Page 115 of More Than Just Friends

Once he’d left, I’d just stood there, tears rolling down my cheeks, reeling over what had happened.

I’d contemplated returning to the wedding reception, but I couldn’t stomach it. Instead, I’d messaged Sammie to say I was tired and was going to my room.

Sammie being Sammie immediately took that as code for me and Noah slipping away to get up to no good, but little did she know that this time, she was way off base.

I’d spent the rest of the night crying on my bed, replaying our conversation and wishing that I’d handled it differently.

And now it was too late.

The irony wasn’t lost on me that suggesting to Noah that we cool things to save our friendship had resulted in me losing him. For good.

What an idiot.

Joel Adams’s ‘Please Don’t Go’ played in the background reminding me of how badly I’d messed up.

I pulled the duvet back over my head. I’d called in sick to work yesterday and done the same today.

My boss was shocked as she knew that was so unlike me. In general, I didn’t mind my job. I was the one who soldiered on and dragged my arse into the office even if I was feeling like crap.

I’d always believed that I’d rather do that and get sent home than not make the effort and have everyone thinking I’d got drunk the night before, was suffering from a hangover and couldn’t be bothered to come to work.

But I knew I couldn’t face going to the office today. I was genuinely unwell. Heartbreak was a legit illness, right? It sure as shit felt like it. I’d gladly accept suffering from the flu, a stomach bug and a stinking headache for a week if I could get rid of this constant ache in my chest.

The doorbell rang and my eyes instantly popped.

Who the hell was that?

My first instinct was to worry about whether my boss had sent someone to check on me to confirm that I was really ill. But I dismissed it.

Then my stupid, dumb brain hoped that it was Noah coming to say he couldn’t live without me and wanted us to be together.

In your dreams, my subconscious rolled its eyes.

As much as I wished it was him, I knew that wasn’t realistic. After all, the man had put his heart on the line. Made himself vulnerable and told me he loved me and what had I done?

Stuttered like an idiot and ruined everything, that’s what.

There was no way Noah would come. And I didn’t blame him.

He’d told me point-blank that I needed to make a decision and he wasn’t going to wait around for me, so there was nothing left for him to say.

After dragging myself out of bed I trudged towards my door. When I opened it, Sammie was standing there.

‘So you’re alive!’ she said.

Without saying a word I flung my arms around her neck, then started sobbing. I’d never been so happy to see my big sis.

‘Oh, hon.’ She rubbed my back. ‘I’m supposed to be heading straight to Paris with Romeo, but I told him I needed to make a detour to London first to check on you.’

My heart squeezed. I was so grateful for Sammie.

‘Sorry.’ I wiped my eyes. ‘I didn’t mean to mess up your plans.’

‘Don’t apologise! I’m not doing my job as your overprotective sister if I don’t make sure you’re okay. And it’s fine. We’ll get the Eurostar later and will be back tonight ready to start work tomorrow.’

‘Thanks,’ I sniffed.

‘I’m guessing that you and Noah haven’t made up yet then?’