Page 6 of The Jealous Girl

3

NOW

Late August

Monday

I kept two cars between us. Close enough not to lose her at the junction. Far enough not to draw attention. My pulse was steady now. Almost calm. The movement helped. It was the waiting that allowed the past to seep into my thoughts.

A white van shot out in front of me from a side road, without warning. I hit the brakes. A horn blasted behind me.

I cursed under my breath as I changed gears and pressed the accelerator, determined not to let Charlotte get too far ahead of me.

I frowned. The broad van was now completely obscuring the traffic in front. I shifted in my seat, leaning left, then right, trying to catch a glimpse of Charlotte’s car, but it was futile. I nibbled my lip, assessing the oncoming traffic. It was too busy to attempt to overtake the van. I was stuck behind it.

My chest tightened. All this effort couldn’t be for nothing.

The image of Charlotte leaving the house with a yoga mat slung over her shoulder flashed into my head.

The gym. Of course.

Late July

‘I’m going to the gym,’ Ryan announced, dropping his sports bag on the chair as he wrapped his arms around my waist. ‘Gotta get back in shape after all that lounging around on the beach in Malta.’

I chuckled. ‘You and me both!’

‘Ha, now that would be something to see.’ Ryan laughed.

‘What does that mean?’ I asked, arching an eyebrow.

‘You’re not exactly a gym person.’

I shrugged. ‘Maybe I should be. It could be something we do together.’

There were so many parts of his life I didn’t fit into. His family. The stables. The horses. I would never belong there, that had been obvious last time. But this… It was neutral ground. I could handle treadmills and weights. At least I could fit somewhere in his life.

‘It’s the Purbeck Sports Centre,’ Ryan said as he let his arms slip from my waist as he reached for his bag.

‘Great, I’ll check out their memberships online.’

‘No, Kirsty.’ Ryan shook his head. ‘You don’t understand.’

I frowned. What was there to understand? It was a gym.

‘Charlotte goes there too.’

Her name hung between us, heavy and familiar.

‘Oh.’ It was all I could muster.

‘It might be… awkward,’ Ryan said hesitantly.

I nodded, biting back the urge to ask, awkward for who?

‘Maybe we could look at somewhere else,’ he said suddenly. ‘Somewhere closer to the flat. Somewhere it can be just us.’

My lips lifted in a bright smile.