Page 65 of Solar Shadows

With one last glance in Ollie’s direction, I went to join my agent and the mystery man.

Chapter 19

OLLIE

Ben.

Ben Cash was sitting right there with Isaac’s agent. After all this time, there he was with his eyes on the supermodel, not even noticing me.

I swallowed what felt like barbed wire, my guts roiling with acidic sickliness.

Ben. Ben. Ben. Skin a fair golden tan, auburn hair a nest of messy curls, eyes a pale blue looking as handsome as always. Almost matching Isaac, the two of them went well together. Similar, which pinned The Sun onto my mental cork board of vapid dickheads with him. An unfair judgment, but back again seeing them sitting there together all glam and pretty and too good for me.

Why was he here? Did Isaac know he’d be here? He never mentioned him being part of this meeting.

Ben. What the hell did he want?

Crap! I was about to vomit.

A flash of anger arrived, briefly directed at Isaac. Thinking he’d set me up when he had zero reason to do so. Anyway, he didn’t know about my history with Ben.

Unless he does and they’re about to humiliate you!

With my fists tight, I battled my irrationality with deep breaths, every muscle throbbing. Isaac wasn’t conspiring against me with my ex. This was trauma coming for me in some cruel twist, a test of my strength.

Ben wouldn’t bring me down again.

Ben wouldn’t even know I was here if I could help it.

Still, the weight of defeat pressed down on me. Crushing, getting me looking at the main doors, whispering to my feet to make a run for it.

But I stayed and watched because I was here to look out for Isaac. Nothing more.

“Evening, mate.”

It took my brain a moment to catch up with the sound of Jake’s voice.

I turned to face him, hit with a heavy sense of relief. “You’re here?”

He planted a hand on my shoulder. “Your mum asked if I’d come. She’s worried. Plus, I’m debating paying Dean a visit after.” He glanced at the lifts leading up to the rooms.

My muscles unknit a little. “I’m…” I swallowed another lump of barbed wire. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Jake tilted his head to the side. “What’s the matter?”

“I…I…” I closed my eyes. “Do you see the bloke in blue over there with Isaac?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s my ex.” I then relayed the story of Ben Cash to him, my insides a tangle of painful remembrance, trying my best to not run screaming into the night.

Man, it turned out the scars and the damage Ben left me did run deeper than I thought. He’d messed up my head, my heart, my everything.

I hate you.

I really, really hate you.

Chapter 20