How could she have been so naive for so long? She cringed remembering all the times he had let her down, and the pathetic excuses she’d swallowed.
Yet, despite herself, even now Jenny wished for him to put his arms around her and tell her that he’d made a mistake – that it was all a horrible misunderstanding and that she was always the one he wanted.
Not surprisingly, hehadtried telling her all this after that night.
Jenny had immediately recognised the girl he was with in the nightclub. They’d met briefly at his office Christmas party and Jenny had found her a standoffish at the time. Maybe they’d been carrying on behind her back all along.
She hadn’t realised that something could hurt so much. That night, it was as if something had reached right inside her and grabbed her heart in a vice-like grip. She had felt dizzy and sick to her stomach as she watched them together, yet still couldn’t quite believe it truly was Roan, until he noticed her.
That was the very last time she saw him, Jenny reflected, her eyes filling afresh with tears.
That night, she had rushed straight out of the club, quickly pursued by Karen. As always, her friend had been an absolute rock, making sure that Roan kept away when Jenny flatly refused to see him afterwards - much as she wanted to.
She knew that if she saw him face to face, she wouldfall for his excuses and lies all over again. For her own sake, she couldn’t let that happen, not any more.
Karen had made up the spare room in her new house and supervised when Roan moved his stuff out of the flat and the coast was clear for Jenny to do the same.
It had been very difficult not to talk to him, or let him explain himself, but Jenny knew that if she didn’t hold her nerve then, she never would.
It had taken a lot of introspection before she came to understand how wrong and toxic the relationship had been. With distance came the time and space to look at it all more clearly.
Yet, time hadn’t quite diminished her love for him. That was something Jenny couldn’t run away from.
Not yet.
A little later,Karen groaned and pushed her plate away. She and Jenny were having lunch at a lovely seafront bistro.
“I bought a slinky number for Tessa’s wedding, but if I carry on eating like this, I’ll never be able to fit into it. Did you get your invite?”
Jenny sipped her mineral water and nodded. “It came last week. Fancy - looks like it’ll be a very lavish affair.”
“Lavish is not the word for it.” Karen agreed. “I honestly think she’s trying to outdo royalty with her designer wedding dress and her custom-made weddingrings - though I don’t know where she’s going to get the thrones from.”
Jenny smiled.
“And you should see all the wedding magazines,” Karen laughed. “She’s a woman possessed.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t had a decent knees-up with you all in ages.”
“It can’t be good for you, being out here on your own.”
“Don’t start – you’d swear I was a million miles away. I’m fine as I am, really.”
Karen wasn’t convinced. She couldn’t believe the change in Jenny since the breakup. Her friend looked so thin and drawn and the clothes were practically hanging off her these days. A completely different person to the bubbly, fun-loving girl she’d always been.
Jenny seemed to read her thoughts and smiled softly. “Don’t give me that look. I’m grand, honestly.”
“I know you are. I just wish you’d come and see us more often, that’s all. Shane is always asking about you.”
“I must call and see what else you’ve done with the house. Did you get the bedrooms decorated?”
Karen looked sheepish.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t done anything since?”
She made a face. “Ah, you know what I’m like – full of great ideas at the beginning of something, and then I just get bored.”
“But it’s your house – you can’t have a load of unfinished rooms. What does Shane think?”
