‘You should go out tonight,’ Mason says. ‘You came back here to catch up with everyone.’
‘But you don’t feel up to going.’
I smile. My brother is so dependent on Mason.
‘You can still go,’ Mason says, leaning back in his chair.
Zayden chews his thumbnail, turning to face me. ‘What about you?’
I shake my head. ‘I’m happy with an early night. I just came to see Mum.’
Zayden nods. ‘Well. Alright, then. If you’re both sure.’
He’s barely finished his dinner when he starts pushing his chair back and getting to his feet, having already made plans to meet with others. I’m silently relieved. All I want to do is go back to the Airbnb and relax.
‘Call if you need me,’ Zayden says, gesturing to his phone.
‘We will. Have fun!’ I reply.
‘Ready to go?’ Mason asks me, his fingers pressed against his temple, looking like he’s nursing a headache.
Nodding, I push to my feet.
Zayden tosses a wave over his shoulder as he disappears out the back. Leasa notices Zayden walk past her and she downs her drink, following him.
‘Oh, God,’ I mutter. ‘That’s not going to end well.’
‘Nope,’ Mason agrees.
We make our way to the exit, and my heart plummets when I see Phoebe walking towards us, eyes trained on her phone. I stiffen, attempting to sidestep her and go unnoticed, but she glances up and startles in surprise. My throat instantly turns dry. My eyes sting with the threat of tears, but I swallow down the pain, lifting my chin as I slowly exhale, refusing to let her see how much she broke me.
‘Anya ...’ she whispers, taking a step towards me, having the audacity to look as ifsheis the one about to cry.
‘Don’t,’ I warn her, shaking my head.
‘I’m sorry ...’ She trails off, cheeks reddening. She looks pale, and thinner than I remember. It never occurred to me that she would be having a hard time with our falling out as well, sinceshewas the one who betrayedme.
‘Why?’ I demand, my voice coming out sharper and firmer than I expected it to sound. ‘Why did you do it?’
Her eyes close, and tears glisten on her cheeks. ‘You had everything I wanted. I just ... I’m sorry.’
‘That’s fucked up,’ I hiss at her, jabbing my finger in the air towards her. She flinches, recoiling and covering her face with her hands, as if scared I might start swinging at her. If I was angrier, I probably would, but I’m hurt and lost because of this. I thought she was my best friend for life, but, obviously, I meant nothing to her. ‘That is nowhere near good enough of an excuse for what you did.’
‘I know,’ she whispers. ‘I’m sorry, Anya.’
‘Good, I hope you are,’ I say, drawing in a breath and meeting those icy-blue eyes of hers. ‘I’m moving on from all of this. You should too.’
‘Just wait ...’ she says, reaching for me.
‘Don’t,’ I snap at her, and she flinches. ‘It’s done now. We will never be friends again. Let’s both move on.’
The sound of her crying makes me close my eyes, the pain washing through me as if I’ve just heard about it all over again for the first time. The sting of her betrayal, of losing her, feels as sharp as ever.
‘Come on,’ Mason says, throwing his arm around my shoulder. My heartbeat is loud in my ears and, suddenly, I feel ice-cold, despite the warm breeze around me. ‘Let’s go.’
I let him steer me past her, and we walk out the exit. Her eyes remain on us until we round the corner. I turn, pressing my forehead into his shoulder.
‘Fuck,’ I whisper shakily, pressing a hand to my heart. ‘It hurts to see her.’
