Page 78 of Forever Mr Black

But she carries on, enjoying watching me squirm, “He needed me and showed me just how appreciative he was when he tied me up and fucked me over the couch.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Call yourself a professional? What you did was wrong,” I spit.

“Whatever’s the matter?”

I spin round to see Barbara in the doorway. Her eyes dart between me and Aisling, waiting for an explanation.

Aisling’s calm façade snaps back into place. “Sophie isn’t feeling too well. She’s going to go home.”

She wants me to leave.

“Oh dear. Art’s just popped out to the car because he left his phone.” Barbara glances over her shoulder towards the hall and then looks back at us, distracted. “But I’m positive that I heard raised voices. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

Aisling forces a smile. “Fine, Barbara.” She gives me a threatening look that says,Don’t say anything.“Sophie’s just going, aren’t you?”

This is what she wants. She’s trying to push me out. She doesn’t want people to find out about her affair with Art, especially not his mum. Deep down, she knows it was wrong. Anger simmers in my blood. If she expects me to stand here and keep her dirty little secret quiet, then she’s bloody mistaken.

I throw her a determined look that says, Fuck you.

I’m not toeing the line.

“We were arguing.” I fold my arms and watch as a look of alarm flashes across Aisling’s face.

“Oh dear,” Barbara says worriedly. “Well, what about?”

I glare at Aisling. “Do you want to tell Barbara, or shall I?”

Aisling jumps to her feet in panic. “Sophie, don’t.”

Barbara looks worried. “Don’t what? Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Why is everyone standing up?” Art appears behind me, oblivious to what’s about to go down.

Barbara heaves an impatient sigh. “Aisling and Sophie have had a falling-out, but no one seems to want to tell me why.”

A deep crease appears on Art’s forehead as he looks from me to Aisling. He knows. And his presence makes me wobble. I like Barbara. Can I really do this? Can I really ruin her birthday and potentially her friendship in one swoop?

I stare at the slabs beneath my wedge sandals. My anger and determination from a few seconds earlier start to slip away. I’m bottling it. And Aisling is winning. And she can tell.

“It was a silly misunderstanding,” Aisling declares.

Art stands perfectly still, watching me carefully, unsure of what I might do next. “Are you okay?”

I can’t do this. Sit here with her and make pleasantries.

I scoop up my handbag and sling it over my shoulder. “Maybe it’s best if I do go.”

His shoulders relax slightly at the realisation that I’m not going to spill the beans. For a second, I almost feel glad that I haven’t said anything. Then, her smug laugh rings in my ears, and my blood boils.

“Yes, like I said, I think it’s best if you leave,” she crows.

And that’s all it takes to snap my final frayed nerve.

“They slept together,” I blurt.

Barbara looks stunned. “I’m sorry, dear?”

“Correction: they had an affair. When Art went to therapy after his dad’s death, Aisling made a pass at him, and they had an affair.” I tilt my chin up in defiance. It’s too late to back down now. The cat’s out of the bag. “I don’t think it was right, what she did. But not everyone feels that way.” I force myself to look at Art.

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