Page 52 of And the Best Man Ran Away With the Groom

“Okay then.” I draw in a deep breath. “Well, it’s complicated. It was supposed to be a no strings thing while we were on holiday but…”

He nods sagely. “Now there are strings.”

“Pretty much.”

“Does he feel the same?”

I feel a soft smile tugging at my lips as I recall all those sweet moments with Trent and the things he said to me. “I think so.”

“So, what’s the issue then? Why don’t you go for it?” Jack presses.

I let out a dejected sigh. “He lives in Sydney.”

“Ah, shit.” Jack offers a commiserating look. “That sucks. But still, as far as a long-distance thing goes, it could definitely be worse.”

I eye him sceptically. “You’re encouraging me to try a long-distance thing with him?”

Jack just shrugs. “If you really care about this guy and want to be with him then it’s at least worth a shot, right?”

“Maybe…”

I decide to move the conversation in a different direction, and we spend the next ten minutes discussing the cricket. I’m about order another round of drinks when I notice Jack’s face light up at the sight of something behind me. I glance around and there’s Trent walking towards us.

My heart races as I drink in the beautiful sight of him; these past few days without seeing each other have beenwaytoo long and now I feel like a starving man who’s been presented with a tray of food but told he’s not allowed to actually eat anything. Because all I want is to reach out and touch him and kiss him, but I can’t.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asks, pulling out a stool and gesturing for Trent to sit down.

Trent’s mouth quirks up. “What, I need an excuse to come out for a drink?”

Jack rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“Actually, I’m glad I’ve caught you both,” Trent says, clapping his hands together. “‘Cause I’ve got some pretty awesome news.”

“You realised Edith is the hero of the story after all?” I tease.

Trent’s gaze flicks to me as he lets out a wry chuckle. “Definitely not.”

“What’s the news?” Jack presses, glancing between Trent and me as though trying to make sense of something.

Trent’s face splits into a broad grin. “I’m moving back here.”

My heart stutters at the words, hope blooming inside me while the rational part of my brain is telling me I must have misheard or misunderstood. “Here? To Melbourne? Permanently?”

Trent just chuckles, smiling at me affectionately. “Yep. Permanently.”

He’s staying.I can’t believe it. He’s actually moving back here. We’re going to live in the same city. It’s not a guarantee of anything, but at least now we can give this a real chance. All I want right now is to jump into Trent’s arms and kiss the hell out of him, but I manage to restrain myself, settling for smiling like an idiot while my whole body lights up from the inside with the knowledge that this thing between us isfarfrom over.

“What the fuck?” the words are a confused, quiet murmur, and yet they seem to break through the moment like the crack of a whip. I turn my gaze to Jack, finding him staring between me and Trent, his expression halfway between incredulous and mortally wounded.“Trent?”he rasps out. “Trentis the guy you were talking about before? The guy you meant to send that text to?”

I cringe. Obviously, I wouldn’t have wanted it to come out like this but there’s no point denying it now. “Yes.”

Jack stumbles to his feet and starts backing away from the table.

“Jack—” Trent starts, reaching a hand out.

Jack cuts him off with a sharp shake of his head as he ducks out of Trent’s reach. “I just need a second.” And then he turns and walks back inside the bar.

I sigh. “Sorry. I should have warned you about that gaffe I made with the text this morning. He knew I met someone in Thailand and he’s not stupid, so…”

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