Page 79 of The Jealous Girl

Charlotte staggered back, her movement bigger, more exaggerated and dramatic than it needed to be.

I rammed my key into the lock, my hands shaking.

‘Are you alright?’ a woman’s voice asked behind me.

I took a deep breath, reassurances that I was fine already forming on my tongue as I started to turn.

But the woman wasn’t looking at me. She was looking at Charlotte.

My focus shifted, following hers. Charlotte’s hand was pressed to her arm where I’d brushed past her. Her expression was pained.

‘I—I’m okay,’ Charlotte said quietly, mustering a weak smile. ‘It’s just a misunderstanding.’ Her eyes flicked to mine.

‘Kirsty just gets a bit overwhelmed sometimes,’ she added softly.

The words sliced through me. She sounded like Janine.

Except, as the woman’s gaze shifted to me, apprehensive and cautious, I realised this was different.

28

THEN

Early August

I rolled over carefully, not wanting to wake Ryan, as my eyelids fluttered open. Soft morning light already filtered through the vertical blinds.

I frowned as my gaze fell upon the empty space beside me.

Propping myself up on an elbow, I glanced towards the en suite. The door was wide open.

‘Ryan?’ I called softly.

I listened closer. For a response. For movement. But there was nothing. Just silence.

I dropped back onto the pillow with a groan.

He’d left already.

No warm kiss. No sleepy hug. No quiet moment before starting the day.

He was just gone.

Again.

I puffed my cheeks out and exhaled slowly.

It felt all too familiar.

I shook the thought away quickly.

This was different.

This was temporary.

A few weeks and everything would settle. The summer rush would ease. He’d talk to his dad. He’d pull back from Blackwater.

He’d promised.