Page 92 of The Puck Stops Here

In fact, if all went according to the original plan, she was the last person on earth he’d want to see again.

And that left her feeling even shittier than before.

14

Tuesday, aka dinner date day, came around all too quickly for Astrid who was still reeling from her last dose of Blake.

And she didn’t mean the semi-naked dose.

She meant the way he’d burrowed into her soul and made her realise too much about herself. Too much about her true desires for the future and the path she had carved out for herself. She needed to get back to being the woman she’d been a fortnight ago. Determined to do right by her friends and the article.

When it came to Blake, her head needed to be in the driving seat.

Not her foo foo, and certainly not her heart.

She was just about to step into the shower when her phone rang, Tay Tay’s tune telling her it was the girls. They probably wanted to wish her luck…

She could ignore it.

She probablyshouldignore it.

She hardly had a spine of steel right now, but if anyone could talk her back on the straight and narrow it was them.

Pulling on her robe, she picked up the phone and returned to the bedroom. Only Sissi was on the call but seeing her friend’s face in the bubble had her heart twisting. She swiped to answer before she could chicken out.

‘Hey babe, you good?’

‘Better for seeing your beautiful face.’ Sissi smiled. ‘I’m so sorry I’m only just checking in now. Between studying, work, and my ex going AWOL on his daughter, I’m spent. Not to mention Horrible Harvey is a hard nut to get access to, let alone crack. I’m in a world of chaos here.’

Siennalookedlike chaos. The dark shadows under her big blues ran deep. Her blonde hair fell from her ponytail in tiny wisps. Her apron from the diner was covered in what looked like coffeeandketchup, and her pale cheeks were streaked with something.

‘We’ll help you with Harvey, you know that right?’

‘Na-ah, this is my responsibility. I’ll get it done.’

Oh, how to feel even worse…

She tried to smile, to be all,Yeah, I’m on it, but the words stuck in her throat and Sissi frowned. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing.’ Too quick.

‘Astrid, I haven’t known you all that long, but Iknow you. And something’s up… what is it? Is it Aiden? Is it Blake?’

Astrid buried her head in her hand with a groan.Try all of the above.

‘Okay, now you’re worrying me.’

She flicked her head up. ‘It’s nothing for you to worry about, it’s just…’I’m not sure Aiden deserves to be messed with and I’m terrified of my growing feelings for Blake.

‘It’sjust…?’

‘Aiden… he’s not… he’s actually…’

‘Oh my God, you’ve fallen for his charm, haven’t you? I knew this would happen.’ She threw a hand at the screen. ‘I warned you…’

‘It’s not like that, not quite,’ she hurried to say. But what was it like?

‘I don’t even know why I’m surprised.’ Sissi shook her head. ‘He managed to fool me and I trusted no one until he came along.’

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