Page 57 of When Annika Met Thom

“I think you pretty much terminated everything with that parting comment.”

“I was hurt. It wasn’t unreasonable to be angry.”

“No, but I wouldn’t take a call from someone who had told me to fuck off. Would you?”

“Maybe not, but I wasn’t thinking about that, not then. I need to talk to him. My sister says so.”

That seemed to amuse him. “Do you always do what your sister says?”

“No, but I think she’s right this time. Where can I find him?”

“I don’t know.”

“But you know about Cerise. If he’s with Cerise, you’re the only one who can help me find him there.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Talk to him. Say goodbye.”

“Cry?”

“Maybe later.”

“I’ll take that as a warning.”

She met his gaze steadily. “I need to have an exit interview, to just have it all resolved. We have too much history just to forget we knew each other.”

“An exit interview,” Thom echoed. “I didn’t realize that being engaged was a job.”

“Not one you have to worry about having, according to you,” Annika said and he nodded agreement. “Where does Cerise live?”

“I have no idea.”

“Do you know where she works?”

“He might not be with her anymore,” Thom said gently, warning her. He was so protective, even of a woman he didn’t want to be around. Annika smiled at him and he looked startled.

“But she’d know. I need to talk to her.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“No, but I’m going to do it anyway, at least if you help me.”

“What are you going to say?”

“I’ll tell her the truth.”

“She might think you want to take him back.”

“No way.” Annika shook her head.

Thom seemed very interested in this reply. “Because he screwed around?”

“Because he lied to me,” she corrected. “Even if I was madly, deeply in love with him, I could never trust him again. I’d always be wondering what he was doing. A relationship has no future if people can’t trust each other.”

He looked away, considering this and Annika kept talking.

“I promise I won’t cry at home tonight, no matter what he says.”

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