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years.”
    Melissa laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
    “I didn’t want to spoil your night.”
    “Come on let’s go. I’ll just go and say goodbye to Faye and–” the word stuck in her throat. “Sara.”
    “Okay, I’ll get our jackets.”
    Melissa stood and walked over to where Sara and Faye were still in deep conversation, her feet moving like they were stuck in mud.
    “We’re going to make a move.” Melissa directed her attention to Faye. She could feel Sara’s stare penetrate her invisible shield.
    Faye’s eyes widened. “Already?”
    Melissa nodded. “Eli’s tired. I want to make sure she gets home okay.”
    “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
    “Okay.” Melissa leaned over and hugged Faye before turning to Sara. “It was good to see you again.”
    Sara leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You too. Hopefully we can meet up soon.”
    The sharp scent of her familiar perfume intoxicated Melissa’s senses. “Maybe.”
    Unable to stand the closeness any longer, Melissa turned and walked to the exit, the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. She couldn’t afford to let anything come between the life she was building with Bettina. Not even Sara – the woman she still loved.

Chapter Eleven
    Melissa waved goodbye to Eli from the back of the cab as it slowly drew away from the curb and down the tree-lined street. She wrapped her arms around herself despite the hot air blowing from the heater at the front of the car. She wanted nothing more than the driver to keep on driving until she had untangled the mess in her mind. In times of crisis Melissa had always turned to Bettina, even when they were only flatmates. But how could she explain this one to her? All too soon the cab pulled up outside her house. Reluctantly she let herself in and headed straight to the bedroom. Undressing quickly in the dark, she used her hands to guide herself along the wall towards the bed, trying not to wake Bettina as she slipped underneath the quilt.
    “How’d it go?” Bettina asked in a sleep-laden voice, as she draped her arm around Melissa’s waist and snuggled her body against her back.
    Melissa stiffened slightly. “It was good.”
    “Just good?”
    She cleared her throat. “As good as loud music and knocking back shots can be.”
    “You must be getting old.”
    “Not old. More like sensible.”
    Melissa’s heart was actually aching. Maybe she should have watched TV before going to bed – she needed to fill her mind with something other than images of Sara.
    “Was it a good crowd?” Bettina asked, her voice more awake now.
    Melissa feigned a yawn. “Uh huh. Faye is such a sly old boots. She’d contacted loads of people on Facebook from my uni.”
    “Yeah I know. Eli mentioned something about it. That must have been interesting.”
    Melissa gave Bettina’s hand a squeeze then turned onto her stomach. “Hmm you could say that. Anyway I’m knackered. I’ll tell you all about it in the morning. Night.” She curled her body into a tight ball.
    “Night, darling. I love you.”
    “You too,” Melissa replied, her voice catching in her throat.
    She felt as if she was caught in the middle of a tornado, where everything was out of her control. Tears stung the back of her eyes as she lay staring out into the darkness. She couldn’t believe Sara had come back into her life at a time when everything was finally starting to make sense. As she thought of Sara, she felt the customary tightening in her stomach and for a moment she was that young naive woman again. The one who had believed love could conquer all. Why couldn’t Sara have stayed where she was? Why... did we have to break up in the first place ?
     

Chapter Twelve
    Four years earlier
     
    Melissa wrapped a thick, cotton towel around her slender body, tucking the corner under her arm. She almost skipped down the narrow hallway to the shower. She had never been so happy in her life. Sara would be home in half an hour and she could barely