“Well, you can’t all be perfect like me.”

The sarcasm lacing her words was delicious.

“Yeah, we’ll all bow down to your godliness.”

“Good.” Cora gave a nod.

Frazer sucked in a deep breath. “It wasn’t even a terrible breakup, I was just left blindsided.”

Frazer hated talking about it. Every time she did, even years later, the sting of it settled low in her stomach. She preferred it when she simply didn’t see her ex-girlfriend.

“No warning?”

“I imagine most people feel like that, but there really hadn’t been. Not that I’d noticed. I thought we were great. I was certainly happy.”

“And then?”

“And then she told me she’d met someone.” Frazer’s voice sounded tight and she cleared her throat, wishing her body wouldn’t betray her. “There hadn’t been any cheating, just someone who made her realise she wanted more.”

Inadequacy, sharp and cutting.

“Well, she was an idiot. Who wears shoes like that with those jeans? Clearly an idiot.”

Frazer chuckled. “Clearly.”

The unease in her stomach ebbed away.

“Have you seen dolphins here before?”

Blinking at the change of topic, but grateful for it, Frazer swept her gaze over the still river.

“Again, sadly, I’m a mere mortal and I’ve never had the luck.”

Cora’s teeth flashed white at her. “That’s a pity—I saw a baby one with my friend Lisa the other week. They were swimming just a few metres from the embankment.”

“Lucky.”

They settled in silence, walking slowly. The buzz from the beer wore down to nothing. Finally, Frazer felt her balled fists relax, her nails no longer biting into her palm. Her ex was not someone she wanted to see. Ever. But it was hurting a lot less right then than it would normally. Maybe time had finally done its thing.

“So,” Cora’s voice broke into her thoughts, “when did you realise you were gay?”

Frazer laughed.

* * *

The third night after Alec left, he still hadn’t messaged her. In return, neither had Cora. He liked to wait her out, for her to cave—to crawl back, at the times in which he could put all the blame on her. This time, she needed him to know she was serious.

She needed out.

“Cora, what’s going on with you?”

Under the table, Lisa’s foot nudged hers gently.

“Sorry.” Cora raised her gaze, wincing at the softness in Lisa’s. “I was thinking.”

“That was obvious.” As Lisa chewed slowly, her eyes never left Cora’s. “Talk to me.”

Cora waved her hand airily. “You have a lot on your plate.”

Maybe she shouldn’t have agreed to lunch. Her friend read her like a book.

Yet Cora had had drinks with Frazer. For some reason, that felt different. There was no history between them, it was easier to not talk if she didn’t want to or not unleash the storm that was building in her head. Frazer had no real preconceived ideas about her. It was easier, sometimes, to be who you needed to be with someone new.