Page 86 of The Hideout
“The day I came here for the interview, I told you I recognised your name. That was because I’d looked you up before I came to Liverpool. Someone from my previous job knew parts of my past and gave me your name. They knew I was leaving and travelling further north.”
“O-oh.” That was news Juliet hadn’t expected.
“But that’s not why I came here. You told me to leave my issues at the door, and that’s what I’ve tried to do. To the best of my ability, anyway.”
“Baby, no. If you went back home and dealt with this alone because I said that to you, I’m sorry. So sorry.” Juliet’s heart sank. Paige had gone to Kent alone because of that initial conversation. It didn’t matter if she said differently—Juliet knew it was the truth. God, she felt terrible. And unworthy of another chance.
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just…knew who you were because I’d looked you up. But you’d retired, and I didn’t have the balls to do anything about James anyway.”
Juliet placed her hand over Paige’s that still sat against her chest. “Oh, you’ve got balls. Look at how amazing you were giving that statement this morning.”
Paige lifted her other hand and pressed a finger to Juliet’s lips. Juliet’s eyes closed, her heart fluttering. “Let’s just wait and see if anything comes of it.” She offered Juliet the smallest kiss to the lips, and then she stepped back and turned on her heel. “Sit down where I can see you.”
“Pardon?”
“The stool to your right should do the trick.”
Juliet pulled herself up onto the stool, crossing her legs. And then Paige took a seat behind the piano. The thought alone of Paige singing to only Juliet had her ears pricked. “Are you—”
“I’m going to try. I don’t know how well I’ll do since it hurts to breathe deeply, but I’m sure as hell going to try.”
“Paige.”
Paige didn’t respond. Her fingers teased the keys, that beautiful sound something Juliet didn’t think she’d hear again.
Oh, God. It was Paige…here in the flesh.
Here…to stay.
The melody of “True Colours” played around the empty bar, the sound amplified since they were alone. Juliet didn’t take her eyes off Paige, and Paige didn’t take her eyes off Juliet. She smiled as she reached the chorus, a slight blush present on those pale cheeks. While Juliet loved to see Paige’s shy side, she focused on her voice. Raw, pained, but so delicate.
The entry system flashed above the door. Juliet quickly shot down from her stool and checked the CCTV screen. She assumed it was Harriet, and as she checked her watch, the time confirmed it. She quickly released the lock and returned to her stool. She didn’t care who it was. Paige was singing to her, and she wouldn’t have anyone interrupt her for another second.
Harriet slowly descended the stairs, watching from the doorway as Paige put her heart and soul into her song. Incredible didn’t quite do it justice. They eyed one another, smiling to acknowledge the fact they were in the same room, and then they both focused on Paige again as the song came to an end.
Clearly worn out from her performance, Paige slumped against the piano, her arms resting on the top, her head resting on her arms. Juliet rushed from her seat and placed a careful hand to Paige’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Paige didn’t lift her head. “Just need a minute.”
“Okay, well…Harriet is here.”
“Yeah, I know.” Paige shook her head against her arms, the sound of her exhaling a long breath audible.
Juliet sat on the edge of the bench next to Paige, pressing a soothing hand to her lower back. “You take a breath, get yourself together, and I’ll make her a drink, okay?”
Paige turned her head ever so slightly, her teary eyes staring back at Juliet. She smiled the slightest smile and whispered, “I love you.”
Juliet leaned down, barely able to touch her head to Paige’s. “I love you, too.”
She cleared her throat and got to her feet. Paige would speak to Harriet in her own time. The least Juliet could do right now was be accommodating to the woman who’d been fucking Paige’s husband behind her back. Regardless of what Harriet knew, it was still a shitty thing to do to a best friend. “Hi.”
“Um, hi. Is…Paige okay?”
Juliet regarded Harriet with her best professional smile. “Of course. She’s just a little worn out from all those amazing songs she sings here.”
“S-she’s singing here now?” Harriet frowned. “Wait, I’m confused. She told me she’d left her job here and gone up to Scotland.”
Juliet opened her mouth to speak, but the bench Paige sat at suddenly screeched across the floor. Both Juliet and Harriet’s heads shot up, focusing on Paige.