Page 3 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
CHAPTER 2
“I have such a bad feeling about this, Jess,” Kate said as they sat down to eat lunch.
Jess regarded her ham-and-cheese roll. Since her meeting with Frank, she’d been dreading the thought of running into Adam again. But now she thought about it, it was very likely that he was hiding out in some spare office and didn’t want to see her either.
“I have to avoid him until I leave,” she said.
Kate blinked. “Him? Who? I’m talking about you going down to Linford Castle. What areyoutalking about?”
“Sorry! Thinking aloud!” Jess heaved a sigh.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s Adam. He’s back.”
“No!”
“Yes. I saw him earlier. He came into Frank’s office when I was there.”
“And?” Kate’s expression softened.
“And nothing.” Jess’s gaze slid away. “He barely looked at me. Which is fine, Kate,” she continued firmly before Kate could sayanything else. “I’m the one who ended things, remember? And look, six weeks in the country will be perfect.”
“Six weeks in Linford.” Kate sounded doubtful. “You might get a bit … restless, Jess.” She speared some Caesar salad with her fork and popped it into her mouth.
“While there’s a Hollywood movie being made?” Jess shook her head. “Not a chance. Although I’ll probably be staying somewhere in the village. The cast and crew are staying up at the castle.” The more she thought about it, the more appealing it seemed. In the last year everything had felt … off. Ending things with Simon …everythingwith Adam. Even if Kate was right and shedidget restless, it beat having to face Adam every day.
“I’ll miss you.” Kate picked up her glass and sipped some water. “When are you going?”
Jess took a deep breath. “Early next week. They’re finding me somewhere to stay. Now, can we change the subject? Tell me how the wedding plans are going.”
Kate hesitated.
“Come on, Kate, you know I’m really happy for you guys! And I’m also more than happy to hear about weddings, as long as they’re not my own!”
Kate gave a reluctant laugh, brightening visibly as she filled Jess in about the cake, her flowers and the latest dress fitting.
It was strange how things had worked out so well, Jess thought. Less than a year ago, she’d been about to marry Simon. But she had no regrets about their eleventh-hour decision to call it off. It had taken Kate and Simon just over four weeks to officially admit what neither of them had dared for so long – that they were completely in love with each other andhadbeen for a long time.
“Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you,” Kate said, interrupting her thoughts. “Simon has a buyer for the apartment.”
“That’s brilliant!” Jess smiled.
When Simon had proposed to Kate, the most immediate problem had been where they should live. For the sake of her ten-year-old son Luke, and her widowed dad who lived beside her, Simon had agreed to move in with them.
“Listen, about the wedding,” Jess said. “Feel free to invite someone else on my plus one.”
Kate was about to respond when something behind Jess caught her attention.
“Jess, don’t look around.”
“Why?” Jess started to turn but Kate put a hand on her arm.
“Because Adam has just walked in. And I think he’s coming this way.”
“Nooo, I have to go!” Jess lurched forward in her seat as panic surged through her. “I can’t be here when –”
“Hello, Kate. Hello, Jess.”
