Page 62 of Crashing Into You

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” She leans in and hugs me. “And I’ll get that poster changed.”

I laugh through my tears, my battered heart warming at her kindness.

Anna pulls back from me. “I have to say though… I know Bryce is seen as a bit of a player, but I’ve run into him a couple of times through work and he seems like a lovely guy. Are you sure this isn’t all a big misunderstanding?”

“He stood me up and posted a photo of another girl, going on about how he loves her. I don’t know what I can misunderstand about that.”

Anna’s brows draw together, her blue gaze troubled. “Sure. I get it. But just… sometimes people can surprise you. Even if you think you know them well.”

Hmm. “Is everything all right with you? Sorry, I’ve been so all over the place I haven’t even asked.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me.” Anna waves her hand. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

“What, now?”

“Yes, now. I can run the shop for the rest of the day. Go home, get some rest, and don’t come back here for a couple of weeks. We’ll be fine,” she says, over my half-hearted protests. “Oh, and grab one of those green dresses. I think it’ll look perfect on you.” She has the dress in a bag before I can say anything, handing it to me and practically shoving me out of the door. She gives me a hug, squeezing me tight. “Heartbreak is tough,” she says, her hands on my arms. “So call me, whenever you like, if you need a chat.”

“Thank you,” I say, tearing up again at her kindness.

“And eat lots of chocolate,” she calls after me, as I head down the street to my car.

I get in, shutting the door and locking it, then rest my arms on the steering wheel and drop my head forwards. It’s quiet, which is such a relief. Maybe it’s a cop out, a cliché, but going home and wallowing in my sorrow while eating ice cream and chocolate sounds like exactly what I want to do.

My phone buzzes in my bag and I grab it. Maybe Anna needs me to come back to the store. But it’s a number I don’t recognise. I briefly consider not answering. What if it’s Simon again? But what if it’s not? I can’t spend my life avoiding answering calls just because it might be him. He wins, if I do that. And there is no way I’m letting him win.

I answer. “Hello?”

“Claire?”

The sound of the voice on the other end of the line sends pleasure jolting through me, swiftly followed by pain.

It’s Bryce.

Bryce

Oh, thank fuck. I’ve got through to her. Just the sound of her voice makes my heart beat faster.

“Claire.” Her name tastes like sugar on my tongue. “Are you all right?”

There’s a pause. “What do you want?” Her voice is flat, a tremor to it.

My heart sinks. She’s pissed. I suppose she has cause. “Listen, I just want to?—”

“No.” Her voice cracks, roughens. “You don’t get to do this shit. You don’t get to come into my life and then just disappear, leaving me like this.” She’s crying now. “And you don’t get to try the bullshit move of calling me from a different number, shit thatSimonwould do, just because what? You feel like hooking up again? I’m not that girl, Bryce, and you should know that!”

I feel sick. She’s right, of course. This is a total dick move. “Claire, please let me explain.”

“What is there to explain? You left me, and you moved on. Just, please, leave me alone.” She’s sobbing, and it’s breaking my heart. “Don’t make me block you again.”

“It’s not like that.”

I hear an intake of breath. “I can’t do this,” she mutters. Then she hangs up.

I stare at the phone, not sure what just happened, other than I think I made everything worse. Jeff isn’t looking at me. I put his phone on the table and stare into my latte.

Anger is building, though, along with the pain. I pull out my own phone and try her number one more time. Still blocked.