“Perfect,” I say with a strained voice. “Maybe
I’ll come back later.” I turn to go back into the bar
but Patrick blocks me.
“Wait, Erin, let me go with you.”
Without waiting for him, I hurry back because I
do not want to listen to his explanations, if indeed
he had any intention of giving me any. After all,
why should he? He’s free, independent and with no
bonds. He doesn’t have to explain anything to me.
“Erin.” His voice is sweet and strained and even
if I somehow feel betrayed and in a certain sense
disappointed, I cannot resist that tone of voice,
which disarms me.
“You don’t have to tell me anything, Patrick, it’s
your life.”
“I’d like to explain.”
“Instead, you shouldn’t,” I say with decision but
without having the nerve to look at him and
keeping him behind me. “You don’t owe me
anything. I’m not your problem,” I conclude,
before going back to the dining hall, leaving my
heart on the pavement.
~ ~ ~
“London?” I ask meekly.
Rain brings me up to date on the situation. Even
if I was able to infer something from their
discussion, I didn’t want to hear Patrick’s version
of it.
“A manager called them for a meeting. He
seems interested in their music.”
