Page 3 of Heal You
Gareth drew in a deep breath and shrugged.“To be honest, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.I don’t know what to do for the best.”
“That’s understandable.But for me, there is no coming back from this.I don’t even intend to try to fix my marriage with him.”Jan took a calming breath, hoping her heart rate would begin to settle.She needed Gareth to leave so she could figure out the next step, but he didn’t look to be in a good way at all.“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off.Give yourself some time to come to terms with this.It’s out there now, so you can begin to decide what’s best for you.”
“Will you be okay?”Gareth asked as he got to his feet and shoved his hands in the pockets of his cargo pants.“I can stay, or we could get a coffee somewhere and talk about this…”
“I appreciate that, but I also hope you can understand that I need to be alone for a little while.I didn’t come to work this morning expecting to find out my husband has been having an affair.”
Gareth pulled one hand from his pocket and held it up.“Of course.Of course.”
“Whatever you decide to do, you’ll take care of yourself, yes?”
Gareth sighed and backed up towards the door.“I will.You will, too?”
Oh, Jan was sure as hell going to look after herself.Ifanyonethought she would fall apart because of a man, they had another thing coming.“Of course.”
Gareth nodded and left Jan’s office, the silence in the room now deafening.Jan expected Phil to come bursting through the door at some point, but she wouldn’t be around long enough for that to happen.The only thing she knew for sure right now was that she had to leave.The office and the house.If Phil had been fucking Anais in Anais’ bed, then there was no telling what had happened in their own home when Jan wasn’t around.
She gathered some bits and pieces from her desk drawers and shoved them into her handbag.Choosing not to take any work with her—she had no idea if she’d ever return here—Jan turned out the lights and stepped out into the open office she managed.It was quiet, people were getting on with their jobs, but Jan couldn’t look any of them in the eye.The moment she did, she would break down.
Chapter2
Gulpingdown an entire pint of water, Morgan looked out at the rooftops from her kitchen window and sighed.Her shift in the bar downstairs really needed to go smoothly tonight or she was going to lose her head.Nine times out of ten, The Corner Bar was the only thing that kept her sane—it was her pride and joy after all—but lately, it was just bad memories.Memories of Amanda and the day they’d met downstairs.Memories of inviting her up here, knowing what would come of it.She hadn’t been interested the day her customer walked into the bar, but after a few drinks together and many laughs, Morgan found herself a little more interested.She found herself hanging on every word that fell from Amanda’s mouth.
She’d been significantly older than Morgan, but that wasn’t an issue.It never would be.Morgan preferred to connect with women like Amanda.Women who knew who they were and what they wanted.So, when Amanda had hinted at a little fun with Morgan, Morgan found herself unable to turn down the request.As she turned and scanned her open plan living room and kitchen, dread sunk into the pit of her stomach.
Never again.No way.
She shook her head and moved towards the door.Morgan had a shift to start and Tyler, her bartender, had to leave on time for his late-afternoon college course.She appreciated that he’d even been available to come in at short notice today.It wasn’t often she got lucky like that.
Morgan took the stairs that led to the bar and opened the door.It was always nice to see a friendly face sitting waiting for her, and today, that face belonged to Finn Ashton.They’d known one another for a few years now, and what Morgan liked about Finn was that she often told it as it was.Still, she wasn’t ready to discuss Amanda with anyone yet.God, Finn had only just found out Morgan was fooling around with her.She wanted to pretend a little longer.
“Hey!”Finn grinned.“You really look like you want to be here this afternoon.”
Finn had that right.Morgan would rather beanywhereelse.“Long night.Didn’t get much sleep.”
“Oh.Amanda, huh?”Finn wiggled her eyebrows and sipped her beer.“Things going well between you two then?”
“I didn’t see Amanda last night.”Morgan stepped behind the bar and wiped down the area.Tyler was pulling a pint for another customer, so she would leave him be for a moment.“And like I said, it’s nothing serious.It’ll never be anything serious.”
“Fuck them and then drop them.The story of Morgan Tate’s life.”Finn lifted her pint and held it up in mid-air.“Cheers to you, the commitment-phobe.”
Morgan leaned over the bar and said, “Just because you’re tied down now, don’t take it out on me.”
“Pfft.I’d rather be tied down with Gillian.Trust me.She’s great when it comes to knots.”Finn winked and then laughed.“But in all seriousness, you should see where it goes with Amanda.I didn’t think I’d be in a relationship with Gillian, let alone call her my wife one day.”
“You and I are different people, Finn.”That was a lie, Morgan would love nothing more than to find someone she really connected with, and ultimately settle down, but that was hard to do when she worked this bar almost every day.“You’re happy.I’m happy.Let’s leave it at that, yeah?”
Finn shrugged.“Mkay.”
“Howisthe wife?My number one fan.”
Finn rolled her eyes as she finished the beer in her glass.“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that Gilliandoesn’tdislike you.”
“She needs to tell that to her face then whenever you and I are talking.”Morgan gave Finn a knowing look.It was no secret that Gillian wasn’t fond of Morgan.Morgan had a feeling Gillian believed her and Finn had slept together at some point in the past, but Finn really wasn’t Morgan’s type.They were friends and that’s all they’d ever been to date.“I’m serious.If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under by now.”
“You can ask her yourself when she gets here.”Finn checked her watch and smiled.“She left campus twenty minutes ago so she should be arriving any moment now.”
Morgan’s heart rate spiked ever so slightly.Whenever Gillian came here lately, she usually had her best friend, Jan, in tow.Morgan could happily stand around all day admiring Jan, but she knew it was a lost cause.After the first few occasions—once Jan had found herself comfortable here—it had been a struggle for Morgan to concentrate on anything else.They’d chatted, they’d laughed, and Morgan had realised that she was enamoured by Jan.
