Page 20 of The Library of Second Chances
‘It’s fine . . .’ He paused.
‘Chloe,’ she supplied.
Chloe checked her phone as she ate, chuckling at a meme Hannah had sent to her. Harry answered a work call and slid off his stool to step outside. Chloe had almost finished her meal when he came back saying, ‘Aye, I know. We’ll need to meet up when you come over. Just need a good place to have a meeting.’
Chloe hesitated, then when he’d put the phone down, said, ‘The Brew House is a nice café. Quiet. Good caramel lattes.’ Hannah had mentioned she needed more customers.
‘The Brew House, eh?’ was all he said before he shovelled the rest of the curry into his mouth.
She almost asked what he did for a living before reminding herself she didn’t care to keep talking to him. Hannah had sent her a text, complaining about something that had happened at her daughter’s pre-school. Chloe was enjoying how they had quickly fallen into a rhythm reminiscent of what good friends they were in school; she had missed her. Then Chloe’s phone was buzzing in her hand, and she felt joy mingled with relief as she answered the phone. ‘Hi, Hannah.’
‘Hi. You won’t believe what happened at pre-school today.’ Hannah sounded exhausted. She went on a rant about a girl Lily had gotten into an argument with in the playground. What should have been a slight altercation between two toddlers ended up blown out of proportion. ‘Now we’ve got to have a meeting about it.’ Hannah made a noise that sounded like she was blowing air on her forehead. ‘What are you up to?’
Chloe told her. ‘There’s a match on, so I’m up to my neck in it. Just kill me, right?’
Hannah laughed. ‘I can hear how noisy it is. I could use a drink myself. Maybe I’ll open a cheeky bottle of wine.’
‘Wish I could join you, but I’ve got work tomorrow.’
They chatted a little more, Chloe sometimes having to stick her finger in her ear when a group of men roared at the pub’s television. She ended up telling Hannah about her disastrous date with Dean, and she found herself reluctantly grinning when Hannah snorted with laughter.
‘I’m sorry, Chloe, I shouldn’t laugh. But we’ve both had such bad luck with men. No chance of a second date?’
‘None at all. I’d honestly rather die.’ Her laughter joined Hannah’s. Already, some of the tension was loosening from her shoulders. She finished off the last chip, feeling warm and full. ‘It’s too noisy in here. Can I ring you tomorrow?’
The smile stayed on her face as she put away her phone. Then she caught Harry staring at her.
Not staring.Glaring.
‘What?’ she asked, unnerved.
‘Don’t you have any consideration?’ His voice was like thunder.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Some of us are trying to eat. They don’t want to hear you gossiping right beside them.’
Chloe was appalled. This pub was incredibly crowded and noisy. Harry had had to say that loudly so she could hear. Every few minutes, the football fans roared with joy or outrage at the game playing on theTV. ‘I’m not being louder than anyone else.’
‘It’s just obnoxious.’ Harry took a long swig of his drink. ‘Totally disrespectful.’
‘Disrespectful?’ Anger flared in Chloe, dispelling the good vibes Hannah had brought. ‘What are you talking about? It’s already bedlam in here.’ He was singling her out, she knew it. What was hisproblem?
Why would he change plates with her to be kind and then scold her a few minutes later?
Whatever. She didn’t have to put up with this.
She snatched up her bag and coat and marched to the bar to pay her bill, not looking back. She still fumed.Obnoxious? Disrespectful?
She stormed back to where Harry was sitting. ‘You know, you weren’t polite at the library, either, but I didn’t say anything,’ she said to him. ‘And it’s not fair to tellmeoff when there’s that lot.’ She jerked her head at the football fans. ‘I’m not putting up with this.’
‘Not asking you to,’ snapped Harry. ‘Off you go, then.’
She let out a huff of anger and turned on her heel. She wouldn’t waste one more moment arguing with Harry.
Just as I thought. A total bum.
As Chloe approached the house, she thought she saw a movement near her home, and she stopped walking, a frown creasing her brow. A person was standing there, their arms crossed over their chest, looking at the window from the front gate. Chloe froze, not sure what to do, when the person turned around and spotted her.
