He shakes his head. ‘No.’
‘How long have you been in touch with her again?’
He takes off his glasses, index finger rubbing the line between his eyebrows.
‘A year.’
‘A year?’ I say, my voice rising. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘Because you had your own life. And then…’
‘It imploded?’
My mind flashes back over the last year, the messages I hadn’t got round to replying to when I was close to a deadline, the night he came to stay. How, rather than the quiet night in to catch up that Spence had asked for, I’d taken him to a red-carpet event, determined to show him the glamorous life I was leading. I knew he never got on with Ryan, but I’d tried so hard to show Spence how… My shoulders sink. I should have paid more attention.
‘Last summer, when you came to London?’
He presses his tongue to his cheek; gives me a short nod.
‘Oh God. Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Wasn’t the right time.’
‘Have you seen her?’
His eyes lift slowly.
My stomach sinks. ‘Please tell me she’s not… She’s not the woman you’ve beenseeing?’
The look he gives me has my skin breaking out in a rush of heat.
‘It’s comp?—’
‘Oh no. This iswaypast complicated. So are you, like…together?’
‘No.’
I raise my eyebrows. ‘Really, because when you went out the other night, I got the distinct impression that you were preparing for a date, not – Jesus! –Heather.’
‘We’ve been taking things slowly.’ He takes in my expression. ‘Veryslowly. We’re just, not friends exactly, but not anything more.’
I let out a snort. Eyes not meeting his. ‘You missed off theyet.’
‘I don’t know if there will be a yet. But… she’s her mum, Al.’
‘Is she? Because I don’t remember her being here when her daughter had colic for months, or when she had an allergic reaction to?—’
‘Don’t you think I know all of this? That’s why I’m only telling you now. I needed to make sure that she’s changed.’
‘And has she?’
‘Yes.’
‘Does Georgia know?’
He nods.
Realisation hits. That’s why she’s been so emotional lately, why she’s been struggling.
