Page 43 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

Emma fixed her gaze on Jay. She couldn’t help noticing that he and Chloe were standing so closely together that she doubted anyone would be able to slide a piece of paper between them.

The sight of them made her feel as nauseous as she had earlier that morning and she had to take several deep breaths to calm herself down.

‘Jay Williams!’ Philip said.

The room burst into spontaneous applause and Emma watched Chloe throw her arms around Jay’s neck and bounce up and down as she hugged him. Emma took a step backwards and clutched the back of Liz’s chair to stop herself from falling over.

* * *

‘Em!’ Liz jumped up to support her. She noticed that Emma’s gaze didn’t leave Jay and the woman beside him.

She could understand why Emma suddenly looked so fragile.

Even in the heat of the moment of winning, such a public display of affection didn’t seem fitting when the man’s girlfriend was in the audience.

Especially when they were just supposed to be colleagues.

The two of them separated, but Jay was surrounded by others wanting to congratulate him.

If this was the Chloe that Jay wanted to employ while Liz was on maternity leave, then she had a very bad feeling.

Liz put her arm around Emma. ‘Come on, I think you need some fresh air.’

‘I can’t. I’m working.’

‘No one’s going to miss you for the next five minutes.’

‘No, probably not,’ Emma replied. ‘Especially not Jay.’

* * *

When they had made their way outside, Emma turned to Liz. ‘You must think I’m stupid reacting like that.’

‘Actually I don’t.’

‘I tried to convince myself it was just the competition and, to be fair, he’s been very attentive when he’s not in actual competition mode.

But I got a funny feeling whenever he spoke about her and, now I’ve seen how they are together, I think I had good reason.

I saw them in the kitchen earlier and it was just the same. ’

‘I hate to say it, but I agree with you,’ Liz said quietly. ‘They definitely looked like they’d formed a bond, but I can’t imagine Jay would have done anything untoward. He’s just not like that.’

Emma nodded. ‘I know. He’s so against cheating.’

Liz squeezed her arm. She didn’t know what to say to make her friend feel better. She doubted there were any words that would. ‘It’ll be over after today.’

‘Their friendship won’t be, though.’

‘No, well . . .’

‘He told me that you’re thinking of taking her on as a chef.’

‘Jay did mention it a while back and initially I said I’d be happy to meet her, but now...’ She paused.

‘That’s yours and Jay’s decision. Not mine.’

‘Oh, Em! Don’t give up without a fight. You two are good together.’

Emma turned away and Liz suspected it was because she didn’t want Liz to see her cry. ‘I’m not sure, Liz. Sometimes I feel he’s with me because it’s easy for him. He says he loves me, but I find myself wondering if he’s trying to convince himself rather than me. I know how much he loved Susie—’

‘Susie is history.’

‘Yes, I know that. But I don’t think he’d be as devastated as he was when Susie left him if the same happened to us, and I wonder if I’m the rebound relationship.’

‘If you are, it’s lasted for a long time.’

Emma sighed. ‘Like I said, I make it easy for him.’

‘I think you’re underestimating both yourself and your relationship,’ Liz tried to reassure her. ‘But if that’s the way you feel, you need to tell him.’

‘I think it might be past that stage. But I know Jay — he’ll tell me what he thinks I want to hear and then nothing will change. I don’t think I can live like this anymore.’

‘What are you going to do?’ Liz asked. She was sad that it had come to this.

She wanted Emma to fight for her man, but she could see that her friend thought it would be a battle she would lose.

Maybe Jay was just caught up in the emotion of the competition, but it was clear that he and Chloe had developed a bond that was more than that between just competitors.

‘Nothing just yet. He’s worked hard for this and I want him to be able to enjoy his success. But I won’t be able to keep up the pretence for long. I’ve started to think that maybe I should move out.’

Liz gasped. ‘Where will you go?’

‘I don’t know. There is staff accommodation at the hotel. My friend Jen organises it, so I suppose I could ask her if there is any space.’

Liz sighed. ‘Oh, Em, that sounds desperate.’

Emma shrugged. ‘It couldn’t be any worse than living with a man who has feelings for someone else.’

‘I think you need to bide your time. See how things develop now that the competition is over.’

‘Maybe, but I think I need to be prepared for the worst.’

‘Just don’t do anything too hasty. You’ve got too much to lose.’

Emma nodded. ‘We’ll have to go back in. I’ve got work to do.’

As they walked back into the room, Liz said, ‘We’ll have to go and congratulate him. If we can get to him that is. He’s surrounded.’

Emma and Liz waited on the edge of Jay’s well-wishers until he eventually noticed them.’

‘Em! Liz!’ He beamed at them.

‘Congratulations,’ Emma whispered as he reached out to embrace her.

‘Thank you. I can’t believe I actually won.’

‘I can,’ Liz said. ‘And you absolutely deserve it.’

‘I don’t know. I was up against some tough competition.’

Emma couldn’t help noticing his glance towards Chloe and her reciprocating smile. Anger burned within her and, when Liz squeezed her hand, Emma realised she must have seen it too. At least after today she knew she wasn’t imagining it.

The organiser of the competition interrupted them.

‘Jay, I’m sorry. Can I just drag you away? There are people I want you to meet.’

Jay glanced apologetically at Emma. She pinned a smile to her face.

‘It’s okay, I need to finish up here anyway. I’m on till close.’

‘I’ll try to catch up with you later, then.’

‘Yes, that will be nice,’ Emma said, trying to keep her voice light.