“How long till we get there?” I ask, needing to know how long we’ve got to sit through this. The hospital Hailey’s chosen is just outside of Sheffield city centre and hopefully, the Friday night traffic has died off by now.
“About thirty minutes.” Sean glances at me in the rearview mirror. He still looks worried, and I don’t know if it’s because of Hailey or the fact his ex is now sitting in the passenger seat.
Hailey sighs heavily and then says, “I’m not sitting in silence for the next half an hour. I need a distraction to take my mind off this.” She gestures to her belly. “So since we’re all here, why don’t the three of you take this opportunity to clear the air? Sean, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason why your sister thought bringing Reed here was a good idea. So let’s have it.”
My mouth drops open, and when I spare a glance at Joe, he’s wearing an identical expression. I’d laugh if I wasn’t dying inside. “Hailey,” I hiss. “What the fuck?”
She manages a shrug. “Do you want to spend the next half hour stewing and wondering what’s going on, or do you want to find out the truth?”
I’m going to attribute her bluntness and don’t-give-a-fuck attitude to the fact she’s in early onset labour and is probably really fucking worried right now. I meet her eyes and for a split second she lets me see it for myself, and I reach for her hand.
Fuck it.
If she needs a distraction, then why not this? Joe’s the only one here who doesn’t know what’s going on, and I’m hoping Sean’s explanation won’t be something that he can’t listen to.
But that doesn’t mean he wants to.
Turning to Joe, I ask, “Would you rather us wait to discuss this until later?”
Joe glances at Reed and then Sean, then back to me. Then he grins and makes a show of getting comfy. “Nope. Now is good.”
“If only we had popcorn,” Hailey mutters, and Joe sniggers.
I roll my eyes and wonder how my life has come to this. “Sean? Can you talk and drive?”
“Yes, but do you really want to do this now?” He glances in the mirror again, eyebrow raised.
I try to communicate thatno, not really, but Hailey needs a distraction so... yes?I’m not sure any of that comes across, but Sean nods anyway.
“Okay, then.” He spares a quick glance at Reed. “You okay with this?”
I prickle that he’s asking but then want to slap myself because that’s a really shit thing to be pissed off about.
“Yep. I’d rather clear the air now, to be honest.” Reed shifts in his seat so he’s facing us in the back. “I want to make it perfectly clear that I didn’t come here with the intention of trying to get back with Sean. Sean and I met when he came to visit Deb, but we’ve been over for a long while, so I’ve no idea why she thought that was something that could happen.” He sighs, and for the first time, I notice the shadows under his eyes and the air of sadness about him. “But I was looking forward to seeing him. As afriend.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Sean asks. “We could’ve avoided all of this.”
“I know. And I’m really sorry, but Deb said she wanted to surprise you, and I wasn’t thinking clearly enough to realise why that might be a bad idea. I just wanted to get away for a few days.”
Well, this wasn’t going how I thought it would. And despite not wanting to, I find myself warming to Reed just a teeny tiny bit. Who wouldn’t want to come see Sean if they were feeling down? I also realise I’m leaning closer, wanting to know more. And I’m not the only one.
Sean curses softly. “I think Deb’s worried about me ending up on my own.”
I stifle a snort becausesisters.
“And she loves Reed,” Sean continues. “Loved the idea of us together, so when we remained good friends after splitting, I’m guessing she thought there was still something between us.”
“And there isn’t,” Reed quickly adds. “I just want to reiterate that, because Sean told me that you two are together and I’d feel shit if I messed that up.”
Warmth blooms in my chest, and I find myself smiling at Sean in the mirror. A real one this time, and his answering one is full of relief.
“You haven’t messed anything up,” I clarify, because I sense there’s more to Reed’s story and I don’t want to make him feel worse than he obviously does. “We’re good.”
I want to ask what happened to him to make him want to come here, but that’s none of my business and probably not something he wants to share.
“So what happened to make you need to get away, Reed?” Obviously, Hailey doesn’t feel the need to respect personal boundaries.
I turn to glare at her and mouth, “Really?”
