Chapter 32 - 33 Legally Binding
Of course she didn’t believe me.
Catherine crossed her arms. ‘All just your tricks. You say you want out, but you’re clinging to him every chance you get. Now that he’s finally interested in me, you’re pulling stunts to drag him back.’
I wanted to throw up my arms like a cartoon character. It was like talking to a wall.
‘Catherine,’ I said, gritting my teeth, ‘Rhys isn’t refusing to end it because he’s still obsessed with me. He’s doing it because he’s terrified of what the tabloids will say. He’s doing it because he’s too much of a coward to tell his mummy no. The same goes for you. You’re coming at me because you’re too scared to pick a fight with Rhys or Louisa. You two really are a match made in dysfunctional heaven.’
‘It’s not like that! Rhys is just worried about his mum’s health. That’s why he won’t end things yet.’
‘Right. And you, standing here hissing at me to tell Louisa about your little love story with Rhys—means you’re obviously not worried about her health at all, right? Or are you secretly praying I piss her off so badly she ends up back in hospital—or, better yet, kicks the bucket—so I’ll be too busy being the villain to hang onto Rhys, and you can swoop in without her giving you side-eye?’
‘I... no, it’s not... I don’t—’
I shook my head. ‘You really should take up chess. You’ve got the scheming down cold.’
The flash of panic in her eyes was so fast most people would’ve missed it. I didn’t.
I leaned in a little and got into her personal space. ‘If you’ve got that much energy, maybe aim it at Rhys instead of me. Whisper sweet nothings to him, play your cards right. Hell, if you can get him to ditch me officially, I’ll owe you a drink. But even if he dumps me, don’t get your hopes up. Rhys Granger might be a lot of things, but easy isn’t one of them.’
I didn’t wait for her comeback. Just brushed past her and left.
Outside the hospital, I pulled my borrowed coat tighter against the morning chill and tried to flag a taxi.