It was a non-answer, but I wasn’t particularly surprised. I didn’t know either.
‘Ah, fuck— that’s… total bullshit. I do know.’ He looked up and we locked eyes. ‘I’ve found it very difficult being around you for the past few days.’
‘It hasn’t seemed like it,’ I interjected.
‘Well, I must be good at hiding it then, because it has. It’sconfusing– this. I have no idea what’s going on in here…’ He tapped his head with two fingers. ‘Orhere…’ His fingers went to his heart. ‘Heseems to have a lot to do with it,’ Tommy added, glancing at his crotch.
‘So, it was just attraction then?’ I ventured.
‘Haven’t you been listening? And it’s never just attraction with you, Ally,’ he replied in a hoarse whisper.
‘Then what? What is it?’
He pressed his lips together, as if afraid of what might escape, and my coiled insides wound even tighter. ‘It’s the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.’
My mouth filled with saliva, and I gulped it down. Oh god, was I about to be sick?
‘That sounds cruel, I know,’ he continued, ‘but it’s the truth. And you being here?—’
‘Did you know? That I was coming?’
‘There was talk about an influencer after the actress fell through. But I didn’t put two and two together until you arrived.’
‘Did you know I was once married to Julian? Before he told you, I mean.’
Tommy nodded.
‘Youknew? Then why would you accept a job with him? No, whyapplyfor the job in the first place?’
‘Because— It doesn’t matter.’
‘It matters to me! There must be a thousand resorts you could work at. But knowing about me and Julian, you came to Aetheria. That’s messed up, Tommy. You had to realise there was a chance we’d cross paths eventually.’
He nodded, seeming to accept that my rebuke was justified.
And all that talk before, about the wrath of Ally… Now I truly had something to be furious about, and I could barely muster even a morsel of rage. It’s hard to when you’re so consumed by hurt.
‘You need to leave,’ I said, my voice strangled.
‘Ally.’
‘No.’
He came around the coffee table and knelt before me, but I kept my gaze on my lap, refusing to look at him.
‘Ally,please.’ He reached out, capturing my hands in his and it was a thousand sensations at once. ‘I’m sorry I said that.’
‘Shouldn’t you get back to Elsa?’ I asked wanly, the fight having ebbed away. I really just wanted him to leave so I could lick my wounds. Again.
‘It’s not what you think.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, my head snapping up. ‘What’s not?’
He heaved out a sigh, then dropped my hands and sat back on his heels. ‘Elsa and me, we’re n?—’
My ringtone cut him off and we both looked at my phone, which was face up on the table. It was Claude – only I’d just spoken to her. It must have been something important.
‘I need to get that,’ I said, reaching past Tommy. ‘Hi, what’s going on?’
