feel like someone who thought they were conducting an online relationship with Callum Davidson wouldn’t take to being catfished quite so graciously. Maybe if she’d gotten a little angry first, then yes, I would’ve believed her acceptance, but the way she behaved is way too suspicious to me.”
I left the other part of what I wanted to say unsaid. The fact of the matter was that I was upset by how easily he’d agreed to a date with Annabelle when there was clearly some attraction and feelings brewing between us. He might’ve been drunk last night, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t some truth to what he’d said. It seemed I was destined to repeat old patterns, developing feelings for men who, for various reasons, discarded me in the end. The sad thing was Neil and I hadn’t even been in a relationship.
He didn’t respond for a long moment, and a shadow fell over the table. “Listen, I have to go. I have to check in at the gym. Callum and James wanted me to run some errands for them.”
I gaped at him. “So, you’re just going to run off and leave things like this?”
“I can’t see what good will be achieved by sitting here arguing.”
I frowned, a little piece of my heart breaking in two. “Fine, go then.”
“Afric—”
“Just go. You’ve won the lottery. Annabelle wants to date you. Congratulations.”
He frowned back at me, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he left, and I wandered up to the counter to order another plate of waffles.
I was about to eat every last one of my feelings.
14.
Neil
Two days went by. Afric and I still hadn’t spoken. I missed her more with every passing hour, but I was also still angry at her. I was angry at her for poking holes in Annabelle’s easy acceptance, for being so suspicious, and for arousing my own suspicions in return. She’d broken the momentary spell Annabelle had cast over me and inserted stirrings of doubt.
And the fact of the matter was that I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Not Annabelle. Afric. Interpret from that what you will.
A few hours after I departed the café, I accepted the fact that I wasn’t as excited about dating Annabelle as I wanted to be. When we’d been sitting across from each other and she said she wanted to date me, I’d felt a certain amount of gratification. It had soothed me to think a woman like her would actually want me, despite my lie. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed that she could accept the real me, not even in my wildest dreams. But now that I had some time and space to think about it, the happiness I should be feeling fell flat. Annabelle wasn’t the one who sent my pulse racing.
No, that award went to the frustrating Irish girl whose bright blue eyes, cheeky smile, and curvy body wouldn’t get out of my head.
I was busy working at the gym when I received a message. My stomach flipped because for a second, I thought it might be Afric, but it wasn’t.
Annabelle: Hey, want to meet up for coffee?
On the surface, it was a simple question, but I wasn’t ready to see her again so soon. Not with how Afric’s suspicions still had me all twisted up.
Neil: Sorry, I can’t right now. I’m working.
Annabelle: Why don’t I bring the coffee to you then? If you’re scheduled for a lunch break soon, I could also bring food …?
Her offer had me stumped as to how to respond. Then, staring at my phone, an idea sprung, and my resolve firmed. It pained me to think it, but there was a very good chance Afric was right and Annabelle only wanted to date me to get closer to Callum. What better way than to invite her to the gym and see how she reacted to being around him in person?
Impulsively, I texted her back, agreeing to lunch and sending her the gym's address before I returned my attention to my laptop. When I worked here, I typically camped out close to the entrance, where there was a small lobby with a coffee table and a comfortable couch. Michaela was off today, so I was the only one on duty to run errands for the cast while they trained. So far this morning, none of them had asked for anything, so I was free to deal with emails and correspondence.
I was focused on reading one particular email about a magazine photoshoot