‘Briefly, yet long enough to learn how to sail so proficiently that you’ve taken a job at an exclusive resort in Greece, which just happens to be owned by my ex-husband? Like that?’
‘I didn’t know that—’ He stopped himself and let out a long breath. ‘Look, there’s obviously a lot to catch up on.’
‘Oh, you don’t say.’
Such as why, when your job was the biggest barrier to us being together and you’ve clearly quit that job, you didn’t come back for me?
‘And wewillcatch up, I promise,’ he continued. ‘But can we please keep this between us? For now, at least?’
I assumed that bythishe meant our marriage, but I couldn’t decide what to make of his request, which, admittedly, was a tad unfair.Iwasn’t keen on telling Julian either.
He knew I’d been married twice before but it wasn’t as if I’d broken out the wedding albums for show and tell.Here we are, darling. Now this is Tommy. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with him, but alas, some things don’t work out as hoped… And isn’t he just the most handsome man you’ve ever laid eyes on?
Instead, it was the opposite. Once a chapter was closed, once I’d learned my lesson – or hadn’t – I kept moving forward, my collection of air fryers and some hard-won self-truths the only evidence of what had come before. I certainly didn’t go about spilling the tea on my exes.
But standing there in the shadows with Tommy, two once-siloed chapters colliding, I wasn’t yet willing to examinemymotives for keeping quiet. I was more concerned about his.
‘Why?’ I asked, placing my hands on my hips. ‘What do you care if Julian finds out about us?’
He started to speak, then stopped himself again. I hadn’t seen this side of Tommy before, hesitant and unsure.
‘There’s just a lot going on right now and I— I’d prefer it if we didn’t complicate matters by revealing that we were once married.’
‘Right. So, I’m a complication. Got it.’
I went to leave, but he captured my wrist again.
‘Ally…’
I wrenched it free and without another word, I strode towards my villa, chin up and hot tears stinging my eyes.
Complicate matters? You know what complicates matters? Believing you found the love of your life, then him choosing his stupid job over you! A stupid job he doesn’t even have any more!
I reached my villa and shut the heavy wooden door behind me, sagging against it as I caught my breath and blinked back tears.
Lust wasn’t my only shield. A low hum of anger had been guarding my heart for years. But now we were being forced together, neither shield would deflect so much as a stray eyelash – especially if it was Tommy’s.
Maybe I should just leave.
But I’d promised Julian. And it wasn’t his fault he’d accidentally hired my personal Kryptonite.
I pushed off the door and walked further into the villa.
Someone had been in for turndown service. The lights were on, casting an inviting yellow glow, music played softly – acoustic guitar, which sounded more Spanish than Greek, but still calming – one side of the duvet had been turned down, and a small gift box sat on the pillow.
My stomach rumbled. It had been stupid of me to lie about not being hungry, especially considering what was on offer, and I crossed to the pillow and snatched up the small box. Expecting chocolate, I tore it open. A silver bangle fell to the floor and I stooped to pick it up, turning it in my hand so it caught the light.
I looked inside the box, and there was a note. I slid the bangle over my wrist and took it out.
Dearest Ally,
Just a small token of my appreciation.
With love,
Julian
Could the night get any more bizarre? Or ironic? A gift from one ex when the man my heart still longed for – because who was I kidding about siloes and moving on? – wanted to keep our history under wraps.
