A stabbing pain assaulted her heart. “Well, you seem to have moved on.”
Someone crept up behind her. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of blond dreadlocks and piercings. Cynthia, her nineteen-year-old coworker, motioned toward the article. “Liam Doyle, huh? Fuck me. I would totally let that man shave my pussy.”
Kate turned to her, frowning. “Uh…”
Cynthia turned to her. “What? You’ve never let a man shave you before? It’s super-hot.”
Kate bit her lip, remembering how much Liam loved playing down there. She decided to keep that juicy memory to herself. “Too much information, that’s all.”
Cynthia picked up the paper. “Hey, did you hear that guy just…”
“Actually, I’d rather not hear about Liam Doyle. Please.” She tried not to look like she was a simpleton.
The girl shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Feeling lower than ever, Kate adjusted her T-shirt, pasted on a smile and took her station at the counter. Luckily the shop was dead and she didn’t have to face anyone right now. She grabbed a wet cloth and proceeded to clean, mentally reviewing her set list of songs for the end of her shift.
The idea of Liam cavorting with socialites made her stomach lurch. Kate took deep breaths and tried to concentrate on her work, sorting prepackaged bags of fair-trade brew. Someone had mixed up the decaf with the strong Columbian and she set about restoring order to the display. The writing on the coffee bags began to blur from her tears. She blinked them away.
You were a fool to think you could be part of his world.
“Hey.”
Kate jumped at the soft voice next to her and turned. Kate’s eyes widened when she saw Lisa at the counter, Georgie and Sarah at her side. Georgie ran around the counter and hugged her, almost making her burst into tears again, but she held it back so as not to startle the poor kid.
Georgie sniffed her work shirt and said, “Auntie Kate, you smell like Grandma after she comes back from bingo.”
Kate let out a laugh, even as Lisa scolded him for the comparison. “You’re right, George.” Cynthia always smoked out back on her breaks but the smell managed to cling to Kate’s clothes anyway.
Lisa turned to her daughter and handed her some change. “Sarah, take your brother and go get a chocolate bar next door.”
The girl grabbed her little brother by his collar and hurried out.
“So,” said Lisa, sighing.
“So.”
“I, um, thought I saw you from outside. Thought I’d grab a coffee.”
Kate nodded and poured Lisa her usual black brew. She handed it over. “How are you?”
Lisa took the cup and rummaged in her pocket for change, letting out a puff of air. “We’re okay. Day by day, right?” She handed over some change.
“Yup.” She ground the toe of her Keds into the floor.
Lisa put down the cup. “Look. Rod said something about you being attacked. Is it true?”
She nodded, not wanting to say more.
“Oh, Kate.” Lisa’s voice quavered. “I’m sorry.”
Her head bobbed up and down. “I’m sorry, too.”
They hugged and Kate finally gave into her grief and her fear and cried on Lisa’s shoulder. After a couple of minutes, Lisa wrangled herself from their hold and looked at her. “Please tell me Liam Doyle wasn’t the one who hit you. Because I will kill him.”
“No. Not him. Never him.” She gulped back bile. “I love him, Lisa.”
Her friend sighed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “So I see.” She narrowed her eyes and peered at her neck. “Where are your pearls?”
