“He can’t fix me, Merry. It’s not something that went wrong. It’s me. I’m not what he thinks I am.”

Merry took a deep breath. “How many texts or phone calls has he sent you since last night?”

I took out my phone and handed it over to her. There were four missed calls and five texts the last time I looked. Right then, Mrs Mullhearn came in with a clipboard. She took one look at me. “Jordan? Something wrong?”

I scrubbed at my face. “No. I’m fine, I just…”

She straightened. “Aren’t up for dealing with the public?”

I didn’t even have to nod. She just handed me the clipboard, which I now realised had about twenty spreadsheets on it. “These titles need to be archived. In the basement. Should take you—” She looked at her watch. “—oh, about eight hours.”

So of course my eyes chose that particular moment to leak saltwater. “Thank you.”

“Off you go,” she shooed me out.

I was so thankful, I didn’t even stop to think. Being in a dark basement surrounded by stacks and boxes, with a list as long as my arm to keep me busy for an entire day, was exactly what I needed. I wanted to be busy, distracted. I wanted to lose track of time. I wanted to hide away where I didn’t have to pretend to be all-smiles.

I didn’t even realise Merry still had my phone.

Chapter Fourteen

Hennessy

“What the hell happened?” Michael asked.

I’d just arrived at the office at a quarter to eleven at night. Jordan had just done a runner on me, leaving me stunned and confused, and I had to come into work because of a possible security breach on the job I’d busted my arse on. Who just happened to be my ex, who was the very fucking last person I wanted to see right now. I’d sent Jordan two texts on the cab ride into the city, but he hadn’t replied.

“I don’t know,” I answered with a shrug. “We had the best night. His friends are great, we laughed for ages, and I even got the feeling that they could one day be my friends too, ya know?” I swallowed hard. “Then we go back to my place and everything’s fine. And then he kissed me and it was… amazing. But then he freaked out. And I mean freaked out. And then you rang and he bolted.”

“Without telling you why?”

I shook my head. “He said he didn’t think he could be what I needed. He said he needed time and that he was sorry. Said he’d call me.”

“The fuck?”