Page 42 of Cuts Like an Angel: Part 2

“Well, there is a restaurant on the second floor if you get hungry. Closes at six. We’ll be doing drink rounds in a moment. Could I get you both something? Tea? coffee?”

“Two coffees would be great,” Rosie said.

They sat with Maria the entire afternoon, and she didn’t move much. Rosie was sitting on the second chair. One of the nurses had brought it for her, her head was back and William couldn’t help but watch her. He could watch her all day if she would let him. Her phone buzzed again, though, disturbing their silence.

“Someone really wants to get hold of you today,” he said, finally daring to broach the topic.

“Just my mother,” she sighed, sitting up. “Wants to talk to me about my father’s bunions.”

It beeped once more.

“They must be pretty important bunions,” he offered, seizing her phone before she could grab it.

“William, don’t” she said, shooting up, snatching for her phone, but William was taller than her. He held it up where she couldn’t reach it, swiped the screen to open it.

He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t see. Fuck, right then, he couldn’t even live.

He lowered his eyes slowly to Rosie, and the colour drained from her face, knowing damn well what he had just read.

“William … Please. Let me explain.”

He backed away from her, his face twisting, his stomach on fire with the lies, the betrayal. “How could you? Rosie … How could you?” He choked back a sob. “You lied to me. You lied Rosie. You’re leaving. You’re going back home.”

“No,” she said,” her eyes already brimming with tears. “Please.”

“You lied to me,” he whispered.

“I can explain … William.”

He backed away toward the door, his head swimming … lost, broken “You lied to me.”

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