Perfume Therapy by Kirsty McManus

Author:Kirsty McManus [McManus, Kirsty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

I feel strange about last night. Like I’ve done something I shouldn’t. It’s not that I regret it—I don’t—it just feels bizarre to be single after so long. And for everything to end so suddenly…I mean, I didn’t even give Aaron a chance to react. I just hung up. But I know if I had let him talk any more, he would have tried to convince me I was crazy and that I was in the wrong. And he’d probably have succeeded.

I know I wasn’t wrong, but it’s hard. We’ve been together for three years. And yes, he was away a lot, but that actually made the time we had in person quite special. It also forced us to communicate effectively when we were together.

I’m not exactly sure when things started turning bad, I think because I made a deliberate effort to not keep a tally of everything he said or did that upset me. I’d done that with previous boyfriends and it had never ended well. But if I really think about it, Aaron’s paranoia was evident as early as six months after we met.

There were times we’d be hanging out with some of his army buddies when they were all in town at the same time, and he’d comment that the guys were flirting with me and that he didn’t like it. Back then, I thought it was sweet he was protective. Now I know better. And then there were the constant enquiries of “whatcha doing?” whenever I was texting someone on my phone, or the way he would never tell me when he was flying home so he could “surprise” me. Every time.

I shake my head. I don’t have time to dwell on the past right now. I want to say goodbye to Daniel before he leaves for his workshop.

The perfumery is buzzing when I arrive. Especially for so early. Rosie isn’t around, but I didn’t expect her to be yet. However, Kitty, Pen and Lek are all busy carrying boxes from the back room out to Daniel’s van.

I join them.

“Hi Daniel,” I say, handing him a box so he can stack it in the back.

“Oh, hey. You’re in early.” He smiles warmly. Damn, the guy is seriously sexy. And now I can actually admit it.

“Yeah, I thought I’d give you a hand before you left.”

“Great. I appreciate it.”

I head back inside to get another box. Daniel follows me.

“Have you spoken to Rosie since yesterday?” he asks.

“No. Why?”

“She emailed me last night to say she had a connection back in the States who might be able to find some buyers for her new products.”

“Really? That’s awesome! I’ll have to ask her about it later.”

“Yes, do. And please apologise to her on my behalf, because I won’t be around to help her until next week.”

“I’m sure she won’t mind.” And then I wonder if he’s trying to hint that I should change my plans so I can assist her until then. But when I study his expression, it seems perfectly innocent.

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