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the fact that even though I d ripped the bedsheets off my bed, I still hadn t washed them because I
could still smell Braden on them. I really was that girl.
Do you want to tell me why I m getting the silent treatment? He asked gruffly, his breath hot on
my ear.
I hunched up my shoulders, pulling away. His voice had an effect on my body and I didn t want him
to know that. I m talking to you.
Barely.
I ve got a lot on my mind.
Do you want to talk about it?
When have I ever wanted to talk about it?
I felt the heat grow hotter as he stepped closer, his hand sliding down my hip. You used to talk to
me, Jocelyn. Don t pretend you didn t.
Seeing the familiar black cab of the city turn the corner into our part of the building, I pulled away
quickly. Cab s here. And started off toward it.
When we settled in the cab I could feel he was annoyed. I also knew him well enough to know that
he was going to try to talk to me about it even if it meant following me home. I gave the cab driver
Jo s address in Leith.
Braden shot me a look.
I shrugged. She asked me to come over.
After a few more inane questions and a few more one word responses from me, Braden gave up,
but not before sending me a lethal this isn t over warning look.
I got out at Jo s without a goodbye and watched the cab drive away. I called Jo to make sure she
was home, and I went up to her apartment and spent almost all night there.
***
Avoiding Braden took skill. Well, no it just involved me not spending any time at the apartment. It
also meant getting a cab out alone to visit Ellie. Every day without fail Braden sent a text asking if I
wanted him to swing the cab by my place to pick me up for visiting hours at the hospital. I sent him a
polite No, thanks back each time. Visiting hours were all about Ellie so I was safe there. She had a
private room, was bored out of her mind and desperate to get home, but she had a whole week here.
The swelling was going down more each day, but I could tell she was exhausted. She let us all, and
by all I mean Elodie, chat around her, smiling and taking it in. Thankfully, I didn t get to see the sad
part, when her eyes would inevitably get all weepy as we left her. I didn t get to see that part because
I always left before everyone else. I saw not only the questions in Ellie s eyes when I did this, but
everyone else s too. I tried to make up for it by bringing her a silly present each time I visited, but I
knew she was dying to ask me what was wrong.
I wasn t at all surprised that Braden didn t chase me out of there.
He had moved on, so he didn t really need to know why I was avoiding him.
Or so I thought.
New Years Eve I spent with Jo. I got a call from Rhian. Texts from Craig, Alistair, Adam, Elodie,
Clark and the kids. I got a text from Braden.
Happy New Years, Jocelyn. I hope it s a good one for you. X
Who knew a text could be so heartbreaking? I text back& wait for it&
Back at ya.
Yeah, I did. I did do that. I m an idiot.
As I began staying away from the apartment, swimming at a different pool and avoiding the gym we
shared, I think it must have begun to dawn on Braden that I knew about Isla.
Four days into Ellie s recovery at the hospital and only a few days before she was to come home, I
got another text from Braden.
We really need to talk. I ve come by the flat a few times but you re never in. Can we meet up?x
I didn t text him back. Obviously, he wanted to tell me about his new manager.
It didn t matter if I didn t text back. Fate already had plans for us to meet. Two days after the text, I
was dodging the apartment and having lunch at this great pub on the Grassmarket. I was going to head
up along George IV Bridge to Forrest Road where there was this little kitschy store that Ellie loved.
They sold these umbrellas that were like old-fashioned parasols and she d been going on and on
about buying one but never had. So I was going to buy it for her as a little present for her return to the
apartment the next day.
I had just finished my lunch and had stepped out onto the Grassmarket, trying to shove my purse
back into my bag, when I heard, Jocelyn?
My head snapped up and my heart did that thing where it beat so hard it unhooked itself from my
chest and took a swan dive into the pit of my stomach. Braden was standing before me, and at his side
was this tall, stunning blonde. She was wearing a pencil-skirt and Victorian-style suit jacket, sexy
stiletto heels, her long blonde hair was perfectly tousled, and her make-up was as flawless as her
face.
Was she for real?
I hated her instantly.
Braden, I murmured, my eyes flying anywhere and everywhere to avoid his gaze.
I should mention I was wearing my jeans with the worn out knee, a ratty t-shirt that advertised a
famous beer, and my hair was in its usual knot on my head. I wore no makeup.
I looked like hell.
I d really made his choice easy huh.
I text you, he said in an annoyingly stern tone.
My eyes flew to his at that. I know.
His jaw clenched.
Isla cleared her throat politely and he tried to relax, although his penetrating gaze didn t leave mine
as he said, Isla, this is Jocelyn. Jocelyn, this is Isla, the new manager of Fire.
Putting on my best acting skills I smiled politely and held out my hand for her to shake. She smiled
back at me curiously. I ve heard all about you, I told her meaningfully.
Braden s whole body froze at that and I sent him a bitter smile, my eyes sending their own
message yeah I know all about her, asshole.
Isla turned to Braden with an attractive and exceptionally flirtatious tilt to her mouth. You ve been
telling people about me?
He didn t answer. He was too busy killing me with his eyes. Isla, can you give us a moment
please?
Uh oh.
And then miracles. Bon Jovi saved the day. I d reset my ringtone.
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, AND YOU RE TOO BLAME, YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME.
Yeah, I hadn t been feeling subtle that day.
Braden raised an eyebrow at it, a stupidly amused smile curving his lips as I pulled my cell out.
Rhian. Thank God. I have to take this. I ll catch you later.
His smile quickly turned into a glare. Joc-
Rhian, I answered with affected cheer, giving Isla a little wave goodbye, one she returned
obliviously.
Rhian snorted. You sound wired.
I hurried past the pubs heading for Candlemaker Row, a shortcut up to the bridge and Forrest Road.
I didn t give you a good enough Christmas present, do you know that.
Uh, why?
Because you just saved my ass. I m sending you a little something as a thank you.
Ooh, chocolate please.
Done.
I let her talk to me about everything and nothing for ten minutes in a desperate attempt to dull the
excruciating ache in my chest at seeing Braden. It didn t last long. I went home, curled up with the
unwashed bedsheet that smelled like him and cried for three hours, before I finally got up the courage
to put it in the wash.
~25~
Perhaps I was still feeling guilty about flaking out on Ellie that first night, so I went a little
overboard on getting the apartment ready for her return. It was clean from top to bottom, but I d held
back my own inclination to tidy and left her clutter out since I knew it made her feel at home. I
ordered this gorgeous pale green luxury bed set online because she loved green, I bought a few
decorative cushions, and made her bed up into a princess bed. I bought a breakfast-in-bed table that
rolled up to the side of the bed and swung over so she could eat in bed. I bought flowers. Chocolate. I
packed the fridge with her favorite Ben & Jerry s ice cream. There was a pile of every latest issue of
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