Page 55 of Painted Truths

He nods his thanks, his eyes holding mine for a long beat before he looks away, deciding to continue with whatever he was at odds over saying a moment ago.

"Actually, I got a call from his…" He shrugs, before continuing. "His paramour, for lack of a better description. Unfortunately, he'd gone into cardiac arrest and been admitted to the Royal London Hospital.”

His eyes find mine once more as he clearly assesses my reaction to his next words. “I took the call just moments after I left you that night."

I can't help my sharp inhalation. There was a reason he hadn't come back, and it wasn't because he was a fuckboy who'd had his fun with the token virgin blonde. His dad was dying, and I'd spent the last two years resenting all memory of him for something beyond his control.

"Charlotte—or Lottie—that's her name, called from my father's phone to let me know he'd just been brought to the Royal London by ambulance. He never fully recovered. Just enough to share some long overdue truths… among…" His lips twist before he finishes, "...other requests."

I can't help myself from opening up more to this version of Henry, Alex's caution a long-forgotten memory.

"I'm so sorry, Henry. I had no idea."

"How could you have."

We sit quietly until he leans back in his chair and speaks in a tone that isn't quite accusatory, yet I can't help but feel the veiled intention behind his words.

"Anyway, my friends had seen you leave with Alex. So—"

His eyes roam over the cityscape, never once meeting mine after the words have fallen from his lips.

And while he sits in silence, I can clearly see so many more pieces of the puzzle that make up this man fall into place. And the more that fall, the more I can see that my intuition is correct. Henry is more than he appears, more than he shows, under that facade.

Underneath that suit he wears in place of armour lies a soul that calls to mine. A kind soul with a good heart that has never been given the chance to flourish.

I know it. I can feel it.

Yet, right now, his provocative words have incited me, and I can’t hold my tongue despite myself.

"So, you assumed Alex and me were more than friends, is that it?”

I can’t withhold the ire from my tone. I’m pissed off with men making assumptions. And in particular, the DeMarco men! So, I don’t stop there.

“You assumed that what you and I had shared that night meant nothing to me?"

He’s utterly impassive, looking out over London like a king surveying his birth right. And Jesus, does it piss me off.

“I have no idea why you get to be the one who’s so pissed off. After all, I’m the fucking idiot who waited for you that night.”

His eyes swing to meet my narrowed ones as his jaw tightens almost imperceptibly, yet he doesn’t say whatever is so obviously on the tip of his tongue. I hadn’t planned on disclosing that fact. How I’d kept my promise and stayed in the damn Powder Room.

So, before I can word vomit any more long-buried feelings about that night, I clamp my lips shut and silently will him to open up even further, begging him with my eyes, but it appears it’s too late.

Henry's invisible but impenetrable walls had lowered enough to allow me a glimpse into the man beyond the mask; however, they are firmly on the way back up as I see his eyes harden. Finally, he straightens himself to stand, walking to the floor-to-ceiling windows to stare across the cityscape.

Knowing we've reached an impasse, I sigh internally and I rise to stand too.

"Well, I was just on my way out when you rang down. Alex gave me the rest of the day off to get a head start."

His shoulders rise visibly at my mention of Alex's kindness. "Ah yes, Alex rides in on his white horse and saves the day. The hero to my villain in your eyes."

Kind and polite Henry brings out my inner bumbling idiot, and while she's not the coolest person ever, she's alright.

Offensive and mean Henry brings out my inner bitch, and that's where I'm headed at light fucking speed.

Bristling with barely restrained anger at his rude presumption, I try to keep a lid on her for another minute or two until I can escape the floor.

"Alex and I are best friends."