Page 115

‘Fine. I would’ve told him at some point.’

‘Exactly. At some point. You can’t say for certain.’

I swig my drink.

She taps my arm to force me to look at her. ‘Hey, I’m just trying to make you see things from a different perspective.’

‘Okay, yes, I would have slept with her if I was still with Tom. But I would’ve told her about him, and then I would’ve contacted Tom and told him.’

‘Well, from what you’ve told me, Casey was going to do that. She just got the timing off. You have to admit, it’s an odd situation, you two suddenly meeting again like that. I’m guessing neither of you were thinking logically.’

‘She slept with Eva the week before she slept with me!’

Nat sips her wine and considers me. ‘So, you and Tom weren’t having sex before you split? What was the timeframe between sex with him and you leaving?’

I blink at her, my face growing hot. The last time was our anniversary. Five days before I broke it off and flew to Berlin. I close my eyes a moment as the realisation sets in. ‘Okay, point taken.’

Nat sighs. ‘You’re miserable, Holly. When I spoke to you in Berlin, you were the happiest I’ve heard you in years, even before you ran into Casey. You were so excited to be there. What have you got here? No job. No relationship. Adam is flat out with his family and business. I’m so swamped I barely get to spend time with you. And…’ She grabs my hand. ‘Bless your lovely mum, she’s at peace.’

Her comment triggers my self-pity. Everyone getting on with their lives but me. ‘I can’t trust Casey now. What if she does what Lily did? How do I know these messages she’s sent aren’t messages she’s sending to other people? To Eva?’

‘Come on. Do you truly believe that? Wouldn’t Eva broadcast that on her Instagram? From what you told me, Eva posted everything else about their relationship.’

Nat has a point. Eva has only been posting make-up tips. Nothing about Casey or the wedding, despite people filling her comments with questions.

Nat continues, ‘Casey was in Berlin, wasn’t she?’

‘Yeah, for work!’

‘But she didn’t have to go to the park after work, did she? She didn’t have to find you on Instagram and watch what you were up to. Would she seriously do that for anyone? She wants you, Holly. She went there looking for you.’

I open my mouth to protest, but she hasn’t finished.

‘And no one can predict the future. There is not one person alive who knows what the next minute holds.’ She glances around the bar. ‘Look at all these people. Who’s to say I won’t meet someone I’d leave my husband for in the next five minutes.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Unlikely.’

Nat smiles. ‘Yeah, unlikely. But my point is, no one really knows. You can’t live your life assuming every woman you’re with will be like Lily. Go back to the UK. Give Casey a chance.’

I frown. ‘She’s probably slept with a hundred people by now.’

‘Maybe. Maybe not.’ She sighs. ‘I love you, Hols, but I don’t want to see you miserable. Go. And if it doesn’t work out with Casey, spend time with your aunty and cousin, have an adventure, travel around with your camera, create new memories. You might even meet someone else.’

I dare to let the possibility of what she’s suggesting sink in. ‘You really think I should go back?’

She nods. ‘Please. I can’t bear to see you moping around Melbourne any longer.’ She’s about to pour herself another wine when her phone rings. ‘It’s Marc.’

She answers, and I mull over what she’s said. My heart urges me to return, my gut telling me that the next part of my life was just about to begin. But my head is crammed with everything that could go wrong and the fear of being hurt again.

Nat hangs up. ‘Archie won’t settle.’

‘It’s fine. Go.’

‘Do you want to share a cab?’

I shake my head. ‘I’ll stay a bit longer. Finish this glass.’

She stands and gives me a quick hug. ‘Why don’t you come over tomorrow for lunch? We can have a proper chat. Promise I won’t lecture you again.’