Page 82 of Only You

When Ana looked away, her friend continued. “The man I saw the day Olivia went missing was not interested in anyone but you. He watched you like you hung the moon and the stars. I only hope some guy looks at me that way someday!”

“I told him it was a mistake.”

Millie threw up her arms in frustration.

“Please don’t,” Ana said, her voice catching. “I must let him go, Millie. I’m not the right person for him. I was the substitute. You saw my sister. She is beautiful, intelligent and the mother of his child. I remember hearing Andrew beg her to give him a second chance after Olivia was born. He stood in my parent’s hallway and begged. His wish is coming true. He can have it all, and Millie... I want that for him.”

Millie pulled back and grabbed Ana’s hands, scanning her body. “You, my friend, are smoking hot. If your surgeon can’t see that, then he’s blind.”

Millie didn’t say anymore. Instead, she pulled Ana in for a hug.

“Let’s get drunk,” Millie said, waving over one of the VIP waiters. “A bottle of gin, please, and some mixers.”

The waiter nodded and disappeared. Ana smiled in thanks just as George and Julie returned from the dance floor.

“What are you two up to?” George asked, looking between the two of them.

“We have set the world right, and now we are about to getverydrunk,” Ana said, wrapping her arm around Millie’s shoulders to stop her friend from worrying about her.

“Yes!” both George and Julie said, grabbing the two seats opposite them.

They made a beautiful couple. They were so in synch with one another. That is what Ana wanted.

Ana had never been much of a drinker and soon found her head swimming. The lights of the club danced above her. Deciding she’d had enough, she dragged Millie onto the dance floor. She should have foreseen that Millie was a crazy dancer, throwing shapes all over the place. Laughing, Ana finally relaxed as she moved to the music. She had to admit her friend drew people into her orbit. It did not surprise Ana when Millie attracted the attention of a group of guys their age.

Millie gave her a side nod and a grin. It was then Ana realised one guy had moved closer to her. Millie pulled Ana into a hug, whispering loudly into her ear, “He fancies you,” she giggled. “You should go for it. Get back on the horse. Put Doctor Gorgeous back in his box.”

Another guy appeared and spun Millie away, drawing her into an elaborate display of dirty dancing. Ana looked around, seeing the guy Millie had previously pointed out smiling at her.

“Hi, I’m Paul,” he shouted.

“Ana,” Ana replied, giving him a smile.

Maybe Millie was right. She needed to find someone to move on with.

“Do you want to get a drink?” Paul asked, tilting his head towards the bar.

Ana looked at Millie, whose arms were draped around the neck of Paul’s friend. She could either stay on the dance floor and dance by herself or grab a drink.

Tapping Millie’s arm, she tipped her hand to her mouth to let her friend know where she was going. Millie grinned when she saw Paul standing behind her and winked. Ana rolled her eyes at her but turned and followed Paul as he fought his way through the crowded dance floor to the bar.

“How do you know Millie?” Paul’s question surprised Ana.

“Er, we go to University together,” she replied. Paul was nice-looking and around their age. His dark hair was short on the sides and long and spiky on top. His dark eyes were kind, so Ana relaxed. “How about you?”

Paul looked over at the dance floor and smiled. “The guy who has Millie wrapped in his arms is Dan. He’s fancied Millie since sixth grade, but she has never given him the time of day... We all went to school together,” he added.

Ana looked over at her friend and grinned. “That seems to have changed this evening.”

Paul returned her smile. “I hope so,” he added, “’Cause if not, I’m going to be spending weeks picking up the pieces of his broken heart.”

Ana found herself laughing. She decided she liked Paul. He obviously cared about his friend.

Paul was studying medicine at the University of Lancaster. He had returned for the holidays but would be heading back in a week. Ana’s heart lurched. She smiled and asked him how he was finding it. He started speaking with such passion Ana’s heart burned. She never admitted to anyone how difficult it had been to give up medicine. But she had made that choice and refused to regret her decision. She half listened as Paul talked about what he would do after the Christmas break. He was in his first year and, therefore, younger than Ana. She loved his enthusiasm and should not have been surprised when he leaned forward and placed his lips against hers.

Ana pulled back immediately, her body frozen, and Paul looked at her sheepishly. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I just thought...”

Ana held up her hand. “Sorry, it’s just...” Just what? What was she going to say? I’m in love with my ex-brother-in-law. I’ve given up everything I loved to escape my abusive father.

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