Page 122 of Unapologetic Love Story

‘Huh?’ Raina threw her a look. ‘We going to yours?’

‘Tonight’s your big night.’

‘Yes, hence why I thought it would be a good idea to go to my house, where the dress is.’

‘I got Solana to drop it off.’

‘You crafty minxes.’

‘It’s your big night; we’re here as your servants.’

Raina laughed. Then, as the car set off through London towards Pepper’s neighbourhood, she asked a question that had been bothering her for the past couple of days. ‘How did he . . .? Did he get home all right?’

For a moment, it looked as though Pepper was about to pretend she didn’t know whom Raina meant. Then she sighed. ‘Dexter gave him a ride back to London.’

‘Oh.’

‘Not that I’m on his side in any way, shape or form,’ Pepper said, in a voice and demeanour that screamed ‘against my better judgement’. ‘But he basically told Seb and Ottie he was done with them. He broke Seb’s nose, I think. I was watching from upstairs. I really thought they were about to scrap but I reckon he’s too big for Seb to take.’

Raina let that information settle. ‘Fuck.’

‘Yeah.’

Raina took some hand cream out of her bag and started nervously massaging it into her palms. ‘Solana thinks I should forgive him.’

‘Well, she’s an overly romantic baby,’ Pepper said dismissively. ‘She’ll learn.’

‘What’s this fella done?’ the cab driver asked bluntly, his voice cutting through the slightly awkward silence in the cab.

‘Oh, get into this,’ Pepper said, leaning forward. ‘He’s been writing an article about her while they were dating. Had a ton of nasty stuff about her written on his wall.’

The cab driver whistled.

‘That’s not entirely accurate,’ Raina heard herself say. ‘Some of those quotes, they didn’t even sound like him.’

‘Has he apologized?’ asked the cabbie.

‘Yes,’ Raina replied honestly. ‘And I have about fifty missed calls.’

Plus, three voicemails she’d deleted.

‘If he really wants you, he won’t stop or give up,’ the cabbie said, in what he probably thought was a reassuring voice.

‘Why do things men think are romantic so often sound like a crime?’ Raina muttered. ‘I want him to give up. What we had wasn’t real.’

Liar.

‘Well . . .’

She turned to stare at Pepper. ‘Well? From you, there’s a “well”!’

‘Look, I have his face on a dartboard, as you know. But you can’t say that. You didn’t see him after you were gone.’

‘He was probably just embarrassed or worried about his story.’

‘Honey, he’s got that story whether you like it or not. He doesn’t need you, to file it. If that’s even what’s happening. So, why did he look so destroyed?’

‘Exactly,’ the cabbie said. ‘He clearly wants you back. He knows he’s duffed it up. That’s why he’s calling you so much.’