The thought of Savannah posing in one of those skimpy bikinis with another guy sets my skin simmering with annoyance, but I keep my mouth shut. I’m not her keeper. I’m her boyfriend. And as soon as the photos are done, I’ll get to shout it to the world.
‘Who is he? Do we know him?’ Savannah bites down on her pen lid.
‘Finn Reilly. You’ve probably seen his fitness videos online. His wife is a nutritional coach. They’re opening gyms left, right, and centre,’ Lucas says. ‘He has a huge fitness following. He’s wholesome. Likeable. He’s exactly what Coral Chic needs.’
An image of Finn Reilly springs into my mind. I’ve seen his ‘Get Fit With Finn’ routine on Instagram. With his dark hair, hazel eyes and athletic physique, I suppose he’s a good fit for the role. And at least he’s married, so he won’t be pawing all over my girlfriend.
The phone slips from Savannah’s fingers and hits the kitchen floor, shattering the screen. She looked stricken this morning, but right now she looks like she’s about to pass out.
‘Jees, are you okay?’ Grabbing her elbows, I guide her back to one of the kitchen chairs. She slumps back unsteadily.
Her mouth opens and she stares at the phone on the floor like it’s poisonous.
‘Baby, you’re scaring the shit out of me right now. What is it? Do you feel sick?’
Her entire body trembles beneath my touch. ‘I can’t do it,’ she eventually blurts out.
‘Why not?’ I’m missing something, but I don’t know what. She was all for it earlier. She was the one trying to convince me it was a good idea.
‘I haven’t seen him since…’ Her eyes snap to mine meaningfully.
She knows Finn.
Finn, with his dark hair and hazel eyes.
Realisation churns in my stomach.
‘Savannah?’ Her name hitches up like a question.
Her eyes fuse with mine and she nods once, but it’s enough.
‘He’s the twins’ dad,’ she confesses.
The conversation from the car journey back from Ballybowen replays in my mind.‘He’s married. I had no idea.’
I slide into the seat next to her and pull her onto my lap, cradling her like a baby. She nuzzles into my neck as I rock her back and forth.
The only sound is the ticking of the clock.
‘You want to tell me what happened?’
Eventually, she speaks. ‘I was working in London for a women’s fashion magazine when I met him at the local gym where he was a personal trainer. We spent three months together before I found out I was pregnant. Which, coincidentally, was when he admitted he was married.’
Rage rises like a riptide in my thorax. I squeeze her tighter against my chest. ‘Bastard.’
‘I left my forwarding address at the gym should he ever want to contact me about his child, little did I know I wascarrying twins, but he never did. Then he shot to fame as a celebrity fitness trainer and started on Good Morning Britain. I hated seeing his smug face on those daily ‘Get Fit with Finn’ fifteen-minute work outs.’ Savannah’s fingers ball into an angry fist on my chest.
‘I’m so sorry he did that to you.’
Savannah shakes her head. ‘The shame.’
‘What shame?’
‘He was married. And I slept with him. The thought makes me sick.’
‘He’s the one who should be ashamed. Not you.’ Sick fuck. If I ever lay eyes on him, God fucking help him.
‘I can’t face him. I just can’t.’
