Page 26 of Words We Didn't Say

“You were in love with her?” I choked out. That was it, wasn’t it? He’d said those words to her. Not me, but toher!

“No!”

“Then what? What’s all this?” I waved at him. The feelings he was battling were almost tipping him into tears. He’d never been particularly emotional over the times he’d let me down. Maybe he’d muttered a few half-arsed apologies and promised to try harder next time, but nothing as raw as this. Not even close.

“It’s…it’s…nothing,” he said.

“Liar.”

Zach flinched but didn’t deny it.

“We’redone.”

And he didn’t knock again when I slammed the door in his face.

7

She didn’t say, “I cried when no one was looking.”

Eden

“Well, well,well,”Yvette said.“Someonehas some tea to spill.”

Her puffed marshmallow sleeves blocked the back door to the salon. Sneaking past was impossible unless…

I darted a look down the alley. I could make a run for it. The odds were in my favour. The catering boxes crooked under my arm weighed me down, but Yvette would never catch me in those stilettos.

She stood firm, fists on her hips. “Don’t eventhinkabout it.”

I was still considering running when I pushed past her with an unconvincing laugh. “Good morning!”

It was time to dial up the sunshine.

I was her boss.Theboss. I wasn’t the pathetic little missus who’d been lied to and left without a scrap of affection. I’d left that pathetic piece of myself at Andie’s place. All weekend, I’dwaited for Zach to crawl back and make it all better. He hadn’t. No more visits. Even before I’d blocked him, no calls. Silence. The wad of scrunched-up tissues I’d guiltily stuffed in the bin on the way out the door was the only proof my life had been torn apart.

I blinded Yvette with my best smile. “I’m loving this outfit. Is it new?” A sideways glance allowed me another peek. I wasn’t sure the scraps of pink and white gingham would pass as a dress. There was more fabric in the sleeves than anywhere else. “Andie’s going to flip when she sees that dress.”

“Don’t try distracting me with the promise of a good time.” Yvette’s eyes narrowed. “I’msoonto you.”

The catering boxes under my arm wobbled, the aroma of rich cheeses and freshly baked pastries reminding me I’d skipped breakfast…and dinner the night before.“Moi?”The indignant tone was convincing. “I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ra-ha-healy? Here I am, innocently assuming you’ve ditched me all weekend because you’ve finally dragged your man away from his desk for some baby dancing, but no-oh-oh. Care to explain these?” She shoved a fan of heart-shaped sticky notes in my face.

My eyes bulged. Whoa. That was a tonne of phone messages.

“Well?” she said. “What do you suppose these are?”

“Dunno.” Even without seeing the neatly blocked capitals spelling out ‘Zach’ at the top of every note, it wasn’t exactly a lie.

“Oh, but I think you do. Your sweet nerd has been calling every ten minutes on the dot since seven o’clock this morning.”

I pretended to be busy sorting through parcels. “Nothing unusual about that,” I mumbled.

“Sweetie, we both know Zach isn’t usually tripping over his pointy black shoes desperate to talk to you. In fact, he’s nevercalled here or dropped by. Makes sense, though, when he can just—I don’t know—see you at your place? Hmm?”

I shrugged.

“Spill it, Deenie.”

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