‘I-‘ I’d lived with Ashley, of course I knew those things about her. You couldn’t spend that amount of time with someone and not know them. But as I went over all the questions George asked me trying desperately to recall the answers, my mind was completely blank. Her favourite coffee? I wasn’t even sure she drank it, but she’d bought an expensive coffee machine for the house, so maybe she did.
George saw my struggle and set his own glass down carefully.
‘You were with Ashley for over a year and you didn’t know half of this shit about her. You’ve known Fallon for two months and you know her biggest fear and greatest happiness. That isn’t surface-level shit man, that’s only stuff you learn when you’re vulnerable. And being vulnerable takes a hell of a lot of trust. It takes you knowing that the other person could laugh in your face and use it against you, but trusting they won’t. I’ve met Fallon. She’s not the kind to spill her darkest secrets to anyone. She doesn’t like attention, and actively avoids confrontation. Ol, that’s not a woman who uses people for her own gain. She doesn’t manipulate. Can you honestly see her selling you out?Honestly.’
I shook my head repeatedly, every word my brother said slamming against the wall of anger that had been erected since this morning.
‘She wrote it.’ I nearly shouted. ‘All the stuff I told her I didn’t want going out into the world and it was all there in black and fucking white for everyone to read.’ I rubbed a hand over my chest in circles, like it could soothe the sharp pain that lanced through my chest.
George was quiet for a moment before saying in a slow measured tone, ‘I admit it looks bad, but did you give her achance to explain? Things are never just black and white. You should know that better than anyone.’
’It doesn’t matter, there’s no other explanation.’
I held his stare, not backing down.
George narrowed his eyes, his voice turned cold. ’No. Therecouldbe another explanation, you just don’t want there to be because that would make it so much easier for you.’
I tore my eyes away from George’s intense gaze, finding a spot on the carpet. ‘Stop,’ I croaked.
But George was apparently done with humouring me. He levelled an accusing glare and pointed a finger at me.
‘Her fucking you over like Ashley did is the easiest way out of this because it proves to you that you can’t trust anyone. It reinforces that fantasy in your head that everyone is out to get you. That you’re this broody lone wolf.’
‘I don’t brood.’
George scoffed. ‘Please, you’re the broodiest motherfucker I know. It’s ten times harder for you to believe that someone you love actually has your back, because then you’d have to trust them. And if it wasn’t glaringly fucking obvious, you have some issues with trusting people.’
Before I could reply with anything, George’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
‘Hold that thought.’ He pulled it out, whoever it was that popped up on his screen, I saw his lips twitch. ‘I gotta take this.’
He was out of his mind. Yes, I had trust issues but they weren’t unwarranted. I tipped the rest of the whiskey down my throat, begging it to wash away the pain that was cleaving my heart in two. I clenched my eyes shut then quickly opened them when Fallon’s face flashed across my eyelids.
After everything, the thought of her in pain threatened to eviscerate me.
I’d completely zoned out of George’s conversation. Onlyrealising he’d finished and was actually talking to me when he snapped his fingers in front of my face.
‘You good?’ His brow furrowed.
Swiping a hand down my face, I cleared my throat. ‘Yeah, yeah. Just dandy.’
‘Look, I’ve got to go… uh deal with something. You gonna be okay?’
‘You worried about leaving me on my own?’ I half-joked.
His eyes betrayed that he was definitely concerned about leaving me alone.
I cradled my glass close to my chest. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be just fine.’
He rolled his eyes and stood up. ‘Do me a favour and drink some bloody coffee.’
Walking around the sofa, he placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing tightly. ‘It’ll be okay,’ he said softly. Whilst I appreciated his support, my bitterness was clouding every thought. My only response was to raise my glass in the air.
Neither of us spoke. After another minute, he gave my shoulder one last squeeze, and left.
50
OLIVER
