Page 25 of The Wrong Husband
"What?" I whip my gaze back to hers.
God, they’re fast. I’m only just starting to process what that brooding masterpiece with shoulders who could carry myemotional baggage stirred in me—how alive he made me feel. And already, they’ve clocked it.
With Drew, too, everything moved quickly. I told them early, made them promise to keep it quiet, since he was my boss. I knew they weren’t thrilled—especially Grace.
When he asked to move in, I buried my doubts, pretending everything was fine. But my friends saw through me.
If I’d seen them sooner, they probably would’ve pulled the truth out of me—and maybe, that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing.
But I wasn’t ready to admit it. Not to them. Not even to myself. So, I stayed away.
Now, I’ve ended things with Drew but…I'm still not completely rid of him. Ugh.
It seems like every time I go home, he's there, waiting to pick a fight with me, or just try to make me feel guilty for asking him to leave.
If I tell my friends that… I doubt they’d understand… And I get it. I need to get him to leave stat.
Meanwhile, I can’t stop thinking of the man with the ice-blue gaze. I would be insane to even consider a relationship with him. I’m not ready to be involved with anyone else.
I wasn't lying when I told Drew I want to experience the kind of love that I can feel to my marrow. But now that I am on the cusp of an attraction waking up my nerve endings, sending my heart racing, and threatening to turn me inside out—thekind of animal pull I never felt with Drew—I’m scared of how vulnerable it’s making me feel.
I’mdefinitelynot ready to acknowledge it. Let alone, talk about it.
“Just so you know, if you have met someone, that’s okay,” Zoey says gently. “You deserve to be happy.”
“And if you’re thinking it’s too soon?” Harper squeezes my hand. “Don’t.”
Grace’s gaze pins me. “Knowing you, you’re probably blaming yourself for everything with Drew. And if—if—you’ve met someone new, I’m guessing you feel guilty for even thinking about moving on.”
She’s so on point, I suck in a breath. “Wow. Don’t sugarcoat it or anything.”
Grace’s expression softens. “Babe, cut yourself some slack. You don’t get to choose when the right person walks into your life.”
Harper nods. “You know what they say—falling in love never happens at the perfect time. Just the right one.”
Their kindness only makes it worse. My throat burns. I look away, blinking fast.
Grace is right—I am drowning in guilt. Guilt for letting things with Drew drag on when I knew I wasn’t serious. If I’d been honest from the start, we wouldn’t be stuck in this mess.
And I haven’t even told my friends he’s still living in my flat.
The idea of moving on so soon feels… Cruel. Cold. Especially when I don’t feel ready. Not for something real. And definitely not with him.
That stranger—the one who rattled me without even trying. I know he’d see straight through me. He’d tear down my walls, force me to be honest. No hiding. No playing small.
It’s exhilarating. And terrifying. So, so terrifying.
“Thanks.” I manage a tight smile. "But I… I’m too busy to start a relationship.”
Grace’s forehead furrows. She’s about to comment when the woman behind the counter walks over to us and places a tray of various desserts on the table.
Finally, a distraction!
"These look amazing," Harper breathes.
“This one’s a lemon slice with a crunchy base and an icing which has spikes of saffron and lemon zest.” The woman points to one of the desserts. "Try it.”
Harper and I each reach for a slice.
