Page 82 of Never Date a Celebrity

“Actually, I think you should take this one,” Niamh said to Piper, taking a step back after they concluded their strange choreography.

“Uh-oh.” Imogen must really be in trouble if Niamh was willingly giving Piper the lead. “Hit me, Pipes.”

“Okay.” Piper seemed to brace herself. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

Imogen blinked. She genuinely hadn’t been expecting that. Her friends had wrapped her in cotton wool all day and now they were telling her off? Where was the continuity? She folded her arms. “Maybe Niamh should have taken this one after all.”

“Okay.” Niamh stepped forward and took hold of Imogen’s arms. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

At least her tone had been softer. But her too? “Whoa. Thanks for the sympathy, you two.”

“I’m sorry, Immy. But you don’t deserve sympathy for this self-sabotage,” Piper said. “For the rest, yes. Your worst nightmare is happening and we’re with you. We will get through all the shite together because that’s what we do. But breaking up with Amelia, I don’t feel sorry for you for that.”

“Me either,” Niamh added. Though at least she looked pained to say it. Piper was doling out the tough love with confidence.

“Do you think I wanted to end things? Seriously? I’m in love with her. It’s killing me that I can’t be with her.”

“But you can,” Piper said impatiently, raising her voice in the process. “The woman you love, loves you back, and you’re throwing her away because you’re scared.”

Imogen narrowed her eyes. “That’s not fair. I’ve decided that I value safety and privacy. What’s wrong with wanting those things for myself?” Was wanting those things really so terrible?

“Value them more than you value Amelia?” Piper retorted.

Imogen and Piper glared at each other, neither of them willing to back down.

Niamh put herself in the middle of it and addressed Imogen. “Look. I know you were worried about this whole thing coming out, right? But now it’s out. It’s happened. And people are nosy and irritating, but the world hasn’t ended. In fact, you’ve probably heard from most of the people you’re gonna hear from. That part’s done.”

“Yeah, but right now it’s only this one thing. A blip that will be forgotten in no time, as long as I don’t add any more fuel to the fire. And I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to set myself up for ongoing criticism.” Imogen waved a hand around the room. “It’s not just me. Even the Wishing Well would be impacted. Imagine the reporters and the fans swarming the place trying to catch a glimpse of Amelia. It would be hell.”

“Maybe,” Niamh said gently. “But we would find a way to deal with it together. That’s what we do.”

“Think of the extra business,” Piper added. Trust her to find a silver lining in potential chaos. “But seriously, there are ways to handle all that. You don’t throw away someone you love over it.”

“You know the other reasons too.” Imogen didn’t need to tell them what had happened before. They’d lived it.

“Amelia is not Chelsea,” Piper said firmly. “She has been nothing but amazing since you two met.”

“She didn’t tell me who she was,” Imogen pointed out.

Piper pulled her lips to one side. “Apart from that.” She lifted her shoulders and dropped them again. “I just think you’re throwing away something really great. That’s all. It’s stupid. You’re being stupid.”

“Well, I appreciate your high opinion of me, but it’s done.” Imogen knew she was digging her heels in, but she had expected a little more support from her friends on this one. “Think you guys can take it from here? I’m going to head upstairs for the night.”

Niamh looked alarmed, probably because things had escalated so fast. “Imogen, you don’t have to go.”

“I really do though. You can text me if things get busy. But other than that, I’d like some time alone.”

“Fine,” Piper said. “Run away. You’re good at that.”

Niamh spun around and pointed a finger at her. “Too far, Pipes.”

Imogen let out a humourless laugh. “No, no. Tell me how you really feel, Pipes. That’s just fucking fantastic.” She turned on her heel and pushed through the door into the hall. She stomped up the stairs and slammed her front door as hard as she could. Piper had pissed her off and she wanted her to know it. Even Niamh was guilty by association.

But as soon as Imogen reached the solitude of her apartment, the anger drained out of her and the tears she’d been fighting all day finally won. And not the kind that rolled quietly down your face either. This was ugly crying. Full-body, can’t-catch-your-breath crying. The kind that made your chest hurt and your throat ache and your eyes sting so badly it felt impossible there could be any tears left.

Imogen didn’t even make it to the sofa before the first sob hit her. She slid down the living room door onto the floor and cried into her hands until she felt wrung out by it.

She loved Amy. God, she loved her. And somehow she had still walked away from her.