“You really liked this guy, then?”
“No.” I sniff, sure my face is already red and blotchy, revealing my lie.
Time will give me some perspective. Time will help me realise that it is – what did Angus say? –nothing. A moment in time. Nothing more. Eventually, the fissure I can feel separating the pieces of my heart will disappear, as if it was never there at all.
And I will be alone.
“It’s not… It’s not because of me, is it?”
“No.” This time: truth. Sophie might have been the excuse, but she isn’t the reason Angus lost his shit, and I ran for the hills. That’s all on us.
“I’m sorry, Ro.” She squeezes my arm. “For what it’s worth, I do think that’s for the best. You’ve known Angus for what? Less than a week? And you literallyjustbroke up with Ethan. Is right now really the right time to start something new?”
She’s right, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Doesn’t feel like every part of me is breaking. Doesn’t mean that every time I close my eyes, I don't hear his voice:nothing. We are nothing. I mean nothing. I will always be nothing.
“You need to focus on you, Ro,” Sophie says encouragingly. “Not some man. Figure out who you want to be. Start living again. I know you can do it. I believe in you. And, once this mess is cleaned up, I guess I’ll be doing the same.”
“Who’d have thought we’d both be single and starting over at the end of this weekend?”
“Not me. But… I think it’s the right step. For both of us.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Me too.”
Sophie glances around the barn once more, expression wistful. “It really is such a beautiful space. I would have loved getting married here.” Her lips quirk mischievously. “Don’t suppose they’ll let me back if I do find the right groom?”
She startles me into a laugh. “After the drama you’ve caused? Unlikely.”
Sophie purses her lips. “I’ll have to start the charm offensive now.”
“You’re impossible.”
“The word you’re looking for is visionary.”
“Incorrigible.”
“Determined.”
“Stubborn.”
At that, Sophie smiles again. “That we’ve got in common. Now, come on. I’ve got a wedding to cancel and you’ve got a train to catch. Can’t hide in here forever.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Rowan
“Here we are!” The car jerks to a stop outside the train station as Joan slams on the brakes. She checks her watch. “And fifteen minutes to spare. See, I told you there was no need to worry.”
“I’m going to be sick.” Ewan is chalky pale, tinged with green.
“I did tell you not to eat that sandwich,” Lila says from where she’s huddled in the backseat, one arm around Priya, the other bone-white where she’s been clutching at her seatbelt. “I know it’s your mum’s special, but six days is too long for something to fester in a bag.”
“It’s not the sandwich that’s the problem. It’s the boy racer up front with no clutch control,” Ewan squeaks. “That was worse than a rollercoaster. At least there you know you’re getting off alive.”
“I don’t know what you’re harping on about.” Joan gives the wheel a cheery bang. “Old Rosie’s never failed me. Not in twenty years.”
“Do you not normally drive her into oncoming traffic then? Or on the wrong side of the road?”
