“Yeah, Milan needs to learn that he doesn’t endear himself to people by slagging off everyone else. He can’t stand competition, can he?”
Lydia sighed. “Nope.”
“That’s why he needs some. Keep him on his toes.”
“You could be right.”
There was a pause while both women assessed their coffee for readiness to drink. Still too hot.
“So,” said Lydia. “Is everything okay between you and Ben? Apart from that little tiny glitch back there?”
Vanessa stared into her cappuccino foam.
“It was,” she said. “It was perfect. Too good to last.”
“What? You’re not going to finish it, are you? Ness, you can’t. You two are
so good together. He makes you so happy. It’s not the age gap thing, is it?”
“No, no, nothing to do with that. It’s, oh God, I don’t know where to start really.”
“Jeez, you’re shaking. Something’s really got to you, hasn’t it? Ness, what is it?”
“I know who the new Leader is. I guess they’ll announce it on Monday.”
“What?” Lydia’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What’s that got to do with you and Ben?”
“It’s my husband.”
Lydia looked blank for a moment, then her jaw dropped.
“What? The new Leader is your ex?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God.”
“Exactly.”
Vanessa braved the scalding coffee and took a gulp. It burnt her throat and made her chest constrict but it seemed appropriate somehow.
“You never talk about him,” said Lydia quietly. “What’s he…like?”
“An evil bastard. That’s what he’s like.”
“Tell me.”
Vanessa smiled weakly. “This is a cautionary tale. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.”
“I’ve made plenty of my own.”
“But you’re working through it, Lyd. You’re getting there. Anyway. I met Dafydd at the Royal College of Music when we were both eighteen. He, as I’m sure you’ve worked out for yourself, was studying violin. In the first week of term he was very rude in the canteen about percussionists and we became mortal enemies from that day.”
“Oh no. Enemies to lovers.”
“Not for a long time. We didn’t get together at college. He was constantly baiting me, though, and trying to get a reaction from me.”
“Like a boy in the playground tugging your pigtails? So he fancied you then.”