‘You good?’ He looks somewhat terrified.
‘Yeah, sorry. No eating while we talk about this,’ I say, setting down my fork. I could deny it, I could try and hide. But where has that got me? Heartbroken with my neck on Bridget’s guillotine. ‘I think I was hoping I’d get over it.’
He nods. ‘So youarein love with her?’
This is a question I hadn’t even dared to ask myself, but I know the answer immediately. ‘Yes,’ I whisper. ‘Oh shitting tits, I am in love with her.’
He sucks his teeth. ‘Ouch. I’m so sorry.’
‘Why are you sorry?’
‘I’ve not had to watch someone I’m in love with falling for some other guy,’ Warren points out.
‘IhopedI’d get over it,’ I say. ‘For you. For us.’
‘You could have told me,’ he says without accusation. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t make the space for you to do so.’
‘Well, I came out to you in the swimming pool. I should have told you the rest.’
‘And she’s in love with you too but doesn’t know it yet?’ He neatly slices up his pancake into triangles, like little slices of cake.
‘I think she suspects, but she’s better at lying to herself than I am.’
‘That would be impressive if it wasn’t so sad.’
‘Ouch,’ I say, wounded. ‘Below the belt.’
‘I’m just trying to ask questions about my fiancée’s girlfriend. Speaking of below the belt…’
I flush with embarrassment. ‘Yes, she and I have slept together. Twice. Sorry.’
‘And that’s what the fight with Bridget’s about, huh?’
God, the relief. ‘You nailed it.’ I explain Bridget’s plan to extort us, with the threat of outing Carys.
‘And you,’ he says.
‘Yeah, but I don’t really care. I’ve been out before. I can weather that storm,’ I say. ‘Hell, there’s probably been a few lesbians from the Liverpool–Manchester scene tweeting about what a lay I am. I can play bisexual if I need to, I’ll lie for us. It’ll wash off me, though if I’m honest, I think it’ll jeopardise some of our plans.’
‘That’s not what I’m worried about,’ he says sincerely.
‘Carys has never come out. This would rob her—’ I can feel myself choking up. ‘She deserves the chance to say it herself if she ever wants to, not that she ever has to. And Bridget is trying to rip that from her.’
Warren’s eyes soften. ‘You really do love her.’
‘It’s dreadful, isn’t it?’
He takes my hand. ‘Being in love is magical. Now, what are we going to do about this?’
‘You don’t have to do anything, Warren. I just need to work out what to say to Bridget. I was worried she’d caught me helping Cobey and Lina escape.’
‘What? They escaped?’
‘Yeah, right out the bathroom window. I suspect they’re lying low right now.’
Warren chuckles to himself. ‘That dog. Good for them.’
‘I’m just glad she’s away from Zack.’
