‘I know what to do.’
‘Hal-fucking-lujah.’ Theo shakes his fists at the ceiling, triumphant. ‘Care to enlighten me?’
A flicker of warmth spreads through my chest as my plan takes shape.
‘You still on good terms with Harold Sinclair?’
He double-takes. ‘From Celeste & Co.?’ Then his green eyes light up with realisation. ‘Yeah… he owes me a favour or two.’
‘Good. Call him.’
‘Now? It’s nearly midnight.’
‘You said to hurry the hell up.’ I’m already heading for the shower. ‘So call him. Tell him we want exclusive access. And you’re driving.’
Taylor
I can’t remember the last time I cried like this. If ever.
And I know Sadie’s worried. She’s refused to go home, leaving Lottie with Granny Anna for the night so she can stay with me. I don’t know where Theo is. I didn’t ask. I’m too lost in my own grief to consider anything beyond the ache in my chest.
And I thought I ached eight months ago…
It has nothing on this.
So I’m letting it all out, giving myself tonight to fall apart.
Tomorrow, I’ll be strong again.
Tomorrow, I’ll sort myself out.
Tomorrow, I’ll go back to how things were before.
Before the ache.
Before the baby pact.
Before Axel and I crossed that line and blew twenty-five years of friendship on an eight-month relationship that never should have been.
Only… that’s a lie. And I know it.
Because I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to forget. I want him.
I roll over in bed and clutch the pillow to my chest, a poor substitute for the man my body’s missing, because it’s true, Istruggle to sleep without him beside me now. But I’ll learn to again; I have to.
I force my eyes closed, begging sleep to pull me under… where I can’t feel, can’t think, can’t hurt any more.
A noise stirs in the distance. Voices. Footsteps. They drag me out of the dark as I peel one eye open. The grey light of dawn seeps through the blinds and the commotion builds.
Sadie?
I sit upright, pillow falling to the floor, and then I register the second voice:Axel?!
It can’t be. But?—
‘I just need to talk to her, Sadie.’
‘I think you said plenty enough last night.’
