The New Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne

Author:Sheryl Browne [Sheryl Browne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838880378
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-08-02T18:30:00+00:00

Thirty

Joshua

April 2019

Josh’s feelings were a mixture of bewilderment and exasperation as he waited again at the request of a woman. This time, ironically, at the front of the Plough and Dog pub at the end of the lane where he’d waited hopefully to meet Jemma, only to have her wish him dead. He’d managed to speak to her only once since then, when he’d asked her to at least let him see the baby, to allow him some kind of future contact, even if unofficially. She’d been staggered. ‘And you think Ryan wouldn’t find out then?’ she’d said, sounding astonished that he would even suggest it. ‘I’m sorry, Josh, I really am, but it’s just not possible.’

‘He’ll find out if I’m forced to consult a solicitor,’ Josh had pointed out, though he’d very much wanted to avoid going the legal route. That had gone down well. He could almost feel the resentment sizzling through the phone. ‘Don’t do this to me, Jemma, please,’ he’d begged her. She’d ended the call, making it clear she felt absolutely nothing for him – leaving Josh wondering what he’d ever seen in her. She hadn’t been like this, uncompromisingly hard, when he’d first gone out with her. Yes, she’d finished with him to go out with Ryan, but he’d still loved her, the person he’d thought she was, someone caring. Despite her dumping him, it had taken a while to accept what she was really like. He couldn’t quite believe it, even now. He really was a prize idiot.

This time he was waiting to see Kim, who for some bizarre reason he was yet to understand clearly didn’t want to be seen with him in public either, and had requested they sit at one of the tables outside the pub, rather than inside where it would be a damn sight warmer. Until he’d finally got hold of her on the phone last night, she’d been ignoring his calls – another woman who’d made up her mind to avoid him. Josh simply didn’t get it. Was there something fundamentally wrong with him that he wasn’t aware of?

Seeing her coming down the lane, he didn’t bother to go and meet her. He’d had enough of being messed around. If the shoe were on the other foot he would be labelled a right bastard. Oh, he forgot. He was, according to Jemma. Maybe she was right. He must not be a very nice bloke.

He didn’t stand to greet her either, waiting instead until she seated herself on the bench opposite him. No smile, he noted. Very little eye contact. He was intrigued to find out what he was supposed to have done to warrant the cold shoulder. ‘Drink?’ he asked.

Kim shook her head. She still wasn’t looking at him, her gaze fixed downwards.

Josh sighed and took a swig of his pint. He’d clearly done something very wrong, not perfecting his mind-reading skills being his first big mistake.

Placing his glass back on the table, he twirled it pensively around and then took a fortifying breath.

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