‘Didn’t what?’
‘I didn’t mean to. I was shocked. At first, I wasn’t even sure it was you – because you were the last person I expected to see – and the sun was behind you.’
‘I bet it was one hell of a shock – given you walked out without a word to me, six years ago.’
Her mouth tightened but, damn it, he’d deserved an explanation back then, still did, although he no longer cared. It was her problem. He’d been done with her a long time ago.
‘Don’t play the innocent,’ she said furiously. ‘You know why I left.’
‘No, Anna. I don’t,’ he replied, with icy bitterness, and even now the sense of hurt flooded back, momentarily paralysing him. He could still remember coming back to the flat they shared and the stomach-wrenching, sick feeling when he realised it was empty – she’d gone.
‘I left,’ she bit out the words, enunciating carefully ‘because you were all over Savannah Aitken.’
‘For crying out loud, Anna. I told you over and over. She was a friend. She didn’t know anyone. I was beingniceto her.’ Beautiful, lost Savannah had been one of those people who was all front on the outside and desperately insecure on the inside. She’d needed a friend, hadn’t she? But Anna had always questioned her motives, insisting that she wanted Leo.
‘You were encouraging her. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer.’
Leo pursed his lips. If Anna couldn’t trust him, that had been her problem. She should have trusted him. He’d married her. The biggest commitment and promise he could make. He swallowed. He’d loved her; the vows he’d made had been for ever. He wouldn’t ever have been unfaithful. Savannah had been a friend. Anna should have trusted him.
Anna stood up. ‘Sorry to drag you into this, Michaela and Jan. If you don’t mind, I’m going to head back.’
Michaela rose, too, distress crumpling her pretty face. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘No, it’s fine,’ insisted Anna. ‘I don’t want to spoil your Friday night.’
Leo rubbed his hand over his forehead. Nothing between him and Anna had changed. He’d been a fool to believe they could put the past behind them and be friends. That was never going to happen.
He watched the two women leave.
‘Another beer, my friend?’ asked Jan with a sympathetic smile.
‘Yeah, why not?’ He gave him a limp smile in return.
Maybe Anna moving out was for the best… But why did he feel more than little sick about it?
* * *
When he returned to the flat, her door was shut, not that he’d expected her to wait up for him. The next day she stayed in her room virtually all day, only coming out when he went into his own room. On the Sunday morning, while he enjoyed his tea and toast on the roof terrace, he started to wonder if he should go and knock on her door. Was she okay? He wandered back into the kitchen listening hard. No sound of her. Maybe he should make her a cup of tea and leave it outside her door. Or maybe it would be easier all round if he went out for the day, then she could have the run of the flat. That would be fairer.
He scrolled through his phone and pressed call.
‘Hey, Natálie. It’s Leo.’
‘Leo! How great to hear from you.’
‘You said you’d show me the best places to drink beer.’ She’d been so welcoming at the initial induction meeting, and earlier in the week, she and her boyfriend and their friends had made the offer when he’d met them at the floating bar.
‘Sure,’ she said, obviously pleased to hear from him. ‘We’re all meeting for lunch today. Want to join us?’
‘That would be great. What time?’
They fixed a time and when he put down his phone, Leo turned to find Anna hovering in the doorway.
‘Morning,’ he said, determined not to fall out again.
‘Morning,’ she said with a nod.
‘I’m going out—’ but before he could say, ‘to give you some space’, she interrupted.
