It’s a surprise when the words bubble out of my mouth.
I hadn’t planned on telling anyone, but I suddenly need to see the reaction of saying it out loud.
And if I can’t tell Kate, I don’t know who I can tell.
She blinks. The lines appear between her eyes. “No.”
“He didn’t deny it. Plus, Fenella confirmed it.”
I don’t know how I feel about the possibility of seeing Ashton, but I do know there’s still a pool of sadness in my heart about knowing I was only a means to an end with him.
“Maybe, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
I saw it too, and that’s the problem. I saw the way Ashton looked at me. I felt the way he kissed me, and if that was all pretend… “He’s a good actor,” I say, ruefully.
“I watched him on The Suitorette, and no, he’s not.”
That makes me laugh, and it feels so good to let the bubble of giddiness escape. “It’s a reality show,” I protest. “He shouldn’t be acting. He should be himself.”
“I doubt anyone on that show is being themselves. You saw Lyra! Since when is she that—” Kate waves her hand like she’s smoothing a table. “Level.”
I laugh again, and something in my chest loosens. “You have a point there.”
“Sophie?”
I turn, mid-laugh, which disappears when I see Martin behind me.
Martin, who, only weeks before, was all I could think about.
Now, I haven’t given him a thought in days. Weeks.
Ashton was good at something—he got me over an unreciprocated crush in record time.
“Hi,” I manage. Kate pokes me in the back because she has heard all about my infatuation with the art teacher.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Martin says. He looks nice in a black suit, his hair brushed off his forehead.
His receding hairline forehead. I never noticed that before.
Or the weak jaw line.
“I—yes, I decided to come. The toe is not perfect, but at least I’m upright.”
“I’m glad. I was upset when I heard about your accident. To think that Carrington was driving around like Battle Harbour was his own personal racetrack—”
“It wasn’t like that,” I correct him. “Ashton didn’t even hit me. I slid on the ice when I was crossing the road and that’s when I broke my toes. I was getting to my feet when he came around the corner. It actually would have been a lot worse if he hadn’t been such a good driver.”
Martinblinks, and his mouth tightens to an unattractive line. “I see.”
“Is that really what happened?” Kate demands.
I nod. “I just didn’t remember the sequence of things.”
“I’m glad you’re all right,” Martin says. I notice Barb Crudup, the math teacher from the high school, standing behind Martin.
So that’s why he never called me back for a second date.
And I’m fine with it. Better than fine.
