Page 79 of Kissing Games
‘Valentina,’ he growled. ‘You’re killing me.’
A hiccup of laughter bubbled up. It felt so good to be happy. It was such a sharp contrast to all the tears she had shed. She welled up again. How could she feel good when Isabella and her baby were in hospital?
‘Hey, hey, don’t cry, sweetheart,’ he implored. ‘You need to save your tears. In a couple of minutes, a teenager is going to use words we don’t understand and make us feel technologically illiterate. Nowthat’sworth getting upset over.’
She smiled at him as he wiped the corners of her eyes with his thumbs. ‘Do you mind choosing a phone and tablet for me?’ she asked. ‘I just don’t have the strength. I can’t think straight right now.’
‘Of course. Anything in particular you want? Budget? Colour?’
She puffed out her cheeks and shook her head. ‘Money’s not a problem any more. Just get one that is easy to use, will last, and I can use straight away. I don’t care about the colour.’ She blushed, suddenly shy. ‘Unless they have one that matches your eyes.’
He swallowed, then cleared his throat.
‘Okey dokey,’ he said, pulling her into the shop. ‘One Kermit-the-Frog-green phone coming right up.’
Valentina satin a chair by the window, watching videos of Dave and sneaking glances up at Charlie. He seemed in his element, gathering the shop’s staff around him as if briefing them for battle. He was charismatic and confident; the centre of everything. They bustled about him, eager to be the first to find the perfect solution. Occasionally he would pop back to where she was sitting, kneel down and give her an update. He chose a model that was precharged so she could start using it immediately. He even took her credit card so she didn’t need to move.
Her heart overflowed. Why did it have to end in a couple of days? Could they have a future together? As he stood at the counter getting everything bagged up, his phone vibrated in her hands. She glanced at the message without thinking.
It was a picture; an ultrasound scan of a baby.
Was that Isabella’s? She looked at it, confused.
Another photo came through, this time of a beautiful blonde woman cradling her neat pregnancy bump. She was tall, slim, willowy and dressed in expensive-looking clothes. Was this Charlie’s sister? She looked like a model, not an army colonel.
A text message pinged in.
Caroline: You’re right, Charlie. I love you and want to do this with you. All the pregnancy hormones made me a little crazy. We’re meant to be together and you’re going to be a wonderful father. Ring me when you get this and we can talk about a plan for when you get home. I love you, Caro xxx
Valentina stared at the message as the world ground to a halt. Her memories dredged up his voice.Jennifer, Katie, Lisa, Caitlin, and Caroline.This was the last woman he had slept with before her. They were in love.
And she was carrying his child.
‘Hey, sweetheart, you’re good to go.’
She looked up to see Charlie holding a bag in one hand, an iridescent green phone in the other.
‘It works,’ he said. ‘And I’ve already messaged your mum so you can ring her straight away. I’m not sure about the colour, but the guys say it’s the best match.’
He grinned at her. She stared back. He looked guileless. Open. Honest.
‘Oh, and your new tablet’s in the bag too.’
She’d always prided herself on being able to read people. How wrong could she have been?
Now his face was concerned. ‘Valentina? You okay?’
Oh my god.He was a psychopath. He believed his own lies so completely they appeared on his face as pure truth. He crouched down and she flinched.
‘Valentina? What’s happened?’
She couldn’t breathe. She needed to get away from him. She grabbed the bag and her new phone from him and thrust his into his hand.
He stared at the screen.
She pushed past.
‘Valentina, it’s not—’
