Faye chewed her lip, her eyes closing as she listened to Talia’s gentle breathing down the line. “Thank you.”
“No, I mean,reallygorgeous. You have this effortless beauty about you. I can’t quite explain it. Perhaps that’s why I’m feeling so conflicted, I don’t know. But what Idoknow is that the more I see you at the bistro, the harder I find it to actually get any work done.”
Faye kept her tone level. “Do you want me to find somewhere else to work?”
“God, no. Please don’t do that.”
“If you need me to work from home until you’ve figured out your feelings, I can do that.” Faye didn’t particularly want to be holed up at her apartment but giving Talia space could be good for them both. It wouldn’t change how Faye felt, but it could go one of two ways for Talia. Either she’d realise she missed seeing Faye around, or she would realise she didn’t need her in her life at all. Faye knew which outcome she wanted, but the cold hard truth was that Talia had been burned in the past. That always damaged a person. However hard Talia was trying, Faye had to remember that they may not get what they wanted.
Shemay not get Talia.
“No. I’ll be fine. I just wanted to call you and be honest. I didn’t like seeing you leave here tonight. Not the way you did. So, I wanted to tell you how I really felt instead of leaving you in the dark.”
“Well, I appreciate that.”
“None of this is about you, okay?” Talia said. “Things have just been hard for me the last few years. But I’m going to try. Because if I’ve realised anything lately, it’s how much I enjoy having you around.”
Faye’s heart swelled at Talia’s admission. This call had meant a lot.
“And maybe it won’t work out, but I have to know I at least tried.”
Faye sunk down further into the mattress, curling into the foetal position as her eyelids became heavy. “If it’s meant to be…it will be.”
CHAPTERELEVEN
Three weeks later…
Okay, this was it. The night Faye would throw caution to the wind and actually enjoy her evening at Vision. She’d psyched herself up all week, she’d gone through the pros and cons of being at Vision willingly, and she couldn’t find a single reason why she shouldn’t be there. Talia loved the place, so Faye would show up and try to prove that she wasn’t against the idea.
Because she knew Talia thought she was.
Even if she said she believed Faye, that Faye didn’t hate what she did, Faye knew that deep down Talia wasn’t fully trusting of her yet. So tonight, that would change. Faye would arrive for her friend’s fortieth birthday—a night Phoebe had arranged at the drop of a hat—and put on as brave a face as she could. And if she got the opportunity to see Talia while she was there…even better.
This would be the first time she’d seen Phoebe in a few weeks. Faye wasn’t entirely sure her night would be as plain sailing as she hoped—Phoebe had a way of turning things on their head with that mouth—but Faye was going to use this opportunity to her advantage. She wasn’t rushing back into a friendship with Phoebe. Faye had enjoyed the peace and quiet lately, but any chance to see Talia…she couldn’t refuse.
Phoebe: I’m outside. Are you ready?
Faye locked up, striding down the corridor. She had a nervous excitement building in the pit of her stomach, but it made a pleasant change from the sinking she usually felt. In the last few weeks, Talia had dropped by for dinner once or twice, to watch a film, or even just to say hi, so things were looking good between them. But Faye hadn’t once felt as though they were in a position to take anything further. It was company, and that was good enough for the time being.If only the chance to kiss her would look brighter…
Faye: Coming down now. Be 2 minutes.
She shoved her phone into her clutch bag and stepped into the lift. Honestly, she couldn’t wait to see Talia. Not Adria, she’d never pay for a dance from her again, butTalia. As herself…even if that wasn’t quite the truth. Yes, Talia would be working tonight, but Faye knew if she concentrated on the woman she knew outside of the club, she could dismiss the fact that she had a persona.
Faye stepped off the lift and out into the cold evening air. They had a reservation for the VIP section tonight, and it would be roped off for them only. “Hey,” Faye said as she tapped Phoebe on the shoulder. “Ready?”
Phoebe’s eyes widened as they fell to Faye’s chest. “Jesus. You’ve stepped it up a notch.”
“Thought I’d make an effort.”
Phoebe cleared her throat. “For Adria?”
“I…don’t know her as Adria. I know her as Talia. And no, it’s not for her. We’re friends, and she’s not interested in a relationship. You know this, so please, don’t make a fool of yourself tonight.”
That was all Faye was prepared to say for the time being. If she told Phoebe about her call with Talia a few weeks ago, Phoebe would do everything she could to put Faye off the idea. That seemed to be what she was good at recently.
Phoebe stepped back, holding up her hands. “Fine. Whatever you say.”
“You really don’t like her, do you?”