Page 13 of Best Laid Plans
‘What?’ she asked, swiping at her chin, worried that she had cheese strings dangling from it.
‘I was just thinking it’s good to meet someone with such drive and ambition.’
She smiled back in gratified surprise, feeling warmth pool in her belly. Putting her food back on the plate, she wiped her greasy fingers on the paper napkin next to it. ‘Thanks. I’ve always wanted to run my own business – I hate the idea of working for other people for my entire life.’ She took a breath. ‘I think I was meant to do what I do.’
He snorted gently. ‘You’re a strong believer in fate. I suppose you’re one of those people who think everything happens for a reason?’
‘Sure am.’ She stared at her pizza, wondering whether she could force down another bite. ‘You’ve just got to keep positive, and everything will work itself out in the end.’
When she looked up at him, she was disturbed to see his expression had switched to a mixture of amusement and derision.
She frowned, riled by his change in attitude. ‘What’s so wrong with that?’
He shrugged and stared off into the distance. ‘It’s total claptrap.’ He enunciated the word claptrap with some relish.
‘It’s not claptrap. It’s called having a constructive outlook on life.’
Julien grunted and took another long sip of his beer. ‘I suppose you believe in fairy tales too.’
‘You must believe in Happy Ever Afters if you got married,’ she pointed out.
His gaze snapped back to hers. ‘Maybe. Once. But divorce will knock that kind of naivety right out of you.’
She jumped as he thumped his beer bottle down onto the table and there was an edgy pause as the word ‘divorce’ buzzed in the air between them like an irritating fly.
‘Why did the two of you split up?’ she asked gently, relieved they were finally getting to the crux of the matter.
He sighed and folded his arms. ‘You know, I don’t really want to talk about it. I came on this walk to forget about what went wrong in my life and look forward to a future on my own.’ He over-enunciated the word ‘own’ this time.
Indigo bristled at his bluntness. ‘That sounds kind of lonely.’
‘Lonely sounds pretty good to me right now.’
The hollow look in his eyes disturbed her.
‘You know, if you did want to talk about it, I’d be happy to listen,’ she said.
His expression flashed with exasperation. ‘I don’t need some amateur psychoanalysing me this week, thanks.’
The stab of hurt she experienced must have shown on her face because he gave a guttural sigh and shook his head.
Pushing his chair back, he stood up and pulled a handful of notes out of his pocket, tossing them onto the table. ‘I don’t think I’m the kind of company you’re looking for right now, Indigo,’ he said tersely, dropping his glasses back down to cover his eyes. ‘It’s better if we don’t spend any more time together. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.’
Without even glancing back, he strode away, his shoulders hunched and his arms hanging stiffly by his sides.
The whole surface of her skin felt hot and prickly with indignation as she stared after him, his words echoing cruelly through her head.
How rude! She’d just wanted to check he was okay here on his own.
Not feeling lost and alone and isolated.
But okay. Fine! If that was the way he wanted it, she wouldn’t bother trying to be friendly any more.
Swallowing down the painful lump in her throat, she rummaged around in her bag for her purse.
What was wrong with her? She didn’t seem to be able to step away from other people’s problems, even on holiday.
She shouldn’t be spending her precious free time with someone who had such a cynical view about love either, she told herself, yanking the money out of the notes compartment. She needed to surround herself with positivity and optimism right now.
