Page 40 of Heal You (The Study You #3)

Morgan shook her head. “No need. Tell him to come here. Saves you packing everything up and traipsing across town.” Morgan pushed the plate towards Jan. “And you still need to eat.”

Jan appreciated that Morgan was willing to accommodate Phil, but she didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Not at all. “Are you sure? I don’t mind meeting him somewhere else.”

Morgan stepped closer and laid a hand on Jan’s shoulder. “I promise you, it’s fine.”

Jan cleared her throat and brought her phone back to her ear. “I’m at The Corner bar. It’s?—”

“Yep. I know where it is. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

The call ended, and Jan looked up to where Morgan had situated herself back behind the bar. This really wasn’t ideal, but Morgan was right. Jan would have to pack up her laptop and leave the lunch Ben had so kindly picked up for her if she wanted to do this elsewhere.

She sighed when she saw Phil’s distinctive royal blue Range Rover pull up outside.

Jan had no idea what he wanted to talk about; they’d already decided on who was having what.

But she would give him the time to discuss this if that’s what he needed.

At some point in the near future, they’d have no reason to talk to one another unless it was something to do with the business.

Phil strode through the door and smiled at Morgan. She returned the slightest one of her own, and then she moved to the other end of the bar and started talking with a customer. He eyed Jan, his face still holding that tiredness she wasn’t used to seeing. “Hi, love. Thanks for meeting me.”

Jan waved a hand towards the seat facing her. “Have a seat.”

He peered over the top of her laptop as he sat down, regarding her with a small smile. “Found anything you like yet?”

“No. None of them are my home.” Jan shut her laptop lid and clasped her hands on the table. “So, what can I do for you?”

“I’ve already spoken to my lawyer this morning. Set new terms. He wants me to fight for X, Y, and Z, but I’m not interested in all that. I just want you to have what you rightfully deserve.”

Jan sat back in her seat and exhaled a deep breath. They’d already agreed on terms—why had Phil changed them now? “What’s going on, Phil?”

“The house. I don’t want you to have half of it.

I want you to have all of it. I’ve already found a smaller place, and the offer has been accepted on it.

The deeds will be changed into solely your name.

” Phil lifted a hand towards Morgan. When she arrived at the table, he looked to Jan.

“Glass of wine?” Jan didn’t see why not, so she nodded. “Red wine and a beer, please, Morgan.”

“No problem.” Morgan turned away, not making eye contact with Jan.

“As we’ve agreed, you’ll stay on within the business. Your usual role and remain as partner. I’ve already had my lawyer go through the finances, and your half of what’s in the joint account should be with you within a few days. To your own personal account.”

“R-right.” Jan’s head was whirring with this information. She hadn’t asked for half of the finances, even though she was entitled to them. She just wanted money to buy a place, but now…she wouldn’t have to? This was a pleasant surprise. It certainly made life easier for her.

“I’ve upgraded your car. They’ll be at the house next week to collect the old one and drop off the new one. Business fleet, as usual.” Phil reached for his beer the moment Morgan set it down on the table and slid Jan’s glass of wine towards her. “Thanks.”

“Why the sudden change of the terms?” Jan wasn’t ungrateful, she just hadn’t expected any of this.

“I fucked this all up, Jan. Our marriage. I thought I knew what I wanted, and I didn’t think about you in the process.

I’d like to believe I’m still a half-decent man, and I want you to have what belongs to you.

I don’t want you to go without or spend your time looking for somewhere to live.

That house wouldn’t have been anything without the love you put into it. For us. And I fucked that.”

Jan nodded slowly. “You did. I just hope you and Anais will be happy with whatever you decide between you.”

“It’s…strained at the moment. But what will be will be.” Phil swigged his beer and sat back against the booth. “How are you?”

“I’m doing okay.” Jan appreciated him asking, but even if she wasn’t okay—and she was—she wouldn’t tell him that. “I’m not sure what day it is at the moment, but it’ll be nice to get back home and move on.”

“I am sorry, Jan.” Phil chanced a hand across the table and settled it over Jan’s. She stiffened ever so slightly but allowed it. “I do have to ask… If Anais wasn’t pregnant, would there have been any chance of us getting back together?”

“No. None.” Jan glanced in Morgan’s direction to find her staring at their hands. She slowly pulled it away. “You know how I feel about affairs, Phil. You know exactly what I told you when Dave cheated on Gill.”

“I know. I still had to ask.” He smiled weakly and sighed. “I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been.”

“Was it me? Did I not give you enough or make you happy enough?”

Phil’s brows rose at that. He seemed shocked by Jan’s question, but she couldn’t fathom why. Wasn’t that the first assumption when it came to cheating? “No, love. Never.”

“Then why?” Jan didn’t particularly care for his reasons. Phil had done it regardless, but she would like to move on with her life, knowing the truth.

“Honestly?” Phil puffed out his cheeks. “Because I could? Because I wasn’t thinking about the life I already had? Because I’m a fucking idiot who has just lost the best thing to ever happen to him…”

Well, it was nice to know he thought that of Jan at least.

“We had a good run, didn’t we?” Jan’s voice broke as she said that, but it wasn’t a sadness for where she was at right now. It was a sadness for the years she’d put into something…only for it to end the way it had. “We had fun.”

“We did, Jan. We had a lot of fun.” Phil finished his beer and took some cash from his wallet. He left it on the table and got to his feet. “You’ll look after yourself, yes?”

“I will.” Jan did regard him with a genuine smile this time. Phil was a good man. He’d just proven that by handing the house over to Jan, but it wasn’t meant to be any longer, and that was okay. “And before you hear it from anyone else, I’m dating.”

Just…dating? Or are you off the market before you even had the chance to be on it?

Jan probably should have spoken to Morgan before she’d informed Phil, but she didn’t get the impression that Morgan would mind.

Gillian and Finn knew now, so it was only a matter of time before they were seen out in the city with one another.

Jan had no reason to hide with Morgan. Looking back, she never should have approached this in that way.

“O-oh.” Phil’s shoulders slumped even though Jan knew he hadn’t wanted anyone to be aware of that. “Who is he?”

“That’s all you need to know for the time being. When I’m ready, people will know more. Can you give me that? The chance to figure this all out before I reveal anymore?”

Phil held up his hands and nodded. “Of course.”

Jan looked back at Phil. She couldn’t believe what had just happened here today, but she was grateful that he was doing the right thing. “Oh, Phil?”

“Mm?” He stared back at her as he checked his pockets.

“Did you and her ever…you know, in the house?”

“No. Never. That day you walked in and she was there, that was the first time she’d ever stepped foot inside the house.” Phil shook his head. “I know I made a huge mistake, but I would never bring another woman into our home. Never, Jan.”

“Okay. Well, just let me know when you want to collect your things from the house. I’ll give you space to do what you need to do and make myself scarce that day.”

“Thanks.” Phil hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll go, but if you need anything, just call me.”

“Goodbye, Phil.” Jan watched her soon-to-be ex-husband leave Morgan’s bar, her shoulders relaxing the moment the coast was clear. She hadn’t realised she’d been so tense while he was here, but she hadn’t expected the call from him today.

“Everything go okay then?” Morgan’s voice brought Jan out of her thoughts.

She turned to her left and looked up at the beautiful bartender. “Yes. What time are you finishing today?”

“Around five, providing nothing goes wrong.”

Jan beamed a smile as she said, “Would you like to come over to my place for dinner tonight?”

“I’m sorry, your place?” Morgan lowered herself into the booth beside Jan. “I don’t follow.”

“I’ll explain later. I have a sandwich to enjoy right now.”