Free The Trouble with Love by Cathy Cole Page B

yesterday, it was like. . . I can’t even describe what it was like,” she said with a sigh. “It was like he had ripped my heart out of my chest and stamped on it.”
    â€œOuch,” said Lila, shaking her head.
    â€œI mean, Eve is really pretty and everything,” Rhi went on, “so I understand why Max did it. But Eve will get bored of him soon. Then I’ll win him back and everything will be fine again.” She looked hopefully at the others.
    Polly couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Rhi wanted Max back ? After what he’d done?
    Lila almost choked over her sandwich. “Are you insane ?” From the look on her face, she felt the same as Polly. “Why would you want that two-timing creep back in your life?”
    â€œYou deserve someone so much better than Max,” said Polly, willing Rhi to see reason. “Someone who’ll never hurt you like he did.”
    Rhi’s eyes got watery. “The trouble is, I don’t want anyone better. I just want him.”
    They finished their smoothies and packed their shopping into their shoulder bags. The mood had changed somehow. Thoughts of Eve and Max had spoiled things.
    â€œWhoa, things just got busy,” said Lila, stopping dead as they came out of the café. “What’s going on?”
    A flood of people surged down the road, carrying banners and slogans and chanting something. Police officers in hi-vis jackets had materialized on the street corners, looking watchful as the crowd swelled and pushed and shouted.
    Polly pressed herself back against the café door, trying not to get jostled. She stared at the placards being held high in the air.
    SHARE OUR WORLD! said one. CLEAN AIR, CLEAN SEA, CLEAN SOUL, said another. It was some kind of environmental protest.
    Polly suddenly realized she was alone. Rhi and Lila had got caught up in the crowd, leaving her behind on the pavement.
    â€œWait!”
    She stumbled into the road, trying to avoid the press of bodies and catch up with the others. It was impossible. All she could see was backs and feet, and all she could hear was the blast from the loudhailers all around her. She spun back, feeling frightened. The café and the pavement were already some distance away.
    And she couldn’t see Lila or Rhi at all.

FOURTEEN
    Polly was in a state of terror. There were too many people. . . She was going to have a panic attack right here, in the middle of the road. . .
    And then she saw Sam.
    He was walking a short distance ahead of her, the shape of his head distinct against a bright placard scrawled with a bright red peace sign.
    It can’t be , she thought wildly. I’m imagining things.
    The guy was the right height, and his hair was cut the way she remembered Sam’s was on Friday. The collar of a cherry-red polo shirt peeked over the top of his jacket. It was him, she would swear it. But how could it be? They were in London, miles from Heartside Bay. It was impossible that Sam would be here.
    â€œSAVE OUR SEALS!” someone shouted down a loudhailer beside her. The blast of sound nearly made her leap out of her skin. Seals .
    Polly came to life.
    â€œSam!” she screamed, fighting through the line of people marching in front of her. “SAM! Over here!”
    Look back , she prayed, trying not to tread on people’s toes, holding on to her bag like a lifejacket, jabbed by arms and placards on all sides. Posters of seals waved over her head. Please look back. . .
    She stumbled sideways, catching her foot on an uneven cobble. Holding out her arms, she tried to right herself. If she fell, she would knock people over. We’ll all go down like skittles , she thought a little hysterically.
    â€œSave our seals!” roared the crowd, their feet stomping down the street in rhythm with their chanting. “Don’t seal their fate!”
    Someone caught her arm and pulled her upright. Stammering her thanks,