“I like knowing what I’m agreeing to,” I say coolly, beginning to back out of the kitchen.
I need a stiff drink. Or at least a coffee to wake me from this nightmare.
Mostly, I just need a minute.
I’m too late. She’s chosen.
And it’s him.
Foolish of me to assume she’d wait for me when I gave her no reason to. Not a single indication of my affection.
I could still say what I came here to say—force the moment if I have to. I’ve no qualms about doing so in front of Jack.
But Lily-Anne doesn’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire—not when she seems happy with him.
So, I stand aside.
I’m at the doorway when Jack calls out.
“Who’re the flowers for, Brandon?”
I tense, then I slowly turn back. His dig sinks deep enough to make me snap.
“The flowers are for her. Obviously.”
My words ring through the room, firm and untempered. I immediatelywish I hadn’t spoken at all. Giving Lily-Anne the flowers would only serve to make this ordeal more humiliating than it already is.
And painfully awkward for her.
Time slows to a crawl, all eyes on me, the scene unbearable in its silence. Before I can think better of it, I thrust the bouquet towards Ellenor instead. “Take these. Please.”
And put me out of my misery.
She blinks as I brush past her. “Err, thanks, Brando…”
I’m already in the hallway when I realise the gravity of my error, how it must have looked to Lily-Anne when I gave the flowers to her sister.
I didn’t mean anything romantic by it. I simply wanted to be free of them—and the garbage bin seemed too poor a fate for fresh flowers.
What have I done?
I sink onto the edge of the bed, the scent of roses and cigarette smoke thick in the air as Nova appears lounging on my bed.
“Poor Brandon. You’ve come home only to find the fox in the henhouse. There, there.”
She flicks a cigarette butt onto my pillow.
I don’t answer. Each breath tastes like regret.
I did not expect her to wait. I gave her no reason to.
“Oh dear. What a mess,” Nova croons, examining her fingernails.“Will you fight him to the death?”
I scoff.
No. I will not compel Lily-Anne to reconsider who she has chosen for herself.
“Pity,” Nova breathes in my ear.“You used to be exciting.”
