“You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?” she asked pointedly.
I shook my head. “Amy—”
“And he’s the one who dumped you, isn’t he? Not the other way around?”
Oh, it was pointless to try to convince her otherwise once she’d made up her mind. She might not be a Rhodes Scholar, but she was relentless. “You got me. Thierry’s the one who broke things off. I was just trying to save face when I said it was me.”
She looked distraught by my false admission. “I knew it.”
“I’m doing what I can. It’s over. It hurts like hell but I’m trying very hard to accept it.”
I had lied so much lately that I was honestly surprised my pants weren’t literally made of fire.
“Barry did say he couldn’t believe you would be the one to walk away.”
“I just bet he did.” I refrained from rolling my eyes. “So, just relax. It’s no big deal, okay?
I’m fine. I’m accepting the way things are slowly but surely.”
“He left you just when things were really difficult… with your curse.” Her expression tensed. “I always knew he was a selfish jerk. First, cheating on his wife with you—”
I cringed at that. “I wouldn’t exactly call it cheating when Veronique knew and was fine with everything.”
“Still.” Tears were actually welling in her eyes. “Oh, Sarah, I don’t want to tell you this, but I have to.”
I leaned over the table and grabbed her hand. “Oh, my God. Amy, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“I… I saw Thierry an hour ago in a restaurant down the street. In fact, he might even still be there. That’s why I called you.”
“Well, that is shocking considering that he doesn’t eat anything.”
She shook her head. “He was having drinks with somebody. When I saw who it was—I was so shocked. I never would have guessed it for a million dollars. Sarah—” She let out a shuddery sigh. “I think Thierry may have been having an affair on you while he was having an affair on his wife. He’s a two-timing two-timer!”
My eye began to twitch. “What are you talking about?”
“I wasn’t going to tell you but it’s important that you know this. It just proves that he’s a supreme creep and not good enough for you.”
“You’re saying that you saw him having drinks with another woman?”
She nodded gravely.
“And it wasn’t Veronique.”
She shook her head gravely.
I cleared my throat. “And it seemed as though they were together together. Not just having drinks, but romantically.”
Another grave nod.
“What exactly led you to that conclusion?” I asked stiffly.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone. “I have proof.”
“You took pictures of him?”
“I’m thinking about getting my private investigator license.” She brightened slightly. “I think I might be good at catching good-for-nothing men in the act of adultery. And I hear there’s some great money to be made in that field.”
I wasn’t sure why I found it hard to believe. She regularly sent me pics from clothing store change rooms to get my opinion on new outfits. Why would this be any different?
“You don’t have to look if you don’t want to. I mean, you have gone your separate ways.
I just wanted to show you that he’s a cad. An absolute cad, considering who he’s taken up with. And if you’re still upset about your breakup, you shouldn’t be.”
I didn’t believe a word. Especially when that word was as outdated as “cad.” Thierry wouldn’t do this, would he? No. Of course not. We might not agree on absolutely everything—to say the least—but he loved me. We’d been through too much together for him to casually start a new relationship in the midst of this mega crisis in our lives. I trusted him with every fiber in my being.
Sarah + Thierry.
True love forever.
But, still. It wouldn’t hurt to have a quick look.
“Show me,” I said tightly.
She scrolled through the menu and then handed me the phone. I stared down at the first picture, then went to the next. Then the next. And the next.
Thierry was having drinks inside an upscale restaurant, right near the window, which was why Amy got some good shots.
There was a picture of Thierry laughing.
Uh. Laughing? That was so unlike him.
Another of him reaching across the table to take his companion’s hand.
Another of him… kissing… her… hand.
My jaw clenched.
Another had him actually leaning across the table… and… kissing… her… on… the… mouth.
My vision went a bit red at that one and my heart slammed against my rib cage.
The woman was smiling widely, obviously enjoying herself. One photo showed a clear shot of her face as she glanced out the window.
“Can you believe it?” Amy said breathlessly. “I thought she was engaged to be married.
That skank! That sneaky blond skank ho!”