And as for him… Karen didn’t realise that she could feel such anger and resentment towards someone while feeling so hurt and betrayed by them at the same time.
If she was being perfectly honest with herself, she hadn’t realised her feelings for Shane had been so strong until now.
She felt as though her heart had fallen into the pit of her stomach when she saw the two of them together in the doorway. Then shook her head as she felt tears form behind her eyes again. She wasn’t going to cry this time, not again. No way.
The door finally opened, and Karen walked in to see Jenny and Roan sitting in silence at opposite ends of the room. Neither of them gave her a second glance as she entered and head bent, she bade them a quiet hello and went straight to her bedroom to freshen up.
It was a difficult job, but she managed to look halfway normal when she re-entered a few minutes later.
“Jen, I’m heading out again for a bit – see you later?”
Her friend nodded distractedly and Karen was sorry she’d said anything when she barely got a grunt in reply.
Now she strode down the street, determined to make herself feel better.
Some of the girls from the office usually met up for drinks at the same spot in the city on Saturdays. Tonight, Karen was going to join them and do her utmost to forget all about Shane bloody Quinn.
“This is silly.I don’t know why you’re so upset.” Jenny moved over to sit beside Roan on the couch. “I wasn’t implying anything. It’s just … that I’m a bit short this month, and I wondered if you could pay back some of what I lent you before, that’s all,” she said tentatively. “Hey, just forget I mentioned it, OK? It doesn’t matter, I’ll sort something out again with Karen for the rent.”
Silence.
“I don’t know what else you want me to say.” Now she was kicking herself for saying anything.
“Well, it’s nice to know that you appreciate my taking you away for a romantic break,” he remarked, arms folded.
Her heart dropped. That was a bit low. Roan had announced a few days earlier that he was whisking her off to Venice for a weekend.
While Jenny had been thrilled at the prospect, and equally delighted that their relationship hadn’t been affected by her recent accusations, she would have preferred that he repay some of the money she’d lent him.
And much to her surprise she felt irritated. “I do appreciate that. But the thing is,” she continued, “I didn’t expect that you’d pay me back like that, especially when I already owe Karen for covering my portion of the rent last month.”
He looked at her, incredulous. “You’re the one with the big bank job. Surely you’re not stuck for a few quid.”
Jenny’s eyes widened at this, but before she could reply, the intercom buzzer startled them both and she jumped up to answer it.
“Jen, is she all right? Buzz me in – I need to talk to her.”
“Tessa? Is who all right?”
“Just let me in, will you?”
“OK, OK.” Jenny pushed the door release and replaced the handset. Everyone seemed in bad formtoday. Karen had also come in earlier with a face on her that would stop a clock.
Tessa appeared in the living room, gasping a little after racing upstairs.
“Is she all right? Gerry just told me … oh, the stupid gobshite. I’ll kill him. Where is she?”
“Will you calm down for a minute – what’s going on?”
The other girl paused as she caught her breath. “It’s Shane. Karen called to his place earlier to make up - and she caught him with Lydia. Hasn’t she come home? Feck it – I hope she’s OK.”
Jenny looked at her wordlessly. Why hadn’t Karen said anything?
“She’s gone out,” she managed to say. “She left about twenty minutes ago.”
“What? You let her go off on her own, in that state?”
“She wasn’t in a state – she never said a word.” She glanced at Roan. “We were in the middle of something and I didn’t get a chance to – ”
