EMILY'S POV

Well, I don't know if he was the last or the second-to-last person I expected to see while out at the pub this afternoon, but running into Matt Moore certainly left me stunned. I'd left Mandy at the table and went to the bar for a fresh round of drinks. Mandy and I had been having some laughs, and I was able to forget how fucking miserable I was for a few hours. Until I turned around and saw him. It was the first time I'd seen Matt since the roof – since my whole fucking world completely unraveled.

"Emily. Hey. How are you doing?" He offered me an uncertain smile.

"Um, I'm fine, Matt, thanks. You...?" I tried to appear interested, but I really wanted to get away from him as fast as possible.

"Yeah, I'm doing alright. Just out with the lads for a few pints after winning a tough match today." He glanced back towards the table with his rowdy teammates, then turned and fixed me with an assessing stare.

"Nice. Good for you. So, I'll leave you to it then. Good seeing you, Matt." I hope I didn't seem as guilty as I felt. This wasn't quite as bad as running into JJ and Georgia last week, but still.

I turned to make a quick getaway and get back to Mandy – back to forgetting – but Matt wasn't going to let me escape so quickly.

"So, I'm guessing things with Naomi didn't work out in the end?", he asking, nodding in the direction of my table.

I shook my head, "It's not like that... it's...it's complicated..."

"Yeah, isn't it always. But I guess there's some comfort in knowing it wasn't for lack of trying, right?" His eyes glanced again over to Mandy. "I guess that makes it easier for you to move on, yeah?" I grimaced, but didn't quite flinch.

"Yeah..."

"Well, take care, Emily. It really was nice seeing you. I hope everything works out – for both of you." Matt smiled, a genuine one this time. He squeezed my shoulder, then turned to rejoin his friends.

I started to walk away, too, but then it struck me.

"Matt, wait. What you just said, – 'it wasn't for lack of trying'? What did you mean by that?" I couldn't help the hint of anxiety that started creeping into my voice.

"Well, from what Naomi's mentioned, I know she really was hoping for a second chance, and was trying to..."

"Wait, what?! You've been talking to Naomi...?" My disbelief was obvious. As was my anger.

"Well, yeah, I have - a bit. Sorry, I assumed you knew that." He looked as confused as I felt. "When she comes round to visit my Mum, sometimes I sit with them. We talk..."

"Naomi visits your Mum?! What the fuck?! Since when?" This was beyond weird...it was un-fucking- believable.

"Emily, I don't know what to say. I thought you knew all of this." Matt was clearly uncomfortable about revealing all of this to me. "Maybe she wanted to...was trying...fuck, I don't know." Matt's face gave away his confusion.

"Matt – just tell me what's going on." I pleaded with him to continue.

"She comes by on Sunday mornings - has tea with my Mum. They usually visit for about an hour or so. Afterward, my Mum doesn't seem quite so sad. Neither does Naomi. It's a good thing, Emily...isn't it?"

His eyes were almost begging me to understand. But I wasn't ready to go down that road. Not yet.

"How long, Matt? How fucking long has Naomi been coming round to yours for chats with you and your Mum? Tea and fucking sympathy, is it?. Begging forgiveness? Saying she's sorry? She's so fucking pathetic!" I was beyond furious. How could Naomi keep this from me? She betrayed my trust...AGAIN.

"No, Emily! It's not like that. She just ..."

"Save it, Matt. I don't want to hear it. Not from you, anyway." I had to get out of there. I had to confront Naomi. I turned back to the table where I'd left Mandy.

"Mandy, I'm sorry but something's come up and I need to get home. I'll call you, yeah?"

I already had my coat on and was headed out the door before she had a chance to respond. I barely heard her say "Text me later so that I know you're OK!" before the pub door closed behind me.

Well, at least she didn't seem mad. Wish I could say the same. I was beyond mad. I was fucking livid. So, Naomi'd been having weekly chats with Matt and his Mum? Apparently telling them things she couldn't tell me? Just like she'd confided in fucking Sophia the things that she couldn't tell me. That secretive fucking cow! Well, that's it. Fuck her. This time, it was really fucking over.