Page 171 of Never Tell Secrets

“I thought you were with Angie…”

He shook his head. “I left her to finish the meeting with Dexter.”The architect.Just like that, I started to breathe again. “Baby?—”

“I heard her…she was…they were…”

“Fucking?” He looked faintly amused. “Yeah. She thinks I don’t know.”

I took a breath, trying to calm myself. “She said your name.”

“Probably warning him I might catch them.” Alfie seemed uninterested but his expression grew serious as he looked at me. “You thought it was me she was fucking.”

I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself. Alfie reached for me and I flinched away from him. “Don’t.”

Alfie’s mouth set in a grim line, displeasure clear on his too handsome face. “Lola, come here.” I didn’t budge, but I didn’t fight him either as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.

For long moments I held myself stiff but eventually, the gentle rubbing of his hand on my back soothed me enough to relax into his bare chest. I released a sob that didn’t quite turn into tears.

“Lo, I wouldn’t.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I knew that he was telling the truth. Somewhere inside I knew that. With or without me, there was no future for Angie with Alfie.

“Have you been avoiding me?” I mumbled the question, my cheek pressed against his chest, his skin still soft from his shower. It felt wrong to allow myself this comfort from a man who had violated me, but if anyone deserved comfort it was me.

“I’m just giving you space.”

I was grateful for that. I looked up at him. “Does it hurt being away from me?”

His eyes filled with that softness he saved just for me. “Yeah, it hurts.”

“But you don’t feel crazy?”

He paused, thinking about it. “Not in the same way. I think about you all the time and I want you in my bed so I can get a decent night's sleep but no, I don’t feel insane like I used to.”

His words had a strange effect on me. Half of me was nostalgic for the intensity of our old relationship, the other half of me knew how good it was that we were leaving it behind. Our old relationship would never have led anywhere sustainable. It was fucking and fighting, there was no future in that.

“Me either.”

His eyes softened. “Look at us, all grown up.” He released me, giving me my space back once again without me having to ask for it. “Speaking of Angie and Dexter, the three of us are going out to dinner tomorrow night. Will you join us?”

That was the last thing I wanted to do, which was why I had to do it. Besides, I’d brought a pretty outfit with me, it would be a shame to waste it. “I’d love to.”

I wasn’t sure what surprised me most, Angie not ripping into me for wearing non-designer clothes to a michelin star restaurant, or the fact that Alfie hadn’t put us in a private dining room.

I’d never eaten with Alfie in public before and I was expecting to be stared at the whole time, but after recognising more than one famous face in the restaurant, I figured the establishment was upscale enough to be safe from prying eyes.

Dexter was charming, he had an easy manner, a smile that met his eyes and seemed oblivious to the sour looks Angie threw my way whenever he engaged me in conversation. Looking at thetwo of them, you would never know they’d been getting dirty in the back halls of a half-finished hotel last night.

I took a bite of my steak, savouring the flavour. I was regretting wearing the leather skirt Keira had loaned me, it didn’t allow much room for eating but the pale pink satin shirt I’d paired with it was perfect for the warm night. I took a breath, shifting slightly as I swallowed.

“I told you you shouldn’t have worn that skirt.” Alfie’s smile was smug and I scowled at him.

I took a sip of my wine and my gaze was once again drawn to Angie as Dexter whispered something in her ear. She smiled, almost shy, a brightness in her eyes I’d never seen before.

That’s when I noticed the brunette approaching our table, a glass of red wine in her hand. She gave Angie’s sleek chic style a run for its money and like Dexter, looked to be in her late thirties. The woman's eyes fell on him and right then I knew we were about to have drama.

Dexter looked up, his face falling as he saw her. “What are you?—”

Her glass of wine tipped over Angie before he could finish his sentence. Angie let out a scream, her chair scraping on the floor as she stood, every eye in the place suddenly turning to us.