Jessica was surprised when the phone was answered so quickly. The initial stab of happiness she felt at the sound of Lizzy’s familiar voice was quickly replaced by mild panic as she frantically searched for the right thing to say.
‘Lizzy, it’s me, Jessica.’
Lizzy gave a light laugh. ‘I know. Your name came up.’
This was reassuring. It meant Lizzy hadn’t deleted her number from her phone.
‘I thought it would be best to ring. You know… rather than texting,’ Jessica continued, her voice shaking with emotion.
Hearing Lizzy’s voice had made her realise how much she’d missed her.
‘I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to call you, Lizzy.’ Jessica measured her words carefully, painfully aware that what she said now could make or break their friendship.
‘I’m as much to blame. I didn’t call either.’
Jessica noted, with affection, that Lizzy sounded as nervous as she was.
‘No, Lizzy, it was my fault.’ Jessica took a deep breath. ‘I should have apologised a long time ago. I said some horrible things… I behaved like an idiot.’
There was a pause on Lizzy’s end of the phone. ‘I guess I did get a bit wrapped up with Aiden.’
Jessica hesitated, recalling how Lizzy had mentioned, when they’d last messaged, that she and Aiden had split up. ‘I’m sorry about you two.’
Lizzy gave a short laugh. ‘Don’t be. Aiden turned out to be a bit of a creep, actually. Honestly, the number of social events I attended with that man where he succeeded in alienating everybody
