Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
F or a long time, Gemma, just like Sophie, struggled for confidence with dating. She recalled now, with a sense of embarrassment, the hours she would spend choosing an outfit or fixing her makeup, and even then, even when she was as perfect as she could make herself, she would be terrified that they might not like her.
But all that changed when she met Robert—or rather when Robert left her.
In terms of breakups, it was a right royal mess, and for a short while, she felt the need to shoulder some of the blame. There were things she could have done differently. Signs she should have seen and matters she could have handled in a manner that may have resulted in a different outcome.
Or would it?
That was what she realised after over a month of self-pity. Ultimately, it wouldn’t have mattered what she had done because it was Robert’s actions, not hers, that led to the mess she found herself in. Robert’s decision had broken more than just her heart. So, rather than continuing her wallowing, Gemma took it upon herself to learn everything she could from the incident.
The moment she decided that she would never again let a man, or anyone else, take her for a fool, it was like a weight lifted from her. The weight of other people’s expectations. She would never focus her happiness on trying to please someone else or be the version of herself that she thought they wanted. Instead, she would be the version of herself she wanted to be. So that was what she had done.
It had taken a while, especially with all the baggage Robert had left behind, but Gemma was confident with who she was as a person now, and that was a person she liked—a person who had good friends who would do anything to support her, and whom she would do anything to help. She had a job that she adored, and one that allowed her to help people, perhaps not as directly as being a teacher or a doctor, but she knew that her presence in her customers’ lives each day made a difference to them. She liked who she was, and if she was going to find somebody to fall into a serious relationship with again, then they needed to like her as she was, too. And so, it was with only a quick shower to get off the smell of the day, and a change into a simple pair of jeans and a black top that she walked up to the White Horse.
It wasn’t a pub she went to often, but it was close to where Fleur and Henry lived, so she understood why they had chosen it. With one last glance at her reflection in the window, Gemma took a deep breath and stepped inside.
“Gemma!”
Gemma had barely gathered her bearings when she spotted Fleur on her feet, waving at her.
“Over here.”
As Gemma walked across the pub to join them, Fleur stepped forwards, and kissed her on both cheeks.
“I’m so glad you could make it. Gemma, I want to introduce you to Angus.”
As Fleur stepped to the side, Gemma’s eyes moved past her friend to the man sitting next to Henry.
Her jaw dropped.
Angus, it turned out, was absolutely gorgeous.