Under My Umbrella

Chapter Nine

Claire is wearing a jade green cocktail dress and her read hair is wound up in a perfect bun. She’s lifting a glass of wine to her lips and smiling.

For a moment, I observe the two of them together, trying to see what’s so special about their relationship that they could be this committed to each other after such a short time.

What makes Claire any different to the other girls Rob’s dated? Why did he propose to her? I bite my lip, daring not to think the words and not me. That wouldn’t be fair.

Rob and I broke up when we were eighteen and, despite what Shane thinks, there is nothing between us anymore. And anyway, I have a dreamy American boyfriend now. Or at least I think I do. There still hasn’t been any contact form said Mr Dreamy.

“Excuse me, miss?” A waiter in a tuxedo approaches me. “Have you got a reservation?”

It takes me a moment to remember where I am. “Oh, no, I actually—”

“Hayley?”

I turn, expecting to see Claire. But it’s much worse than that. Sarah stands in front of me with her dark hair in long waves and a tight blue dress clinging to her curves.

“Obviously I didn’t make myself clear.” She presses her face right up to mine. “I don’t care what history you have with Rob, but you stay the hell away from him. And Shane.”

“Shane?”

“Don’t play the innocent.” Sarah rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean and he deserves better.”

“What, like you?” I laugh.

Sarah’s glare doesn’t falter. “What are you doing here, anyway? Other than trying to ruin Rob’s life?”

Actually, I’m trying to save him.

“I know exactly who you are,” she spits. “I hate to think that something might happen to your poor mother’s mental state. I hear she’s very fragile.”

“What do you know about my mother?”

“Enough to get you to listen.” She grabs my arm and drags me to the door. God, I hope this jacket is tougher than my satin shirt. “I’m not an unreasonable person, Hayley, but I’ll do anything to protect the people I care about.”

“So will I,” I challenge, my eyes locked on hers.

“Then we understand each other.”

“I don’t know what you think I’m doing, but Rob and I are ancient history. Really. And the idea that Shane is even remotely close to what I want in a man is laughable. Besides that, I have a boyfriend.” I tilt my chin up an inch.

“Maybe you should get back to him, then.” Sarah gives me another push towards the exit.

I grip the edge of the door frame, all ready to put up a fight because there’s no way I’m letting Sarah win. Not this time.

Then I see Rob, his head turned in our direction and his eyes fixed on me. He doesn’t look angry or disappointed. His eyebrows are drawn together and his lips are slightly parted in an expression of curiosity.

If he hated me, surely he’d be helping Sarah bundle me out of here. Again.

So that must mean…Oh God, what if Shane’s right and the only way this this is ever going to work is if Claire thinks something’s going on with me and Rob? I can’t just walk up there and apologise to her.

I pull my arm free of Sarah’s grasp and use the couple inches of height difference I have to look down on her. “It’s so great that Claire has a friend like you.” I smile. “But Rob has friends, too.”