Page 64 of All the Right Words
Harper didn’t know how to answer that. What would make her less mad and hurt? That there was a good reason? Or that therewasn’t? ‘Olivia, please, don’t-’
Olivia stood up and walked away from the table. Harper watched her stride over to the bar and say something to the bartender. Harper got up and followed her. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked quietly.
‘I’m cancelling dinner, settling the bill, and leaving,’ Olivia said without looking at her.
‘Does it need to be like this?’ Harper asked. ‘Can’t you just try to understand-’
Olivia put up a hand, silencing her. ‘Understand what? You’re bullshitting me. I can’t be friends with someone who doesn’t even do me the courtesy of a little break-up honesty.’
The waiter came with the machine, and Olivia tapped her phone on it. That done, she walked out without hesitation. Harper watched her go, immobile. After a minute, she turned to the bar and ordered a drink. And there she sat, for a good long while, drinking that drink - and a subsequent one - wondering how she’d ended up at this point. Was Olivia right? Was Harper really such an arsehole? Why had she been so utterly confused about what she wanted from Olivia? And why had it taken Gina to show Harper how confused she was? She couldn’t remember ever making a mistake like this with anyone before. Why now?
Thirty-Seven
Gina was at a photocopier miserably watching a bunch of documents slide out. She couldn’t even remember what they were.
What she had to remember was that the worst had passed. Ninety-nine problems, but Harper wasn’t one. They would not have to interact again. Gina could focus on forgetting her, which was going to happen soon. It might require her to bash herself over the head with a frying pan, but better her head hurt than her heart.
The photocopier ground to a halt, and Gina collected the pile and took it back to her office. She heard Olivia arrive next door very loudly. Gina popped the door open to see her slamming her bag down and throwing herself down into the chair like she was trying to kill it.
‘OK, boss?’ Gina asked.
‘Fantastic. Life is gorgeous, thanks for asking,’ Olivia said in a tone that didn’t feel entirely sincere. Possibly because she was almost screaming it.
‘Olivia, is there any chance you’re not being completely straight with me right now?’ Gina asked plainly.
‘Nothing gets past you, does it?’ Olivia asked sarcastically.
Gina raised an eyebrow. ‘The signs are subtle. I’ll grant you.’
Olivia shook her head. ‘Sorry, sorry. I’m an arse.’
‘It’s fine.’ Gina wasn’t looking to be anyone’s agony aunt, but she was curious about what was going on. Olivia had floated out of the reading last night on a cloud. What had brought her back to earth? ‘So, err, shall I ask what the fuck or…’
‘Got dumped,’ Olivia spat. ‘That’s it. Game over. Sorry to have wasted your time.’
To say Gina was floored was putting it lightly. ‘What? Are you serious?’
‘Yep. She was being cagey, but I think there was someone else.’
Gina felt like she might be sick. ‘Someone else?’
‘Yep. Why else would she piss me about like this? She said she wanted to be friends. Can you believe that bullshit? All this effort. We did everything we could for her.’
Gina wanted badly to sit down. Her legs felt like they would make that decision for her in a second. ‘So, she didn’t mention any names.’
Olivia looked at her. ‘No. Why? Do you know something?You’vebeen working with her? Is it…’
Gina’s whole body clenched.
‘…One of her authors?’ Olivia finished.
‘I doubt it,’ Gina said. ‘Unless it’s Brenda,’ she added for levity that she didn’t feel.
Olivia looked for a moment like she was considering the possibility. Gina could have laughed if she weren’t concerned it would turn into vomiting.
‘Theyarealways arguing,’ Olivia pondered. ‘What if it’s been sexual tension the whole time?’
Gina frowned at her. ‘Olivia, get hold of yourself. Harper isn’t shagging Brenda. She’d murder her first.’
