Right Number, Wrong Girl

“Soph? Are you in there?” Cait asked from the other side of the door. “Your car is still here.”

I had no choice but to let her in.

If she was here, she knew. There was no other reason for her to come, after all.

I forced myself off the door and opened it.

“Oh, Soph,” she said, looking at me. “Hugo told me to come. I assume everyone knows the truth. How did that happen?”

“Camilla showed up unexpectedly and the truth came out. You know I’m leaving.” I walked back into the cottage and headed for the stairs. I didn’t know how long I had before someone showed up to try to get me to stop.

What was I saying?

Cait was here already.

That meant Hugo wasn’t coming.

That thought hurt so much more than it should have.

Cait rushed after me, following me up. “You can’t leave.”

“Yes, I can, and I am.” I threw my suitcase on the bed and unzipped it, then set to gathering all my belongings. “There’s no reason for me to stay here.”

“No reason? What about Hugo?”

“You know as well as I do it was only a short-term thing.” I walked into the bathroom and got my toothbrush and toiletries, talking as I did so. “I just yelled at his mother, and she kicked me out of the house, so there’s no chance she’s going to allow us to see each other.”

“Soph.”

“He’ll be fine.” I shoved the toiletries into the case and opened the wardrobe for my shoes. “He’ll marry some nice aristocrat who hasn’t lied and who his family approves of, and he’ll be just fine.”

“Oh, come on. You know that isn’t true.”

“It is true, Caitlyn.” I gripped the edge of the hard case and met her eyes. “It’s true, and you know it.”

She took a deep breath and sighed.

“I just—I can’t stay here.” My voice was soft. “There’s no reason for me to be here anymore. Cam will finish the party.”

“Do you have to go?”

“I do. It’s easier for everyone.”

“It’s easiest for you, you mean.”

I glanced at her then paused, training my gaze away. Of course that was what I meant.

Didn’t I deserve to do what was easiest this time? I’d spent the last twelve days doing something that was incredibly difficult for me.

Was it selfish of me to want to take the easy route?

Maybe.

I thought I’d earnt the right to be selfish right now.

“Sophie? Are you still here?” Henry’s voice filtered through the cottage.

I jerked my head around. “What’s he doing here?”