❛ You tell me your problems-have I become one of your problems? ❜
Georgia Hardtford is an up and coming journalist, but when task with what seems like the impossible-destroy Rupert Campbell-Blacks reputation-she struggles to draw the line between he...
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The evening air was cool as Gege parked her car outside the house. Her mind was still racing with thoughts of the horse, the lie, and Rupert's strange connection to all of it. She had spent the last few hours buried in files and notes, but nothing had clicked into place yet. Nothing that would make a story she could take to Henry.
But all that was forgotten as she stepped inside the house.
Barb was sitting on the couch in the living room, her knees pulled up to her chest, her face buried in her hands. She was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Barb?" Gege called softly, her heart sinking. She rushed over to her best friend, dropping her bag to the floor and sitting beside her.
Barb looked up, her mascara streaked down her cheeks. Her usually bright eyes were red and swollen, her lips trembling as she tried to catch her breath between sobs. "He—he left me, Gege," she gasped out, her voice breaking. "Just... like that. Two days. That's all it took for Bas to—"
She broke off again, clutching her chest as if the pain was too much to bear.
Gege's heart ached for her. She had seen Barb go through her fair share of heartbreaks over the years, but this was different. Barb was falling apart in a way Gege had never seen before.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Gege soothed, gently placing a hand on Barb's back. "It's not okay, but... we'll get through this. We always do."
Barb shook her head, her sobs coming in harsh gasps. "I thought he was the one, Gege. I really did. I don't understand. He was all over me when he was here, and now? Now he says he needs 'space'... just like that."
Gege let out a frustrated sigh. She couldn't even begin to understand Bas. He was such a mess of contradictions. How could someone so charming be so careless with Barb? He had to know how much she cared for him. How could he just throw it away?
"I'm so sorry, Barb," Gege said softly, brushing Barb's damp hair away from her face. "I really am. But you know you deserve better than someone who can walk away that easily, right?"
Barb sniffled but didn't seem to hear her. Instead, she rubbed at her eyes and looked up at Gege, a wild desperation in her gaze. "I just— I just need to feel something else right now, you know?" she said, her voice cracking. "I can't just sit here and feel sorry for myself. I need to do something. I need... I need to get under someone else. To get over Bas."
Gege blinked in surprise, not sure what Barb meant at first. But as the words sank in, her stomach twisted. "Barb, what are you talking about?"
Barb stood up abruptly, brushing the tears off her face. "You know, go out, have a drink, meet someone. Not like it's a big deal, right?" she said, her voice sharp, but the underlying pain still there. "Come on, Gege. Just one night. You could use it too. You've been so tied up with that Rupert case, all work, no play. I'm sure a few drinks won't hurt."
