Because I’ve never shared more with anyone in this world than I have with you, Hazel — and now you act like it’s worthless!
So that was just another lie? If Gareth wanted to marry, he would certainly choose someone he had more in common with. So how could he tell her she was special when that obviously wasn’t true? Why deliberately confuse her? He was the one who had told her that he didn’t want to remain friends with her! Whohad rejected every advance she made when she moved to L.A. Who had made her life miserable and declared war on her.
She looked up and noticed that Moreau and Austin were still looking at her.
“It’s all good!” she said. “I’m happy for him if he…” She cleared her throat. “Are we having dessert soon?”
Austin gently squeezed her shoulder and rose. “I think I have some ice cream. I’ll go and check.”
He strolled over to the fridge and she met Moreau’s intense gaze.
“It’s okay, you know?” he murmured. “To feel something about him getting married.”
No, it wasn’t. When it came to Gareth, it was always…too much.
“Great. Now I’m getting emotional advice from the guy who, until a few months ago, thought emotions were those smiley faces you use on your phone.”
Moreau snorted, but smiled knowingly.
She didn’t like that at all. She was glad when her phone vibrated with a message, and she had an excuse to look away.
Penny had answered.Yes. Gareth talked about you. I remember it rather well because you were the first girlfriend he ever mentioned. He rambled on, but your name came up. Didn't you know?
Chapter Eleven
Social conduct for hate-free inter-colleague teamwork
Short: SCHIT
Paragraph 11:
Penalties shall be chosen and levied individually by the contracting parties within reasonable limits.
Gareth had never been a good sleeper.
He had too much to do. Too much to learn. Too much to achieve. Closing his eyes and lying around aimlessly for eight hours seemed like the biggest waste of time.
Unfortunately, it meant he was often incredibly tired – today, even more so than usual. The last few nights had been a complete disaster, leaving him with an enduring headache. The various emails from his father, who was still complaining about the amount they were going to pay Devreaux – where the hell did he get those numbers?! – and the prospect of seeing Hazel again this evening to discuss Fox’s final contract in front of the team captain and Penny…none of this made him any happier.The thought of going to dinner with his parents afterward to introduce them to his girlfriend made him even less happy.
He hadn’t seen Lacey in a week and a half. He hadn't even realized that until she texted him during his lunch break with a hundred apologies, saying she unfortunately had to cancel dinner tonight because her replacement at the opera was sick and she had to perform after all.
Gareth texted back that it was no problem and that he would call her shortly after lunch to reschedule. When he sent the message and informed his parents, an unexpected weight fell off his chest.
Was it…relief?
Yes, relief at not having to see his parents. His father couldn’t tell Lacey horrible anecdotes about his many failures and his mother couldn’t look at him glowingly and proclaim how happy she was that he had finally found a woman who lived up to his standards. And Penny couldn’t tell him once more that Lacey was too nice. Whatever that meant!
“Mr. Clark, your lunch date is waiting downstairs in the cafeteria.”
Gareth glanced up. Freddie was standing in his doorway.
“Thanks, Cravitz,” he mumbled and rose.
He usually spent his lunch breaks at his desk, but Cian and Connor had asked if they could meet for lunch to make sure Gareth was getting enough nutrients… He’d wanted to say no, the way he always said no when his friends told him he should meet with them forhis own good.
Gareth didn’t take them seriously. He assumed they were deliberately annoying him because he had more important things to do.
But…
