“Fine. Something might have happened,” I admit.
“I knew it,” Tom says, slapping his thigh.
“Of course you fucking did,” I say, averting my eyes. I take a deep breath. “I saw how upset she was when she noticed Lucas, so I offered to take her home.”
Oliver nods, scratching his stubble.
“She started opening up to me in the car, so I let her talk. I tried to offer whatever advice I could. I’ve been there. I know how it feels to love someone and then find out they’ve betrayed you. It’s like your whole world shatters. And the fact that it was mybrotherwho did that to her …” I trail off, shaking my head in disbelief that my own flesh and blood could behave like such a piece of shit.Again.
Tom and Oliver exchange glances, and their expressions soften.
“And?” Tom prompts, leaning in.
“And … I couldn’t help it. Seeing her so vulnerable stirred something in me. I didn’t want to leave her alone to deal with it. So, I went home with her.”
“You didn’t …? You know …,” Oliver asks warily.
“Fuck her,” Will finishes for him.
I shake my head. “Christ, no, I didn’t fuck her.”
Oliver nods in understanding.
“You said you almost kissed?” Tom asks.
I scrub my face with my hands, unsure of what to make of last night. “We sat on her sofa. She made tea. She got upset and started crying, and I didn’t know how to respond. I felt so bad, I wanted to comfort her …”
“What did you do, James?” Oliver asks, his tone serious.
“I touched her,” I admit.
“You touched her,” Oliver deadpans.
When I look over at Will, he’s pumping his eyebrows. I love the man, but sometimes I worry that one day, he’ll procreate.
“Mate, we need more details than that,” Tom interjects, waving his hand for me to continue.
“Well, you’re not getting more than that. I touched her, and I almost kissed her, and I shouldn’t have. That’s all you need to know. She’s not mine.”
“James, you realise she isn’t Lucas’s anymore either, right?” Tom asks.
I fall silent. Of course, I know she isn’t his anymore, but if anything had happened last night, it would’ve complicated matters even more. April is different. I know that much. She’s not the type of woman you sleep with and forget. She’s not a one-night stand. She’s the kind of woman who changes everything.
“Right, so what happened after you touched her?” Oliver presses.
“I pulled away before anything else happened, and then I left.”
“What do you meanyou left?” Oliver repeats, his tone flat.
“Did you say anything before you left?” Tom asks, narrowing his eyes.
“I thanked her for the tea?”
Silence.
“What?” I glance between the three of them, confused.
Oliver sighs, shaking his head. “Mate, I get you felt guilty. But how do you thinkshefelt after you touched her, then bailed?”
