“You’re making him sound like a spineless idiot.”
“He’s not an idiot.He’s a good man, and he’s kind.He never says no to anyone, he’s always ready to help, and he’s not the sort to ever throw in the towel.”
“Is this, by any chance, a‘you need to stay away from my dad’talk?”
“Are you two dating?Or are you just hiding here, away from prying eyes?”
“Now you’re out of line.”
“What are you after, Jamie?”
“I don’t know, okay?”I snap, my voice going up.“This whatever this is… I didn’t even go looking for it!”
“Well, you’d better figure it out fast, before he gets hurt.”
“So you’re just assuming he’ll be the one who loses?”
“He’s always the one who loses everything.”
I believe him, though I’m not sure why.
“And I swear to you, if you break his heart, I will break every bone in your body and make sure you never set foot on the pitch again.I don’t care if you’re bigger and stronger than me, I’ll find a way.”
He shoots to his feet and looms over me, looking down like he knows a hundred things I don’t — and maybe he does.After all, Evan is the Doctor’s son; it could hardly be any other way.
“You’re the only loser here,Captain,” he says, dismissive, before turning and walking out of the room.
I hear him rattling around in the kitchen while I remain sitting up in bed, my back pressed against the headboard, my head spinning and throbbing, and my chest so tight it feels as if my ribs might splinter under the pressure.
Chapter40
Martin
When I get back to my apartment, it’s already eight p.m.I close the door and drop my keys on the kitchen table before hurrying straight to my room, which is completely silent.As I cross the threshold, I find Jamie lying in bed with the book I was reading in his hands.
“Oh… hey.”
He lifts his gaze from the pages.“I didn’t move your bookmark,” he says immediately.
I can’t help but smile.“Where’s Evan?”
“He left a couple of hours ago.”
“God, that kid.You can never ask him for a favour; he always leaves things half-done.”
“I told him to go.I’m feeling better; there was no need for him to stay any longer.”
“Fever?”
“Thirty-seven and a half.”
Relief loosens the tightness in my chest.
“I just feel weak, and the headache won’t leave me alone.”
“Tomorrow will be better.”
“I hope so.I really should go home.”
