Page 19 of It Was Always You

‘Because I’m so stupid… and because your knuckles are a mess, all because of me.’ She sniffed.

He took her face in his palms. ‘Look, Lil, you deserve to be loved by someone worthy of you. You know all that stuff you were spouting about it being your fault he hit you was rubbish, don’t you?’ Lily nodded. ‘Because he’s a wimp. He’s not a real man and he’s certainly not worthy of my best friend. Please keep away from him. And if he tries to come back into your life, just remember how shitty you felt when he hit you. And tell me if he tries to make contact. I won’t have it, Lil. I won’t have anyone treating you like that. Not while I’ve got breath in my body.’ He stared down at the girl he’d known for the biggest part of his life and the thought that Carl could have taken her away from him caused his heart to flip. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t be himself without Lily.

As he wiped the tears away from her eyes, a strange tightening gripped his stomach, and he had to close his eyes briefly. What was that? Putting it down to the adrenaline of the night, he shook his head and tried to ignore the confusion it caused to cloud his mind momentarily.

She gazed at him with watery eyes. ‘Thanks, Adders, I’m not sure what I’d do without you.’

Taking on the ‘big brother’ role once more, he pulled her into his arms, happy to hear his old nickname again. ‘Well, lucky for both of us we don’t need to worry about that, eh?’ He kissed her cheek and noticed the fresh scent of apple as his face brushed her hair. He swallowed hard and stepped away. ‘Now go get some rest, okay?’

She nodded before closing her door. He stood there for a moment, unsure why he felt unable to leave. But eventually he snapped himself out of whatever it was and went back to Eve where she waited in the kitchen.

Back at Adam’s house they sat silently for a while until Eve announced she was going to bed. He was unsettled. Something had surfaced that he had tried to lock away years before and he needed it to go back into the recesses of his mind where it belonged. He poured himself a neat Jack Daniel’s and gulped it down before pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. The photo of their gang of friends sat on the mantel. Lily smiled out from the image, her head leaning on Eve’s shoulder. Poor Eve, he suddenly thought. She had been amazing tonight, and he had neglected her somewhat. He knew she would understand but what was that expression on her face as she had left to go to bed?

Eve was reading in bed when Adam walked into the room. He undressed and climbed in next to her, snuggling up to her warm body. ‘Thanks for staying here tonight, Evie. And thanks for your help with Lily.’

She placed her book down. ‘It’s okay… I think I owe you an apology.’

‘An apology? What for?’

‘For doubting you about Lily. You clearly knew something was amiss and I just got jealous.’

A twinge of what felt like guilt tugged at him for reasons that he refused to acknowledge, and he pulled up to look into Eve’s eyes. ‘Jealous? Why jealous?’

She sighed. ‘Because of your relationship with her. It doesn’t usually bother me, but sometimes I see how you are with her and feel I can’t compete with that level of love.’ Adam opened his mouth to speak but Eve placed her fingers on his lips. ‘And before you say anything, I’m aware of how ridiculous I’m being. Lily needed you. I just… sometimes struggle with how close you are.’ She dropped her gaze and her cheeks coloured.

He pulled her down so that their lips were almost touching, his eyes searching hers. ‘You do know how much I love you, don’t you? And that you’re the only girl for me? You’re the one I want to wake up with, the one I want to share my body and my life with. You do know that, Evie, don’t you?’

‘When I’m not being paranoid and silly? Yes, I know that.’

Pushing aside whatever strange feelings had occurred earlier, he kissed his girlfriend. ‘I can’t think of anywhere that I’d rather be right now than here with you. I love you so much. Don’t ever forget that. You and me are forever.’

‘Forever,’ she repeated. ‘And I love you, too, Adam.’

TRACK 8

‘SCHOOL’S OUT’ (ALICE COOPER)

May 2016 – after university, Scotland

‘How did it go, honey?’ Eve’s voice over the airwaves was music to Adam’s ears.

‘Well, it was gruelling to say the least,’ he replied, huffing the air out of his lungs and collapsing back on the sofa. He shuffled his jacket down his arms while tucking his phone under his ear.

‘Did you get any vibes at all? How did your presentation go? Did your lesson go okay? And did the kids seem to like you?’ Eve’s questions came out in a rush, making Adam smile.

He chuckled. ‘Erm… hang on… let me get this right… not really… quite well… great and yes.’

‘Adam!’ She sounded frustrated.

‘Sorry,’ he replied with a chuckle. ‘The presentation went great thanks to you making me be uber prepared. The practice lesson was brilliant! We had a discussion about acrostic poems. I got them all to make an acrostic poem using their names. Some of them were amazing. I was so impressed. The kids were great fun. Awww, I really want this job, Evie.’

She sighed. ‘You’ll get it, honey. I just know you will.’

‘I wish I had your optimism. Anyway, when are you coming over? I miss you and I haven’t made love to you in almost a week.’ His voice turned to a husky low whisper.

She moaned in his ear, sending shivers down his spine. ‘Hmm, I was thinking the same thing. I would’ve come over tonight but I thought you might be too tired.’

He sat upright. ‘Too tired for you? Never. Come over now if you like.’