‘Are you still not over…’ Amy’s eyes widened.‘You know – him?’
His name used to roll off my tongue.Now I never said it.And they didn’t either.
‘We thought you were happy with Casey,’ Claire said gently.‘You’ve moved in together.’
I gave a brittle laugh.‘Of course I’m happy with Casey.I was just saying,’ I gestured to Amy, ‘maybe we shouldn’t put so much pressure on romantic love.Fifty per cent of marriages end in divorce.’
Claire harrumphed in agreement.
‘See!’ I laughed, eye twitching.‘It’s not just me.’
‘You used to say I’d find the right person,’ Amy said.
‘I wonder what made her change her mind,’ Gen said.
They knew what happened with Ren.I came into one session after he left and cried my eyes out.I told them everything and regretted it ever since.I wished they didn’t know that particular weakness so well.
‘It was years ago.I’m totally over it.’
There was a quiet, knowing glance from the girls that made my skin itch, until Claire finally took pity on me and clapped her hands, changing the subject.
‘Right.I’d better go.I need to get packing for my trip.I’ll see you girls in a few weeks.’
‘Oh, I forgot you were going on that trip!’ Amy said, tucking her pink hair behind her ears.‘We’re going to miss you.’
‘I’ll be back before you know it.’ Claire smiled, gathering her things.
I’d forgotten too – she’d been planning this for ages.Three weeks off, hiking across the country with a bunch of women she’d never met.She’d wanted to do a trip like this for years.Her husband hated nature.He preferred pools and air-con.
Three whole weeks off.I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken three days off.This month alone, I had clients seven days a week.7 o’clock in the morning to 9 o’clock in the evening.Maybe a nap in the middle.Three weeks off sounded… impossible.
I snorted under my breath, imagining Craig’s sour face if I asked him for that amount of time off.
My eyes flicked to the clock.And my stomach turned to lead.
‘Fuck!’ I shot upright.The girls scrambled to stand too.
‘What?’ Gen blinked.
‘Can you pack up?Shit, I’m screwed.’ I was already halfway to the door.‘I’m already fifteen minutes late.Craig is going to crucify me.’
‘Go, go.’ Claire shooed.‘We’ll pack up.Don’t worry.’
‘But you can’t pack up on your own—’
‘Don’t be daft.’ Gen led me by my elbow to the studio doors.‘Get gone, we’ll sort the rest.’
‘Thank you!’ I shouted, as I turned and moved through the gym, weaving past slow walkers on their way to the badminton courts.
‘Shit, shit, shit,’ I muttered.
Momentum Gym was packed, and I couldn’t believe I’d let my class run over – again.I’d spent half the session watching the clock, promising myself today would be different.
I had a meeting with Craig at ten past eight.He always booked appointments at stupid times – never on the hour or half past.Always five past.Ten to.The bane of my life.
I glanced at my watch.Twenty-five past eight.
Fuck!
