Don't Let Me Forget

by Belinda Williams

  Jet sighed and this time she picked up her phone. She wouldn’t get in contact with Dan. Not now, at least. She needed time to settle back into her old life before she made any decisions about their relationship. But there was one friendship she was sorely in need of and that she had been missing desperately these last two months.

  Jet opened the messaging app and typed a message to Edie.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  ‘Oh my God, I’ve missed this place. I’ve missed you.’

  Jet found herself bundled into a fierce hug the moment Edie stepped in the front door. Edie barely came up to Jet’s shoulder—everything about her was pint-sized—and Jet felt herself relax in her friend’s embrace.

  Ordinarily Edie wasn’t one for hugs but she’d obviously made an exception due to Jet’s prolonged absence. When Edie released Jet from the hug, she narrowed her eyes and then punched Jet firmly on the arm.

  ‘Ow.’ Jet rubbed her arm. ‘What was that for?’

  ‘That was for deserting me for all this time without any explanation.’ Edie strode into the apartment and headed straight for the living area. Jet had left the double doors overlooking the harbour open and the city twinkled in the twilight like an invitation.

  Jet followed her friend and watched as Edie propped her designer bag next to the sofa, then bent down to rifle around in its oversized proportions. A second later she announced ‘Ah ha’ and presented an expensive bottle of sparkling wine with a flourish.

  Jet dropped her hand from her arm and smiled at her friend. ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Seriously,’ Edie replied firmly. ‘I have my best friend back and that low-life creep is in gaol.’

  ‘I thought he was out on bail?’

  ‘He’ll be back in gaol before long, you’ll see. Bottom feeders like him always end up where they belong.’ The fierce look Edie flashed at Jet before heading into the kitchen made her blue eyes appear darker than usual in the dim light.

  Wanting to chase away the dark shadows that continued to haunt her, Jet walked over to the nearby coffee table and turned on the lamp. Then she followed Edie into the kitchen, who was intent on locating glasses. Jet remained silent while Edie expertly removed the cork with a satisfying pop and poured two glasses of the bubbling liquid.

  Out of habit, Jet looked at the label on the bottle and nodded, impressed at Edie’s choice of French Champagne. The Rhodes family were big on homegrown wines but Dan had also enjoyed sharing his knowledge on the ‘French stuff’ too, thanks to his time in Europe.

  ‘Why the sad face?’ Edie demanded, shoving a glass at her. ‘Surely you’re glad to be home? And on that note, cheers my friend!’

  They clinked glasses and each took a sip. The palate was refined and elegant, but it hardly surprised Jet because Edie had always had expensive taste.

  Jet swallowed and regarded her friend. Jet wasn’t sad, but perhaps she was a bit flat. Jet missed Dan and his easy company. It was damn good to have the companionship of her closest girlfriend back again though.

  ‘Not sad,’ Jet told her. ‘Just reflective. And it’s great to be home.’

  ‘Good. And I do hope you don’t have any plans to disappear on me again?’ Edie’s business-like tone almost hid the hint of concern in her expression—almost.

  Edie was a good actress, but Jet was an even better friend who noticed subtle things about Edie the public rarely did. Jet reached over and grasped Edie’s arm gently.

  ‘I’m not going anywhere again. Not if I can help it. You got my message?’

  ‘Yes. And good.’ Edie nodded. ‘I practically drank a bottle of grog myself when you sent me that email, I was so relieved.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Where were you?’

  Jet had always enjoyed Edie’s directness and usually met it head on with honesty in return, but not this time. ‘I’m afraid I can’t say, other than I was somewhere safe.’

  Edie sniffed and took another mouthful. ‘I thought so. I’ll let it slide—for now.’

  ‘I hope they have someone as determined as you prosecuting Alex’s court case,’ Jet commented, then added. ‘Why don’t you like him? I thought you worked together quite happily when he appeared on that show you starred in together?’

  Edie screwed her nose up in distaste. ‘You mean other than the fact he’s interested in little girls? There was always something about him, you know, that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.’ Edie sashayed back into the lounge room to take in the view of the city and Jet followed. ‘Oh, don’t get me wrong, I flirted with him a time or two—who wouldn’t? But I figured out pretty quickly his appetite was more, how do you say, particular?’

  Jet joined Edie to survey the view. ‘Didn’t that alarm you?’

  Edie waved her free hand in the air dismissively. ‘Plenty of guys in the limelight enjoy the attentions of younger women. Something about the whole innocence factor makes them feel big and important.’ Edie huffed. ‘They have no idea what they’re missing out on or else they’d opt for more experienced women.’

  Given Edie was barely thirty years old, it was a pretty sad reflection on Alex’s choice in women.

  ‘I just didn’t realise Alex’s tastes ran to women quite that young,’ Edie finished.

  ‘No, I’m not sure anyone did.’

  Edie huffed again. ‘You sure about that? I reckon a few of his mates were in on it, too.’

  Jet had to agree it was entirely possible given what she’d see the night of Alex’s birthday party. She shook the image of all those naked bodies from her mind. It had been so dark in that room it could have been possible the women enjoying the attentions of the men were younger than Jet realised.

  ‘Let’s not think about it anymore,’ Jet said. ‘I’ve had weeks to think about it and I need some space from all of this.’

  ‘Of course you do. Are you looking forward to returning to work on Monday? I’m sure they’ve missed you.’

  ‘Like you wouldn’t believe.’

  ‘God, what have you even been doing all these weeks?’ Edie wondered. She snapped her mouth closed. ‘I know. None of my business.’

  Jet wasn’t sure Edie would even believe her if she revealed that she had been planning wedding ceremonies in the Hunter Valley, with a dashing winemaker no less, but she refrained from saying anything. The last thing Jet wanted to do was put the Rhodes family in any more danger.

  ‘Missing home,’ Jet said instead. ‘And I see you’ve been busy while I’ve been gone, Miss Media Mogul.’

  A look of panic flashed across Edie’s carefully made-up features, then it was gone. ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘What? You didn’t think I had an internet connection where I was? I wasn’t hiding in a cave. It looks like you’ve been making Andrew’s life hell, so I should probably thank you. If you hadn’t been distracting him, the silly man would probably have tracked me down with all the resources he has at his disposal.’

  Edie threw her head back and finished the rest of the Champagne, then looked around a bit like she wanted another. ‘About that.’

  ‘About what? Andrew?’ Jet detected a trace of uncertainty in Edie’s tone and her pulse leapt in surprise. Edie Thomas was never unsure of herself.

  ‘Yes.’ Edie swallowed again, but this time she wasn’t drinking. She darted a look in Jet’s direction, then took a few steps closer to the double doors, seemingly to take in the view.

  Jet stared at her friend’s back. She was wearing dark blue designer jeans that left nothing to the imagination and a black and gold top that was high at the front but cut low to show off Edie’s pale back. She’d finished the outfit off with cute black stiletto boots. She looked more like she was about to head out onto the dance floor instead of visiting a friend’s place.

  Jet was well aware of Edie’s appeal. Gorgeous, talented and exceedingly self-possessed, there were few men alive that could resist her.

  Jet blinked. ‘Are you telling me you have feelings for Andrew?’

  Edi
e stood perfectly still for a long moment. When she turned around there was more emotion on her face than Jet had seen in that scene from the telemovie that had earned her a Logie award nomination.

  Edie closed the distance between them and took Jet’s hands in hers. ‘I’ll stop if you tell me to. I feel terrible about it.’

  ‘But you don’t want to stop,’ Jet said flatly.

  Edie shook her head, her eyes holding a desperation that surprised Jet. ‘No. I don’t want to.’ Edie appeared to catch herself and she rounded her shoulders, her expression becoming more neutral. ‘But I will, if you want me to. You deserve that much.’

  Jet released a tight breath and stepped out of Edie’s reach. She backed herself towards the lounge behind them and sat down unsteadily.

  ‘How did it start?’ Jet asked.

  Edie sat down beside her, angling her body in Jet’s direction. ‘Looking back, I think perhaps it was the night of the Logies. I was being such a bitch to him and I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed it at the time until afterwards.’

  ‘Let me guess. Andrew enjoyed it too?’

  ‘Yes! Well, not at first, I don’t think. You know Andrew. He came across all stiff and unimpressed but underneath, I think I got under his skin.’

  Jet was sure of it. Andrew was controlling but he enjoyed the chase and Edie would have proved an irresistibly good game. She probably hadn’t even realised it. Poor Edie.

  Jet took her friend’s hand again. ‘Are you sure about this? You need to be careful.’

  Edie looked at their fingers linked together. ‘Honestly, I’m not sure of anything right now, except I want to be around him despite my brain telling me I’m stupid.’ She squeezed Jet’s hand. ‘Then again, who do you take me for, Juliet Temple? Andrew needs to be careful of me, not the other way around!’

  There was some truth to Edie’s words. Edie was usually a force to be reckoned with and had broken many a man’s heart. But Andrew Temple’s heart? Jet wasn’t convinced his heart was capable of breaking, which meant only one thing.

  Edie Thomas, who rarely gave her heart to anyone, was in grave danger of risking hers if the relationship continued.

  Despite the concern swirling in Jet’s stomach, she smiled warmly at her friend. ‘He does indeed. I’m sure you’re proving quite a handful.’

  Edie grinned. ‘I am, trust me.’ Her smile vanished. ‘Are you sure you’re alright about this? I get that this is weird at best, and wrong at worst.’

  ‘Our relationship has been over for a long time, Edie, and this only confirms it. I don’t feel anything for Andrew anymore so you don’t need to be concerned. I know you wouldn’t have set out to get involved with him. Sometimes these things just happen.’ An image of Dan’s gloriously strong chest appeared in Jet’s mind as she said this, and a sharp pang of longing filled her.

  ‘That’s exactly it! It just happened and I didn’t see it coming at all. I was too busy trying to piss him off, truth be told.’

  ‘Good,’ Jet said, a little too eagerly and Edie’s expression turned sombre.

  ‘I know he hurt you, Juliet. That’s not going to happen to me. What we have is different to what you had. It’s not special in any way, and I’d be misleading myself if I thought it was. It’s just ... interesting for the moment and mutually advantageous.’

  ‘I’m glad you’re aware of that.’

  ‘What? That Andrew likes having me on his arm? I’m not stupid. That man is all about appearances and I know I look good standing next to him. I’m sure that will change at some point in the future, but I intend to take full advantage of it while I can.’

  ‘In what way? You’re already a well-known celebrity.’

  ‘That’s right. I’m already a celebrity but being connected to Andrew will raise my status even further. Everyone wants to be a two-bit celebrity these days, including all those trashy women on the Bachelor and other vacuous reality shows. I’m better than that. Andrew’s power will give me influence and I’d be silly not to recognise it.’

  Jet studied Edie. Many people dismissed her as just another soapie actress, but they didn’t know the real Edie. The real Edie was talented and driven and whatever she was up to, if she wanted to use Andrew to realise her dreams, Jet was all for it. Maybe it would make the events of the last few months worth it. Plus, Jet was under no illusions that Andrew was getting something out the relationship with Edie too, or else he wouldn’t be involved with her.

  ‘Like I said, what Andrew and I had is over,’ Jet repeated. ‘Maybe now I will be able to get on with my life and stay out of the limelight, thanks to you.’

  ‘It will be my pleasure.’ Edie released Jet’s hand. ‘Now, how about we order some take away and pour another glass?’

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  By ten o’clock the next morning Jet was feeling more like a fish out of water than ever.

  At first when she’d stepped in the door of her office at eight-thirty she’d felt a wave of relief. It was so good to be back to the familiar territory of her business. Here she was in charge, and given how her life had felt beyond her control the past couple of months, it was a welcome feeling.

  But over the last hour and a half the sense of certainty waned. It was like she was seeing her old life through different eyes. She wasn’t Juliet anymore, she was Jet—but who was Jet really? She wasn’t sure, but all Jet knew was the trendy, boutique events company she’d worked so hard to create suddenly felt separate to her.

  Several months ago, Jet had lived and breathed the business. Every morning, she’d get to work at least half an hour before the rest of the staff and leave after everyone had left for the night. She’d effortlessly dressed in the latest designer suits and fashion, aware she was the face of the business.

  Now dressing up felt like an effort. This morning, Jet had opted for a pair of smart black jeans that passed as workwear and an elegant blue satin top to complement her new blonde hair. She hadn’t felt motivated to wear heels, and instead chose a cute pair of boots. She’d been dying to wear them for ages, but always put it off because they’d felt too casual.

  She was wearing less make-up, too. Normally the old Juliet would arrive at work with her face fully made-up. Today she’d felt more comfortable with just a light covering of foundation, a swipe of mascara and some blush to brighten her cheeks. She hadn’t even bothered with lipstick.

  Jet hadn’t realised what a difference it made until her second-in-charge Jayde arrived and did a double-take. She’d covered her surprise well and raced over to Jet for a welcoming embrace, but Jet was attuned to people’s body language more than ever.

  Jet spent the next hour in Jayde’s office being updated on the status of all of their current projects and recent successes. Now Jet sat in her office, rubbing her temples while she stared at a spreadsheet detailing the financial situation of her business.

  The edge of the headache had been there all morning. It was wishful thinking that it was from the alcohol the night before. She’d barely finished the second glass. It would be easy to put it down to dehydration, but Jet knew better.

  It was the nagging suspicion that Jet was a stranger in her own life. She glanced back to the spreadsheet. Case in point. The business had been running smoothly during her absence. In fact, it was doing better than ever. Under Jayde’s careful and dedicated watch, Juliet Temple Events was thriving.

  It should have made Jet happy. Wasn’t that every business owner’s dream? To have a business that successfully ran itself?

  Instead, it made Jet feel unsure of her place in the world.

  Jet sighed. It wasn’t only that. Returning after her time away, Jet was noticing things she hadn’t before. Like her team of staff. They were all women. Why hadn’t she ever thought to hire any guys? Not only that, they were all young, impeccably dressed and well-educated. Not that Jet would ever hire anyone unqualified, but somehow she’d never realised the women she hired were all the products of expensive private schools. It wasn’t exactly surpr
ising because in the early days Andrew had directed a few promising candidates her way.

  Her clients were the same. Not just from the right side of town, but the expensive part of town with plenty of money to burn. Jet couldn’t deny it was their brand and their speciality—high class events for Sydney’s elite. But all of a sudden the brand that she’d spent years building and perfecting felt unsatisfying.

  Fake, she realised.

  It wasn’t that the people she took on as clients were necessarily fake, but Jet’s events were a very deliberate part of maintaining their carefully crafted reputations.

  It left Jet with an empty feeling.

  She recalled the glowing happy young couple celebrating the start of their life together. A wedding Jet herself had planned. Had that only been last week? And come to think of it, when was the last time Jet had actually planned an event herself?

  At Temple Events, she oversaw her team. Other than her involvement in daily morning progress meetings, Jet rarely got involved in the day-to-day planning. Her role in recent years had been to attract new business by networking and taking on speaking opportunities.

  Jet rubbed a hand over her forehead, which was now aching along with her temples.

  A week before she’d skipped town, she recalled asking her personal assistant to look into reputable Botox clinics. The email was still sitting in her in-box, waiting for Jet to review it, but she didn’t have the heart.

  Jet jolted as her phone vibrated on her desk with a message.

  She frowned when she saw the name of the sender:

  Daniel Rhodes.

  Her heart pounded and inexplicably the headache eased. She opened the message, not allowing herself to hesitate.

  Hey. So I know I said I’d give you your space but it’s too quiet here this morning and there’s no one to listen to my latest great idea. How’s work?

  Jet released a breath and did her best to ignore the sting of tears in the corner of her eyes. She stood up abruptly, making the blood rush to her head, then walked over to her office door and closed it.