodded. ‘I told her the truth... that you’d stayed over and I really liked you. We’re friends, as I said. And friends tell each other things like that.’

‘Right.’ I stared into his blue eyes, trying to process all of this.

‘So I guess she made all that guff up on the spot with you in order to try and ruin things with us.’ He shrugged, as if it wasn’t of much interest to him either way.

‘Us? Is there an “us”, then?’

‘Well, I thought there was. But hey, if you’re not interested...’ He turned back to the ladder and placed his hands on the sides.

‘I’d be on the rebound, though,’ I wailed. ‘And I’ve just had my ex wanting to get back with me. You don’t realise how complicated the whole thing is.’

‘Well, it seems pretty simple to me. I like you. You like me. But fine.’ He started climbing without looking back. ‘It’s up to you, Katja. You know where I am if you ever want to talk.’ And he proceeded to the top of the ladder, out of easy earshot, effectively putting an end to the conversation...

Sighing, I walked back to the van, feeling more confused than ever.

Okay, I believed him when he said he and Loretta weren’t together.

But did I really want to be with a grumpy bloke who couldn’t understand that I was really mixed up emotionally, having just come through a horrible break-up?

*****

I was feeling really down after my clash with Caleb, but I couldn’t allow my customers to see how I was feeling. So I smiled and handed over cakes and scones and made small talk, just longing for the time when I could be alone to think about what Caleb had told me about Loretta.

I believed him when he said that she’d made it all up to throw a spanner in the works with him and me. But it was clear in his gruff manner towards me that he’d been upset by my attitude the day after we slept together. He hadn’t forgiven me.

It was all such a mess!

And then... just as I was hoping to make my escape and drive along to my next stop at Primrose Wood... who should turn up but Mo!

My heart sank as I saw her marching towards the van and waving at me.

I really wasn’t in the mood for some more man-bashing.

But clearly, she’d missed the van this morning and had decided to catch up with me here at the market instead...

‘Hi! God, I must start setting an alarm on a Wednesday morning,’ she announced. ‘The trouble is I stay up late working then I’m really dozy in the mornings.’

She did look tired today, with big dark circles under her eyes. Her pink hair, which normally was spiked up with gel and looked great, was a bit lank and oily-looking today.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked. ‘Apart from being tired, I mean?’

She swallowed and glanced down at her splendid shiny red Doc Martens. ‘I don’t know, Kats. I’m a bit of a mess at the moment.’

‘Oh, no. Why? What’s happened?’

She shook her head, kicking at the grass with her toe. ‘Nothing’s happened. Nothing at all. That’s why I’m a mess.’

I studied her curiously. ‘So what were youexpectingto happen?’ I asked softly. (I was privately dreading her answer because it was bound to involve some poor innocent guy being lambasted for daring to be a man!)

She looked up and to my surprise I realised her eyes were wet with tears.

‘I don’t know. I just thought maybe Gaz might be missing me.’ She shook her head miserably. ‘But he hasn’t even texted to see if I’m all right.’

‘Couldn’t you text him?’

‘I suppose. But he always texts first.’

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