Perfectly Reflected Read Online Free PDF Page B

stay at home with her. Of course, he just came anyway.”
    “Well, how dim can you get? Did she really think he’d let her boss him around like that?”
    “I know, you think she’d have picked up something from all the problem pages she’s read over the years. But actually, it looks like she was right about one thing: he can’t take his eyes off you.”
    “Huh, well, he can look all he likes; I’m not going to fallfor any of his drivel again,” I snorted, trying not to look in Rob’s direction. I could see that he was watching us both over the rim of his glass, so I turned my back in what I hoped was a subtle manoeuvre.
    Grace smiled at me; I was obviously not being quite as casual as I’d thought. But at least I could no longer see Rob; I didn’t want him ruining my evening.
    Abbi was there, keeping her distance, but didn’t seem quite as wound up as she had been earlier. I took Grace’s advice and left her alone, hoping that in time she’d come round. About halfway through the evening Jack turned up, and Grace became welded to his side.
    It made me smile to watch the pair of them. They were very well suited and I hoped that the relationship would last the summer. They were both pretty loyal, so I thought it was likely, especially as Grace ending up in hospital had obviously proved to Jack how much he cared about her, and they had become inseparable. I watched while the two of them danced together, so comfortable and at ease with each other. He was always looking out for her, checking that she had what she needed, if she wanted to dance or not, or needed air. I could happily watch them all night. I knew that if Callum were here, that is how he would have been behaving towards me. The idea made me smile, but as I watched I became aware of another, unfamiliar, feeling too. I was jealous; jealous of their ability to be together, to hold each other, to do the mundane things in life. I couldn’t do any of that with Callum, and there was no chance that I would be able to do them either, however long I waited.
    I was lost in my thoughts and realised too late that Rob was heading in my direction. I was standing at the side of the hall, andwhen he got to me he leaned towards me to talk, bracing himself against the wall with his arm above my shoulder. It was an odd stance, as if he were trying to box me in.
    I crossed my arms and glared at him, then raised my voice to be heard over the pounding music. “What do you want?” I asked in my best dismissive tone. We hadn’t actually spoken since he’d abandoned me in a restaurant. I wondered if he was going to mention that.
    “You,” he shouted back, looking me deliberately up and down. I quickly looked away before his eyes made it back to mine, which threw him rather. “So how are you? Fully recovered?” he continued quickly.
    I shrugged, and wondered briefly if I should ask him about the computer files. I really wanted to know what he was up to, but didn’t fancy explaining that it was Ashley who had told me; I bet he didn’t know she had been snooping on his computer. In the end I said nothing, and waited to see what he was going to do next.
    He was obviously keen to talk. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better. You gave us all a bit of a scare.” He smiled his most melting smile, which just a short month ago would have made me weak at the knees, but I had become immune to his charms.
    “I’m feeling perfectly OK, thank you,” I replied icily. “The only thing that’s still upsetting me is the fact that someone – someone ,” I emphasised, “is spreading a rumour that it was a suicide attempt.” I glared at him again. “Aside from being a complete lie, it’ll really upset my parents if they hear it.”
    “Really? Has someone being doing that?” He shook his head in mock disgust. “Some people just don’t think.”
    I had to admire his attempt to brazen the whole thing out. He was almost completely convincing. But I didn’t reply,