Page 73 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
“It’s complicated.” Zoe added. “I’m sorry, I really wish I could be there with you.”
Julie felt a thousand knives pierce through her heart. She couldn’t believe Zoe couldn’t even give her a reason why she stood her up. As if the British tabloids were hanging around at the Brussels Airport on a regular basis! Julie didn’t want to let Zoe have any chance to hurt her any more. “I don’t think so, Zoe. You’re going to explain everything to me while you’re back in Tom’s arms? In between planning the seating arrangements and the colour of the bouquets?”
“Julie, I understand you’re hurt.” Zoe swallowed, her voice was almost breaking. “But that’s not fair.”
“You’re not being fair to me, either.”
“Please, if you let me explain… I can call you back tonight and we can talk this through.”
“All of this was a mistake.” Julie’s entire body was numb. “I can’t do this any more.” Her eyes were stinging as tears started to well. “Au revoir, Zoe.” She’d never said that to Zoe. Maybe it’d been ten years overdue.
“Julie, no! Listen-”
Julie cut the call before Zoe could finish. It immediately started to buzz again, but Julie declined Zoe’s call and slid her phone into her jacket pocket. She stood for a moment, trying to control her breathing.
This was the last time she would give her heart to Zoe Lang.
Chapter 32
Zoe spotted the black Fiat 500 as soon as she entered the short-stay car park at Heathrow Airport. The place was crowded and dimly lit, but it somehow lifted her spirits slightly. She was relieved to be back in familiar territory, and comforted that Nicki was already here waiting for her. She looked around cautiously, then finally removed her oversized sunglasses, and pushed back the hood of the souvenir shop hoodie she’d bought that morning. Maybe Zoe was exaggerating and being a little too paranoid, but she didn’t want to take any more chances. She was glad the sunglasses were covering her puffy eyes from the breakdown she had earlier at the Brussels Airport, when Julie had hung up on her. Zoe was heartbroken, but she could understand that Julie was also hurt. She probably thought that Zoe was toying with her, the bored soon-to-be-bride that needed some excitement in her life. Nothing could be further from the truth, but she’d lost her chance to make that clear.
Nicki got out of the car as soon as Zoe approached. She waved at Zoe, who just pointed at the boot of the car. Nicki leaned inside the car and pushed the button, and Zoe quickly put her luggage in before jumping into the passenger seat like Nicki was her getaway driver at a bank robbery.
“Hi boss! Nice to have you back, even if it’s not under the best circumstances.” Nicki was as upbeat as usual.
“You can’t even believe how happy I am to see you.” Zoe exhaled like she was dropping an enormous weight. “Can we go home, please?”
“Sure thing.” The car rumbled and Nicki drove out of the parking garage.
Zoe stayed silent for a moment. She had no idea how to tell Nicki what had happened. The last time they’d spoken, Nicki had advised her against doing anything regrettable with Julie. How was Zoe going to explain that she slept with her? Or everything else that had happened since?
“Are you OK, Zoe?” Nicki glanced at her, a concerned look on her face.
“Not really,” Zoe sighed. “Is Tom home?”
“He’s meeting up with his agent and should be back later today.”
Zoe didn’t answer, and Nicki didn’t pry. Zoe’s head throbbed; the roaring of the highway just seemed more overwhelming today than any other day.
“You know…” Nicki started. “I think it’s just the rumour mill. Tom’s an actor, he’s gonna have to hang out with pretty actresses sooner or later.”
Zoe tried a small smile. “You’re probably right, Nicki.”
All of this was so stupid, Zoe thought. She had never dreamed that Yasmine’s relationship falling apart would have an impact on her own like this. The tabloids had gotten hold of the story that French singer Adam had been left at the altar by his Belgian journalist bride, which was widely shared on social media. While Adam’s music was mostly popular with French-speaking audiences, his latest single had been making waves in the UK as well, so the English press were crawling all over it. That was awful enough, but one particularly noxious rag had somehow noticed that Zoe had been at the infamous nuptials and Tom had not.
“ADAM’S HEARTBREAK SPELLS DOOM FOR ANOTHER COUPLE - ARE TOM AND ZOE NEXT TO BREAK UP?” the headline had read. Not only did the article speculate about Tom’s absence from the wedding, but “sources close to the couple” had disclosed that their own wedding date has not yet been set. Worst of all, they had dug up photos of Tom with some attractive French actress, ending the article with heavy hints that Tom had already moved on, leaving Zoe in the dust.
Nicki had called Zoe in a panic that morning, asking her to come back to London immediately to handle this. Her show’s executives were worried that hints that Zoe’s personal life wasn’t as perfect as portrayed on television might impact viewership, and therefore, their bottom line. As a result, Zoe’s priority today couldn’t be her friend who was going through a spectacularly horrible and public breakup, or meeting up with Julie to try to sort out her feelings there, or even her actual relationship with Tom. Today’s priority was public relations damage control - making sure that Tom wasn’t painted as a womanising boor, and Zoe wasn’t labelled a heartless hypocrite who’d only gotten with him to boost her career - and nothing else. Sometimes, Zoe really,reallyhated her job.
The car pulled up in front of Zoe’s house.
“Harry said he wanted to speak to you as soon as you got home, and then you could call the publicist together,” Nicki said, glancing over at Zoe. “But I can try to run interference if you need a bit of time to get settled.”
Zoe nodded gratefully. Harry was her brilliant but overbearing manager, and Nicki was often tasked with keeping him off Zoe’s back when he called at the most inopportune moments.
Zoe walked inside her house and immediately tossed away her sunglasses. She fell down on her couch and closed her eyes. She heard Nicki enter the house behind.
“Wait, Nicki.” She mumbled and lifted her head. “Don’t close the door, I have to go get my bag.”
