Page 69 of Someone Like You

Under the shower, the pink bracelet repeatedly snatched his attention. It was easy to forget it existed when he could hide it under a sleeve, but it never lasted long. Taking it off would have nipped the issue in the bud, but Phil had placed it there and Ian was determined to wear the bracelet to the grave, whatever the cost.

A girl had given him her number the other day, after asking him to spot her for squats. They’d talked for a while outside the gym; she seemed fun and interesting, very level-headed for a twenty-six-year-old, and Ian was still debating whether to keep the number or delete it. Perhaps a woman was what he needed after two failures in a row with men.

No one would’ve been the ideal solution, had he not been in such desperate need for distraction. Life had surprised him once — it wasn’t impossible it’d surprise him again.

Unlikely, yes, but not impossible.

As he walked home, he scrolled through his contacts, trying to find the girl’s number. He remembered her pretty honey eyes and the myriad of freckles, but not her name.

Terri? Thea?

Teresa.

She might be just the diversion he needed toforget: young, sporty, sunny, a pinch of endearing shyness…

You

Hey, it’s Ian from the gym. Fancy a coffee one of th

A notification popped up at the top of the screen. His heart stopped.

Abigail.

He wasn’t ready for this.

What had Phil told her? Did she know they weren’t seeing each other any more? Did she knowwhy?

He opened the text with a sense of pending doom.

Abigail

We need to have a chat, big man

Ian halted.

You

About what?

Abigail replied with a photo. It was the selfie Phil had taken at the pub.

The sight of it crushed him.

You

I don’t understand

Abigail

Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit you

Saturday 5 pm at La Dolce Vita

Ian’s mouth took a wry curl sideways. She wasn’tasking.

You

I’ll be there

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