Page 9 of Love Me Ever After
I laughed and dropped into the chair opposite her. “Sounds a bit like Barbara and her updated allergen lists. Francine isn’t quite as accommodating as Marcus was.”
She waved the menu at me. “I’m beginning to wish we’d gone for something like this.”
Bryony Burton, the owner of the cafe, came over to the table. “Afternoon, ladies, what can I get you to drink?”
Georgie sighed. “I’d love a gin and tonic, but there’s work to do. Can I get another iced lemon tea instead?”
Her thoughts echoed my own. There was a glass of wine with my name on it, but if Sonya wanted that report this afternoon, I had to be sensible. “Good idea, I’ll have the same.”
“You got it. Let me know your food orders when you’re ready.” Bryony gave us a wide smile and went over to the counter.
“What’s the goss? You said you had news.” Georgie set the menu down on the table and leaned in.
I let out a breath. “You know I told you about my ex? The one who went to New York?”
She nodded.
“Well, he’s back.”
“Oh. Has he been in contact?”
“You could say that. He’s living in my house.”
Georgie’s eyes widened. “Do you think it’s too late to swap the iced tea for gin after all?” She laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them. “How did that happen?”
Briefly, I filled her in on Tasha’s move and Sara’s solution.
“How do you feel about him moving in?”
“I’m pissed off that Sara didn’t talk to me about it first.”
Bryony came back with our drinks, pausing my outpouring of pent-up annoyance. Sometimes I cursed her prompt service. We both ordered a chicken Cesar salad and decided to share a bowl of chips.
“How’s he been with you since he moved in?” Georgie sipped her drink.
“It’s only been a week and I’ve tried to avoid him as best I can. We haven’t spoken.”
She tilted her head to one side, fixing me with a gaze. “Don’t you think you should? He might be finding it just as awkward as you are.”
I doubted that very much. Mason had always been confident in himself, never one to shy away from things.
Georgie went on, “Why don’t you talk to him? If what you say is true, it’s probably as much of a shock to him that the pair of you are living together.”
What would come asmoreof a shock was the fact I was coming to terms with the realisation I was still in love with him. I’d avoided Mason for the best part of the week, struggling to manage my confused emotions. Seeing him again stirred up feelings I thought I’d lost when he left. Clearly, they were still there.
After lunch, I went back to the hotel and spent a couple of hours working on the progress report for Sonya. Realistically, it should have taken me about twenty minutes, but I kept going back over my lunch with Georgie and her advice on the whole Mason situation.
When Sara messaged me to say she was going out with her boyfriend and not to wait up, I knew tonight might be the chance for me to bite the bullet. To stop hiding and just talk to him.
Shortly after seven, the front door banged. I’d made sure to be curled up on the sofa where he couldn’t miss me.
“Ems.” When he clocked me, his tone was controlled. “I wasn’t sure you’d be in tonight.”
I shrugged. “Where else would I be?”
He sucked in his bottom lip. “Out? On a date? With the girls?”
Choosing to ignore his question, my gaze raked up and down him. It looked like he’d come from the gym, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt which clung to his chest. A chest which looked as if it was more ripped than when he’d left for New York. He held his laptop bag and a rucksack in one hand and my attention slipped to his forearms, which were definitely more toned. Mason hadn’t been one to go to the gym when we’d been together. I wondered what else had changed since he’d been away.
