Page 7 of The Christmas Holiday
‘Thanks, though. For offering.’ I did appreciate that Lorelei was trying to help, butwhat I’d said was true. In Hunter’s eyes, I was the one who’d broken everything. And maybe he was right. But if he was, it was because it had needed breaking, and definitely before we launched into a marriage thatwe would probably have each seen quite differently.
But Hunter had shown today he still laid the blame firmly at my feet. Talking about it, even with the benefit of time having passed,wouldn’t make any difference now. He’d still hate me. Not to mention that when Lorelei had a talk with a man, it usually ended up as pillow talk. I’d rather t stick a fork in my eye than lie in my bedroom and listen to my flatmate and my ex going at it in the next room, thank you very much.
She gave me a look, considering forgiveness. ‘What are you going to wear to The Ivy?’
‘Oh God.’I leant forward over the railing and looked down into the water as it sloshed and slapped against the wharf. ‘I have no idea.’
‘I can lend you something.’
I turned back towards her, glanced down at her impressive chest, then down at my own. Even under our warming layers it was pretty obvious we were built differently.
‘I’m not sure I have enough socks to do justice to one of your beautifuldresses, but thanks all the same.’ I reached up and hugged her. ‘I’m sorry if I snapped earlier. Seeing him with no warning just threw me off. I’ll be OK by tonight.’
‘Sure you will! And you’re fine. Totally understandable to be a little edgy in the circumstances. Look, Jeremy wouldn’t have let you near his daughter if he thought there was even the remotest chance you couldn’t handle it. Andit could well lead to more for you, so don’t you dare let a man ruin that for you – even one that looks good. Now go home and get ready to wow the crap out of them all.’
I gave her another hug, wrapped my coat tighter around me against the biting wind, and headed towards the Tube station to catch a train back to our flat.
