Page 72 of Rider Forbidden
“Get out,” Her words are cold, nothing more than I deserve. I leave.
I need the pub now.
I walk into the pub and straight to the bar. Denny is in, as usual, Christ how much time does this guy spend in here? I order two double whiskeys, knock them straight back and then order a pint. I go and sit with Denny.
“What the hell is up with you?”
I shake my head, “Nothing, just fancied a drink.”
He doesn't look convinced but doesn't say anything. I feel numb. I think of her at home now, wondering what the hell just happened. I need a lot more fucking whisky.
Chapter21
Robyn
I walk in work the next day like a zombie. I’ve had no sleep and I'm still totally shocked at what happened. I mean, what the hell? Everything was going fine and suddenly he gets scared and ends it, just . . . like that.
I bump into Sophie, I hadn't even seen her. “Hey, what’s wrong?” she asks me when she sees my face.
I shake my head and tears start to run down my face. “Sophie, I can't . . . I just can't believe it.”
“What? Is Elijah OK?”
I nod, “Yes he’s fine, it's just . . .”
I can't get any words out after that, I break down. I haven't been able to talk to anyone about it. Thank god there’s no one else in the corridor. She moves me to our office and shuts the door and takes me in a hug, holding me while I break down.
“Hey, hey it's OK.”
“I'm such an idiot, crying like this over a guy - a guy everyone warned me about. How could I be so stupid?”
“I take it this is about Jack?”
She knows that I’ve been seeing Jack – everyone here knows really. I groan when I realise I’ll have to face everyone and they'll all know he dumped me.
I nod, “He ended it last night - I don't get it, everything had been going great. We were both happy with how it was going, I know it wasn't just one-sided on my part, I know it. He was as into it as I was, then he ended it, just out of the blue. Said he didn't want to be tied to one person, that he didn't want a woman with a kid, or something like that.”
“What the hell, he saidwhat?What a prick! Jesus Robyn, I'm so sorry. I mean, I know we all warned you about him at the beginning but then we all talked about it, how we'd never seen him with a woman like he was with you. We all think, or thought, that he'd changed, that he big time liked you.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, we were all wrong.”
“He’s making the biggest mistake of his life right here. You get that don't you? You're a catch. You’re gorgeous, and I mean off the scale could be on TV gorgeous, you're sweet and funny. He was lucky to get you in the first place. At least he’s ended it before you two had a real relationship . . . before Eli got attached. You don't need him in your life, someone that can hurt you like this. They're not worth it.”
I sniff up and look around for a tissue, “That’s the thing, the reason I’m so upset is because I was falling for him, falling so hard. I feel so stupid, why did I not see this coming? This is my fault in a way, I knew his track record but for some reason thought he'd be different with me. Why would a leopard change its spots?”
“Right, that’s it!” Sophie snaps “You need to stop talking like that right now. Were we all stupid then? Because we all thought we'd seen something in him we hadn't seen before. You are going to pull your socks up, take a deep breath and say, ‘fuck him’, pick yourself up and brush yourself off - you're coming to the pub tonight with me and the girls. Its Friday night, there’s this great band playing. Is Eli going to your mums?”
“He’s going tomorrow.”
“Well phone your mum, ask her if you can swap nights, I'm sure she’ll agree, and you come out with us so that you can drink your problems into oblivion.”
I nod, “Thanks Sophie, you're a good friend.”
“No problem. I think you should go home or go to the gym or something - not the one here though - Jack might be there. But don't stay here today. Go and pamper yourself and get ready for tonight. You don't want to see him I'm sure.”
“I should stay, the preliminary race is a week tomorrow, there’s lots to do.”
“Don't you worry about that - get home now and hope that I don't see him today. We’ll see you tonight. Text me when you've spoken to your mum OK?”
