‘He’s not bi-confused,’ I say quietly. ‘He knows he likes both sexes.’
‘Lizzy, please tell me you haven’t done anything stupid like sleep with him?’ Klint’s tone sounds plaintive, but also half mocking, like he doesn’t believe I’d get involved with someone like Dain. Beautiful, kind Dain.
I zip up the suitcase.
‘Lizzy?’
‘It’s none of your fucking business!’ I yell, rounding on him.
Klint’s eyes widen, and his face goes mottled red. He gets up from the couch and runs his hands through his greasy hair aggressively. ‘Oh fucking hell, you did!’ he moans.
I’m not about to correct him on a technicality and get into the details of what we did last night.
Well, Klint, we played this sexy game ...
‘Dain and I are living together, and we see each other on a daily basis—it’s only natural that we’ve grown closer. What did you expect?’
Klint’s jaw works like he’s having trouble speaking.
‘Some fucking self-control!’ he spits. ‘I haven’t been with anyone out of respect for you.’
‘We’ve been over for months, Klint!’
I lug the suitcase with the books over to the lounge door. It’s going to be fun manoeuvring this on the train to wherever the heck I’m going. I have another bag in the bedroom I can use for clothes. I make a move to walk out, but Klint blocks my way.
‘So what—you’re his girlfriend now? Or his bi-bit on the side while he finds a man to fuck too?’ he sneers.
I don’t know. He gave me a note quoting Jane Eyre ...‘For God’s sake, Klint, get out of my face. It’s no concern of yours what I do.’
But what am I going to do now?I had two homes. Now I have exactly zero. I’m so confused, and Klint is shining the torch on my vulnerability. And what about my thesis? I’ve written 12,000 words. Am I going to chuck it all away when it’s something that I believe in so strongly?
‘There’s something else you should know. Dain is mentally unstable. He tried to top himself after Gareth broke up with him.’
I stare at Klint. ‘What?’
‘It’s true. Ask Gareth! It’s why he doesn’t go near him now. Joelle found out and told him. Dain swallowed a bottle of pills and was rushed to hospital. He had his stomach pumped.’
All the air in the room is sucked out. ‘Are ... are you sure?’ I ask, my brain refusing to believe it.Oh no, Dain!
‘Positive. Gareth was in vino veritas. He was telling me all sorts of things. Sounds like it was a bad time all round.’ Klint shakes his head, but I can tell by his matter-of-fact tone that he doesn’t give a damn about Dain.
He’s building up to making a point, which, sure enough, comes straight after.
‘With your history, you shouldn’t be with someone like that.’
My knees start quaking. ‘Don’t you dare bring up my mother.’
‘Lizzy, I’m just saying—’
‘Even if it is true about Dain’, I interrupt shakily, ‘you should know how it would be for me to hear that and have some compassion.’Oh god, Dain!
He sighs. ‘Fine. I won’t say anything else. But you know it’s not healthy for you.’
I guess I shouldn’t mention I’m writing a thesis on depression ...
‘I stayed with you and dealt with your issues, didn’t I?’ I state curtly.
‘That’s different. Sometimes I get down when I’m stressed, but I’ve been good at taking my medication lately. I feel like I’m on top of things.’
