Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Now that’s the operative question. Right now it’s all in my head. Safe and secure in my mind, where I can relive the perfection day and night forever . . . even if it’s slowly driving me mad. I shouldn’t do anything stupid, like risk ruining that. Like finding him and discovering that he’s actually a dick. Like realising that drink clouded my judgement. Like discovering that he is nothing like I remember. But what if he is? What if the sparks fly again and the constant butterflies in my tummy erupt?
Lizzy stands up and my eyes rise with her, until I find her face. She’s smiling knowingly. ‘Tonight we get pissed. Tomorrow we hit Google and see if we can find the man who’s knocked my mate’s knees bandy.’
Screw it. He’s clearly not going to fuck off out of my head. ‘Fine.’
I head for the door when I hear the doorbell ring, finding Micky, Nat and a scattering of other people behind them. They all wave bottles at me, their tickets for entry. I laugh, swing the door wide open and let them all trample through my flat as they sing their hellos. Just as Nat passes, I snatch her elbow. ‘Where’s John?’ I ask, doing another quick check of the sea of heads to make sure I’ve not missed him.
‘He’s not here.’
‘Oh?’ I release her arm when she shakes off her light blazer.
‘Annie, I’m just not made to deal with kids.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘And bubblegum. I owe it to my hair to make a stand.’
I give her a sympathetic face to hide my own eye-roll. ‘There’s a bottle open in the fridge.’
‘Fab!’ She’s off down the hall quickly. ‘Now we’re all single!’ she sings, crashing into the kitchen and demanding alcohol. I smile and follow her, letting Lizzy kiss me on the cheek as I pass her.
‘Okay?’ she asks tentatively, wiping away the pink lipstick she’s just smeared on my cheek.
‘Perfect.’ I chink our glasses and throw back the first of many wines.
An hour later, Micky is playing DJ and everyone is shouting requests at him. The drink is flowing and the chatter is lively, laughter filling my new home. I smile as I stand in the courtyard watching all of my friends mingle and drink. Nat comes from the kitchen, her eyes scanning the crowd. She spots me and waves an arm in the air. ‘More guests at the door!’ she calls, pointing through the kitchen to the hallway before she makes a beeline for Micky, delighted at the sight of shots.
I rush to the door and swing it open, finding Colin. ‘Hey!’ I sing, standing aside. ‘Welcome, come in.’
‘Hi, Annie!’ Colin chimes happily, walking into my hallway and taking me in a friendly hug. ‘Thanks for the invite.’
I let him release me, and an attractive lady in a silver dress quickly approaches me, holding up a bottle of wine, tapping the side with a long red fingernail. ‘I brought you this, since we’re technically gatecrashing.’
Colin laughs. ‘Annie, this is Stephanie.’
I accept the bottle. ‘Nice to meet you, Stephanie.’
‘And this is her husband, Jack.’ Colin nods past me. ‘My contractor.’
I turn back towards the door, frowning, my brain slow to catch on.
Jack? Contractor?
Husband?
My blood runs cold and the bottle of wine slips through my fingers, shattering at my feet as I stare into familiar, intense grey eyes.
Chapter 6
‘Jack,’ I barely whisper, my mouth dry, my hand squeezing the door handle to try to steady my trembling.
‘Oh no!’ Stephanie cries, appearing at my side. ‘Are you okay?’ She bends and starts collecting the broken pieces of glass. ‘Oh my, there’s wine everywhere!’
I just stare. And so does he. I know Stephanie is talking, but I can’t make out a word she’s saying, hearing only Jack’s voice through the flashbacks currently bombarding me, more vivid and real than any time before.
I blink rapidly, my breathing coming in short, fast bursts. I need to pull myself together. Quickly. Ripping my eyes away from Jack’s, I drop to my haunches and start carelessly collecting pieces of glass, my mind in chaos.
He’s here? Oh, my God, he’s here! And he’s married? I start to sweat.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I mumble to the floor, feeling a sharp stab of pain bolt through my finger. Dropping all of the shards I’ve clumsily gathered, I suck in air and look blankly down at blood trickling from the cut. Tears flood my eyes, a mixture of pain and desperation as Stephanie grabs my arm.
‘You’ve cut yourself,’ she says, pulling me to my feet. ‘Let me see.’
I’m trembling in her hold. She must feel it. ‘I’m sorry,’ I mumble mindlessly, looking up at her.
She looks straight into my eyes, and I look away quickly, fearful of what she might read in them. ‘Here, Jack, take Annie to clean up in the bathroom while I clear this mess up.’