‘Look, I thought everything was okay between us but clearly something is going on here,’ I say. ‘I want no responsibility.’
‘Yet here you are, getting involved.’
‘Yeah, because despite everything this man here is a friend,’ I say, tapping Ollie on the shoulder. Maybe inappropriate, butthat’s beside the point. ‘And he is devastated, Alec. He spent the night with me in silence because…’
Alec laughs, ‘You stayed with him last night? Oh, it just gets better.’
Shit.
Ollie glowers at me, and I avoid his stare.
‘Alec, please. Let me in, and these guys can stay out here and we can talk,’ I say.
Alec peers at me. ‘Key is under the planter.’
Alec’s house makes me walk slow, trying to take it all in. Grecian tiles are spotlessly clean, and the crooked stone walls have alcoves decorated with framed photographs of Alec and his family. There’s a whole wine rack from floor to ceiling, behind glass, one bottle proudly on display, with what I assume is the family crest of the Anistons’ on the label.
In the hallway, I feel like I’ve entered a gothic home complete with zigzagging stairs. Alec waits for me on the landing.
‘Can I come up?’ I ask.
‘Yes.’
The gloom of the hallway makes me shiver, but Alec escorts me into his room, which is kitted out with red silks and white satin. A breeze wafts through from the window, and I stand by it. Ollie leans against the wall outside, talking with Sam.
‘He said you left him.’ I take a seat at an old table, while Alec perches on the end of the bed.
‘He’s so dramatic.’
Funny, that’s something he hated about me.
‘I haven’t left him,’ Alec answers. ‘I wanted space. I’m surprised it’s taken him this long to find me, in all honesty.’
‘Well, I did think the most logical place for you to go was back to your parents, but that took some convincing. Ollie can be set in his ways.’
Alec sizes me up, an unspoken acknowledgement between us that we both know Ollie in the same way.
‘Is this because of me?’ I ask.
‘Partly,’ Alec says.
‘Well, I don’t need to know the other things in your relationship. That’s for you and Ollie to work out, but Alec, you have to understand, there is nothing between me and Ollie.’
Alec tuts.
I shift where I’m sat. ‘Look, I know it doesn’t look that good. Me flying all the way out here to try and win Ollie back. I don’t know what I was thinking, but know this: when I saw you two together, I knew that I had to let him go. I haven’t been able to in the past, because what I had with Ollie was golden. At least, I thought it was.’ Alec peers at me, and I swallow. ‘I don’t want to pry, but know that if you’re worried about some of Ollie’s quirks, I’ve been there, too. He’s stubborn and headstrong; he can also be selfish. But he’s caring, and he’s motivating, and he is encouraging.
‘He didn’t love me,’ I say, looking away. ‘I mean, maybe he once did, but that was an old Ollie. But he loves you. I can see it. The way he talks about you, the way he touches you. The way he is with you is everything he wasn’t to me.’ I look out to the growing vines, around this historic home big enough to be a palace. I think of Ollie’s upbringing, his snobby parents. ‘You two are meant for each other. You’d be stupid to throw that away because of someone like me making reckless decisions.’
Alec plays with a loose strand of fabric on his blanket. ‘You know, he said to me the other night that he regrets doing all of this. Said that we were happier before… before I knew about you, and before we tried to have this big, elaborate wedding. The planning has been stressful.’ Alec shakes his head. ‘But to me, it’s worth it. He started saying all this stuff about us not making it, and I couldn’t help think…’
‘Please, Alec, he’s not doubting his love for you or anything like that,’ I say. ‘Ollie and I have history, and I’m sorry he kept that from you, and I’m sorry that it had to be this way, here, of all places. But please, Alec, please know that he adores you and he might say one thing, but I know he means another. Marriage is everything to him.’
Alec’s smile is sad, his eyes fluttering. I join Alec on the bed, glad that he doesn’t shout at me or push me away.
‘Please speak with Ollie. I think the two of you have some things to discuss.’ I pause. ‘I hope you believe me when I say that Ollie and I are through. We have been since the day he left me.’
I don’t add that I was a fool to think otherwise. Some things are better left unsaid.
