Page 91 of The Lucky Escape

‘No,’ she said. ‘I suppose not.’

‘We were just taking a break to talk about a project we’re presenting tomorrow,’ Alexander said.

‘Uh-huh,’ I replied. Part of me wondered if this might have been why he left me, but as quickly as the thought entered my mind, it left. I didn’t care if it was. He wasn’t my problem anymore. I could ask Cameron outright, here in the middle of the street, or I could say something caustic, asking her if she was aware what he was capable of, but it wasn’t worth my energy. Maybe he’d treat her better than he treated me. The probability was low, but anything was possible.

‘I suppose it’s good I bumped into you,’ I said. ‘Saves me an email.’

‘Right,’ he said.

‘I’ve transferred you your share of the furniture I sold, and I’ll just leave the key under the plant pot for you on Saturday. My lawyer will be in touch with yours to sort out the contributions I made to the mortgage. I know you’ll be fair.’

‘Yes, right. Of course,’ he said. Then he looked at Cameron, saying to her: ‘I’ll just be a minute, okay? I’ll be right back.’ He stood up and gestured for me to keep walking with him in tow. As we were out of earshot he said, ‘Thank you for being civil.’

‘No other way to be,’ I replied.

‘There is,’ he insisted. ‘So, thank you.’

‘Did you leave me for her?’

He coloured up, vindication bubbling in me that at least he had the decency to look embarrassed. ‘Nothing happened until after we broke up,’ he said.

I nodded.

‘My parents miss you,’ he said. ‘I heard you delivered quite the Australian thank you package.’

‘They’ve been very good to me.’

‘Better than I have,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry. For everything. I don’t think I ever properly apologized.’

‘You didn’t.’

He stopped walking. ‘Really?’

‘Nope.’

‘Oh. Well. I really am. I was awful to you, and you didn’t deserve it.’

I pulled a face. ‘You set me free,’ I said. ‘And I haven’t given you another thought since.’

I leaned in and kissed his cheek. I could tell he didn’t know what to say to me. I gave him a smile and walked away, stopping only when my phone pinged to a text from Kezza:Jo has had the baby! She’s here!!!!!!!!!

44

Last time Jo had given birth, the Core Four had gathered at the hospital in excitement. It was over-the-top, but she’d been the first of us to have a baby, and we wanted her to know that we were there for her. It was a way of sayinghey, we love you,without being in the room, even though Jo only found out after the fact that we’d hung out there. It’s just what friends do. So there was no question that we’d do the same now little Estelle Grace had been born. It was basically tradition.

The thing was, is that I was supposed to be meeting Patrick.

Can I call you?I texted him from the waiting room as I waited for everyone else to arrive.

Yes,he said.Are you running late?

I took a sharp intake of breath and hit his name on screen.

‘Don’t be mad at me,’ I said when he answered. ‘But Jo just gave birth, so I’m at the hospital waiting to see her instead of on my way to you for pizza.’

‘Oh!’ he exclaimed. ‘She did? Well that’s amazing! Tell her hi from me!’

Relief coursed through me. I’d worried he’d be furious, but he was the exact opposite. He was … kind, and lovely.

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