Page 156 of The Heart You Kept

“No, not until the weekend. Sunday, I believe.”

Red steam shoots out of my ears and I side eye out the window.

Mother. Fucker.

“Take me to my store please.”

EDWARD

The office door opens. “Edward.”

I stand, walk in and sit down.

Paul smiles as he looks me over from behind his desk. “Back in London.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me, how has your week been?”

“Not. Great.” I bite my lip.

“What happened?”

“I….”

“Go on.”

“I ended my relationship.”

“Good.” He smiles. “This is progress.”

“Is it, though?” I shrug. “It doesn’t feel like progress, feels like I’ve just jumped over a cliff into a pit of fire.”

He chuckles. “I do always love your analogies.”

“How did your girlfriend take it?”

“Terribly.”

“Okay.” He nods. “How was it seeing her so upset?”

I shrug, a weight sits heavily upon my shoulders. “I’m ashamed of how things turned out.”

“Ashamed of yourself?”

“For hurting her.”

“Yes.” He nods. “I understand.” He thinks for a moment, “Have you seen Alora?”

“Yes.”

He smiles. “How did that go?”

“Worse.”

“Worse?”

“I followed her to Paris and she was on a date.”