Page 207 of The Heart You Kept

“Where is she?”

“Get out.”

I hate this woman, although her loyalty is admirable.

“When will she be back?”

“In a while.”

“How long?”

“Goodbye, Edward.” She turns to dust the shelf. “Tell Philippe to ask me out on a date.”

“Dream on.” I march toward the door. “That will absolutely not be happening.”

“Toodle-oo.” She waves with her fingertips. “Have a nice life,” she says in a singsong voice. I march out of the store and onto the street, I can feel my blood as it pumps angrily through my veins.

What a fucking witch.

ALORA

“Where are you from?” I ask.

“New York,” he replies with a playful smile. His sandy hair has a curl to it, and even while sitting down on a bar stool I can tell that his tanned body is built for sin. I thought men like this only existed in brochures, I’ve never met a man like him while on vacation before. “It’s beautiful. Like you.”

“Really?” I smile as I feel myself blush, there is definitely something about this guy. “My sister lives in New York.”

“Yeah? What part?”

“Manhattan.”

“Next time you’re there visiting we will have to catch up.” His eyes dance with mischief. “I could show you around the city that never sleeps.”

“I’m sure if I went I would be sleeping.” I smile into my drink.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” He smiles as he sips his cocktail.

Oh…

I’m at a beach bar in Koh Samui and have unexpectedly just met another solo traveler, funnily enough he’s here recovering from a breakup as well.

“We have a lot in common, Alora.” He smiles as he sips his cocktail.

“Apparently so.” I tap my cocktail glass with his and frown. “What was your name again?”

“Brennan.”

“Well,” I smile, this guy seems just so wonderfully…normal. No bodyguards, no baggage and there is absolutely no heart left for him to break. “It’s nice to meet you, Brennan.”

“After we finish our drinks would you like to go and get some dinner?”

“Um.” I glance around in search for a reason not to.

Oh, that’s right…. There are none. I’m a free agent who can do whatever the fuck I want to. I’m single, painstakingly heartbrokenly single, and maybe Helene is right.

Maybe the best way to get over Edward Prescott is to get under someone else.

“That sounds lovely.”