CHAPTER 36
The world screeches to a halt when I finally register Simon’s presence. I blink twice, waiting for his features to rearrange and become the face of a stranger, but they never do.
‘That’s him, isn’t it?’ Gabby hisses. Disappointment crushes my chest, but it soon transforms into white-hot fury when I think of Annalise embarking on the scariest time of her life under the impression that she has a loving husband by her side.
‘Yes,’ I whisper.
The bastard,my lips fight to add, but I hold it together enough to watch Simon make his way through the café. He’s dressed in a pale blue shirt with the top two buttons undone. His sandy hair is styled – not obsessively but enough to let you know he takes care of himself.
But it’s not Simon’s outfit or looks that capture my attention – it’s the energy he buzzes with. There’s a desperation to him that jars with the chilled vibe of Café Marco. He scans the room, his hope dimming with each second that passes, until he spots me.
Simon takes a step backwards, unable to hide his surprise. The desire to flee or pretend he hasn’t seen me flashes in him, but as I raise my hand to wave, Simon realises it’s too late.
‘Beth, is that you?’ he says as he approaches our table.
I blink, momentarily forgetting I’d used my sister’s name as my own. I feel Gabby’s gaze on me, hot and confused, but I catch myself before my confusion shows.
‘It is,’ I reply. ‘How lovely to see you again!’ Snapping Gabby’s laptop shut so Simon doesn’t see his Facebook profile on the screen, I gesture to a seat opposite. ‘Join us, if you’d like. We could use a break.’
‘Oh, I don’t want to interrupt,’ Simon says, backing away.
‘Please,’ Gabby says, her tone borderline desperate. ‘You’re more than welcome.’
Simon takes another quick glance around the café before sinking into the chair.
‘So,’ I say after introducing Gabby and Simon. ‘What brings you to Café Marco?’
Simon’s squirming fluster reinforces my worst fears. ‘Just grabbing a coffee.’
‘Is this your usual midday break spot?’
‘Me? No, I – I don’t come here often,’ Simon stammers.
Gabby pounces on this. ‘Really?’ she says, her tone so confrontational that I almost kick her under the table.
‘I don’t usually get out to coffee shops, either,’ I say, smiling to gloss over Gabby’s intensity. ‘But a break was needed today!’
Simon nods, then his eyebrows furrow. ‘Wait, I thought you were a teacher? Shouldn’t you be at school right now?’
Ignoring my internal screaming, I widen my smile. ‘Gabby and I both are. This is our planning time. We thought we’d go to a café so we didn’t get roped into clearing out the PE cupboard,’ I joke. ‘How about you? No work today?’
My phone interrupts the flow of conversation by ringing. As Simon jumps, Sonya’s name lights up the screen. My heart skips a beat.Snatching my phone before he reads who’s calling, I decline the call and switch my setting to Do Not Disturb. I don’t know if Alexa ever mentioned a friend called Sonya West to Simon, but him confronting me about how I know her isn’t the way I want to find out.
‘Sorry about that,’ I say. ‘You were telling us about your job?’
‘Right,’ Simon says, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he gulps. ‘I work in sales. Fittings and fixtures for construction jobs, mostly.’
‘Sounds interesting,’ I reply, which might be the most outrageous lie I’ve ever told. ‘Do you not work on Fridays?’
‘They’re my half-days. The afternoon is time for myself.’
Beside me, Gabby snorts. Again, the temptation to kick her is strong, but just then a waitress sidles up to the table to take Simon’s order.
‘Good to see you, Simon,’ she enthuses as she stops beside us. ‘Alexa couldn’t make it this week?’
As my eyes bulge, Simon turns an almost inhuman shade of crimson. ‘She’s – she’s busy,’ he says before ordering a latte.
‘No panini? I’m shocked,’ the waitress jokes, but Simon’s curt response soon wipes the friendliness from her. She leaves with a swiftness that’s almost as abrupt as his ending of the conversation.