Chapter 8 #3
‘What’s happened – is it bad news?’ he asked again, taking a step towards her.
‘I was joking about the trifle. I’m sorry.
’ He sounded dismayed. He glanced over his shoulder towards the exit.
‘Shall I get Eleanor? Do you want to sit down?’ The options were delivered in a slightly panicked tone, and Clara didn’t know whether to giggle at the absurdity of the situation or give in to the flood of emotion she could feel bubbling inside.
She hadn’t let it out yet – had kept all the hurt contained by escaping from New York.
But now it was in danger of spilling out.
‘I’m okay.’ She paused, trying to get herself back under control. ‘It’s stupid really. I’m stupid.’ She hiccupped, too far gone to worry about how silly she looked. ‘I came to Hollythorpe yesterday because I’d just caught my fiancé kissing someone else.’
As Clara explained more tears leaked from her eyes. She swiped at them angrily and watched as Liam frantically searched Eleanor’s desk drawers before triumphantly producing a box of tissues which he shoved in her direction. She took one and wiped her face.
‘That – sucks,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’ He sounded like he meant it.
Clara let out a long breath. ‘It does suck,’ she muttered, almost smiling.
‘Thank you. That’s exactly the right word.
’ She sniffed, wiping her eyes again. Thank goodness they’d already done the photos because her mascara was probably somewhere around her knees.
She should be heading for a bathroom to fix it, but couldn’t bring herself to move.
‘So, that was him apologising?’ Liam asked.
‘Not exactly,’ Clara confided, wondering if she should tell him more.
She shook her head, suddenly embarrassed.
‘Look, I’m sorry. I don’t want to talk about it and it’s not your problem.
’ She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to calm down.
‘I think I needed a good cry and I’m sorry you had to be the one to witness it.
’ She pulled a new tissue from the box and rubbed her face.
‘I feel better now, thanks. I might even be ready to sing, which proves how okay I am.’
She’d do just about anything to change the subject, to distract Liam from what she’d just admitted. A man like him wouldn’t understand how it felt to be cheated on. It would never happen to someone as gorgeous as that.
He nodded slowly and Clara waited for him to smile, expected relief to flood his face before he told her he had an emergency he had to attend so he could make his escape.
Only he didn’t smile and he didn’t move, nor did he conjure up an excuse. Instead, he folded his arms, tightening them across his chest as if he were trying to hold something in.
‘I really am sorry, and I mean it.’ Liam paused, the seriousness of his expression, the tension in his body such a contrast to the jolly, sexy outfit he was wearing. ‘Because I know exactly how you feel. My wife cheated on me.’
‘You do; I mean she did?’ Clara asked, almost tripping over the words because they’d surprised her so thoroughly. ‘What is she – an idiot?’
‘No.’ He shook his head, searching her face. His eyes were serious and for the first time since they’d bumped into each other, Clara couldn’t see hints of flirty amusement, she could only see hurt. Was Liam just as broken as she was?
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ she asked gently, taking a step forward. She reached down and picked up the box of tissues and held them out. ‘For you, just in case.’
He shook his head as his smile returned. ‘I’m all good. I’m not going to cry. It was a long time ago. I just wanted you to know that you’ll get over it and that he’s not worth your time. Don’t go wasting your tears on someone who couldn’t be faithful. You deserve better. We both do.’ He sighed.
Clara was about to ask more. Was he still married?
He still wasn’t wearing a ring – but had things been sorted?
Exactly what had happened and how had he handled this visceral ache, this feeling that he wasn’t enough?
The questions tumbled through her mind, and she had to seal her mouth together so she didn’t ask any of them.
His expression had changed again – the window into his heart had been blacked out.
She gazed at him, her insides swirling. How had this attraction already rooted itself so strongly?
She couldn’t give into it. However Hudson was behaving, she was still engaged. Still wanted her fiancé to apologise.
‘How about we get on with practising this song?’ he asked. ‘I’ll put the music on again. Louder this time.’
‘Why don’t we,’ Clara replied, oddly relieved that he’d changed the subject. She glanced back at her mobile which was still in her hand. She wasn’t going to answer Hudson yet – Liam was right, she did deserve better.
So for the first time in their relationship she was going to let him come to her – she was going to ignore every cell in her body that was screaming at her to respond, telling her if she didn’t, she’d just be encouraging him to jump straight back into Abigail’s arms. She had to be strong.
To wait for him to admit that he’d been lying.
Because she knew he had – through to her core.
And if he wouldn’t admit it now, there was no way they’d be able to move on.
No way that she’d be able to forgive him and return to her life in New York.
Only as Liam went to find a speaker so he could connect his phone and play the song again, she wondered if returning to her old life was what she wanted, after all…