Page 144 of The Heart You Kept

I roll my eyes, disgusted by my own insecurities.

Ring, ring… ring, ring…. My phone vibrates on the side table and with a pounding heart I scramble to answer it.

Mr. Doe

He’s calling me….

He wants to talk.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Doe.”

My heart pounds at the mere sound of his voice, husky and soft.

“Did I wake you?”

“No.” I sigh, I was hoping you’d call.

I scrunch up my face, play it cool.

“You went straight home,” he says; his voice is different than it was earlier, soft, and cajoling.

“I did.”

“Thank you.”

I frown, he’s thanking me for doing as he asked.

“How did the event go?”

“It was good.” He seems tired…or quiet…. Off.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He sighs. “A bit of a rough end to the night.”

“What happened?”

“I snuck out of there and went back to my yacht and….” His voice trails off.

“Go on.” I bite my lip as I listen.

“Hermione turned up and was causing a scene on the marina when she wasn’t permitted to board.”

“Oh.”

“It’s a wonder you didn’t hear her from Paris.”

“You do crazy things when you’re heartbroken.” I try to make him feel better. “Did you go and talk to her?”

“I did.”

I close my eyes, unsure if I want to hear what he’s going to say next. “How did that go?”

“Not great.”

We stay silent on the line, waiting for the other to say something.