Me. Her. Him - Chapter 44

Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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January 2000 

It’s two days before I see William again. It’s approaching midday. The day’s been slow. We’ve only had a trickle of customers and no one’s bought anything. Stevie looks like she’s about to hit the desk and fall asleep. It makes me wonder if she went out last night and if she’s hungover; she only mumbled a hello to me when she walked in this morning.

I’m manning the front desk when William enters the shop. Stevie’s out the back eating her sandwich, thank God. At least she’s not here in the front of the shop.

My eyes dart towards the kitchen door, but Stevie hasn’t emerged.

‘Outside quickly,’ I say, every bone in my body tingling as I hurry him out of the entrance.  

‘It’s so good to see you,’ he says.

‘Have you . . . have you spoken to Caz?’ I ask. He nods. My head spins. ‘What did she say?’

‘She was upset at first, but eventually she came round to my way of thinking,’ he says. ‘She agrees we’re not compatible anymore. She’s not at all upset.’

In my head I’d been picturing Caz flying into a rage if he told her he wanted to split up with her. After all, didn’t she say she had no one else to stay with, other than him?

‘You didn’t tell her about us though?’ I ask, excitement coursing through my veins.

‘No, I left that part out for now, although I’m sure it won’t take her too long to realise. So can I have your answer?’

I fling my arms around his neck and breathe in the lemony scent of his cologne, I’ve grown to love so much.

‘What time do you finish?’ he asks, squeezing me into a tight hug.

I shake my head, my chest ballooning inside. ‘Oh just hang on a sec.’ I push open the shop door and poke my head through. Stevie’s exiting the kitchen with her sandwich. ‘Stevie, I resign, with immediate effect.’

She stops still in the shop, staring at me open mouthed.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ William asks a big grin on his face.

I grab his hand. ‘Oh, I was never going to stay there long anyway, I’ve been thinking about resigning for weeks. Come on, no one will be in at home, we’ll have the place to ourselves.’

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Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend