Page 13 of Love Me Ever After
“Ugh. Noel said it was just going to be me and him tonight, but then his friends rocked up and he all but ignored me. I know it’s petty, but I wanted to spend some time only the two of us, you know?”
“Mmm.” This wasn’t new. Sara and Noel argued on a weekly—if not more—basis. And it was always about his friends turning up uninvited and spoiling their evening.
“I should invite you out with us. At least I’d have someone to talk to.” Sara narrowed her eyes. “Or I could set you up with one of Noel’s friends?”
I’d been out with Sara and Noel before and I’d met the people she was talking about, and I could honestly say that I didn’t want to be set up with any of them. While I had a career and plans for my future, most of them were coasting, doing dead-end jobs that were simply a means to a paycheck at the end of the month. It wasn’t that I disapproved of their choices, they just weren’t mine. I needed someone who would challenge me, who had the same aspirations for a successful future.
Someone like Mason.
The thought crashed into my brain and sat there, taunting me.
We’d always talked about our ambitions, how our careers were important to us, and Mason had proved it by taking the secondment. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I guess at the time, I thought he was running out on me, onus,despite how good we’d been together.
I gulped down more wine, trying to banish the thought. When I’d said I wouldn’t ever go back, it was more to protect my own feelings than anything else. Because if Mason ever showed he was still interested in me, I’d be there like a shot.
“Yeah, maybe,” I said, replying long after Sara had made the suggestion.
“We’re probably going out tomorrow, so you could come.” She dug her phone out of her bag. “If he apologises for being a prick tonight.”
As if on cue, her phone dinged with a message. I watched her read it, a smile breaking out over her face, fingers skipping over the screen to respond. “I guess you got that apology then?”
“What do you think? We’re probably going to head over to Vaughans tomorrow. You’re more than welcome.” She grinned.
“Let’s see.” I waved my glass at her. “I’ve drunk a shitload tonight, might not feel like it.”
“What would you do instead? Sit at home watching Casualty and snuggling with Mason?” Her brows rose, fixing me with an inquisitive look.
My hand froze in mid-air. It was how we used to spend some of our Saturdays when we were together. TV and takeaway nights. “No.”
“The two of you did look pretty cosy when I came in and ruined it.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. Wehadhad a nice evening, until I’d gotten hung up on Mason talking to Whit. “We had dinner and chatted. That’s all.”
She gave me a knowing look. “Just like old times.”
“Seriously, Sara, I’m not about to get back together with Mason. We’ve both moved on. Plus, he’s involved withWhit.” It was impossible to say her name without twisting it.
“Is he though? Did he actually tell you that?” Sara lifted the wine bottle up to check if there was any left. “Don’t you think if they were together, he would have said something before now?”
“He’s been here a week. And he’s not obliged to tell either of us about his romantic involvements.” I brushed it aside.
Sara chuckled. She paused, biting her bottom lip. “I am sorry for springing him moving in here on you. But it seemed like such a good opportunity and made total sense. Tasha leaving, him needing somewhere to stay. It meant we didn’t have to interview lots of unsuitable people for the room. You know all his filthy habits already.”
I raised a smile. She did have a good point. “You could have warned me though. Telling me in the pub.... What if I’d made a scene?”
“Ems, you’d never do that. I knew I was safe.” Sara paused. “Howdoyou feel about him moving in?”
Confused.Our break-up hadn’t been a bad one. There wasn’t anyone else involved and if he hadn’t gone away, we might have been living together by now anyway.
“You said earlier there wasn’t any chance of you two getting back together. I think you’re lying.” My friend narrowed her eyes.
“Even if I did want to get back with him, he’s got a girlfriend. And I wouldn’t want to get in the way of that.”
“She’s obviously more comfortable with long-distance than you were.” Sara yawned and stretched. “Wonder when we’ll get to meet her in person?”
Hopefully never, I thought. “Who knows? I didn’t hear them making plans when they spoke earlier.”
“Then you really need to come out with me and Noel tomorrow night. I’ll find you a nice guy to take your mind off Mason Miles.”
