Page 79 of Forever Mr Black

His hand is bunched through his hair in frustration as he stares at the ground. Sadness slices through me. He can’t even look at me. I’ve gone against his wishes. He hates me for this. I know it.

“Barbara, listen …” Aisling pleads.

Barbara holds a hand up to silence her. Her eyes are wide. She’s shell-shocked.

What did I expect?

Silence hangs between the four of us. Art’s still not looking at me. Barbara must hate me too.

Fuck.Part of me wishes I could take it back, but another part of me wants everyone to know the real Aisling. She’s a class-A manipulator, just like Theo.

Seconds roll on, and still, no one speaks. Art stands, still not looking at anyone. I’ve said enough. I’ve outstayed my welcome. And I need to leave.

“I’m truly sorry that you found out like this, Barbara. And on today of all days.” I force a small smile even though I feel like doing anything but. “I think I should go.”

I take a deep breath, turn, and walk away without looking back.

Twenty-Four

Ominous black clouds loom overhead. I hurry down the drive, a mixture of anger and remorse spurring me on. I’ve just upset two people I care about in one move. I can’t stay here a minute longer. Poor Barbara. And Art … I did exactly what he hadn’t wanted me to do. Told his secret. He hates me.

Can we come back from this?

I could have fucked up the most important thing in my life.

Angry tears leak from the corners of my eyes, and I swipe them away with the back of my hand. The gates at the end of the drive slide open, like they sense my urgent need to leave. Heavy drops of rain start to fall, landing on my bare flesh. I shiver and wrap my arms around me as I head onto the country lane and take a left with no clue where I’m going.

She goaded me. And I bit.

I push the thought from my mind and pull my phone out of my handbag. I need an Uber. Fast. I need to get away. The more I think about it, the more I think I did the wrong thing.

The drops of rain grow heavier and fall faster, soaking my clothes and turning my dress a darker shade of pink. My shaky fingers slip on my phone screen as I frantically tap away, trying to get a signal.

Did she expect me not to react to those things she’d said to me?

I feel sick at the thought.

At first, I think I hear thunder. Rumbling low in the distance and gradually getting closer. But I’m wrong. The screech of rubber against tarmac makes me look over my shoulder to see a familiar grey sports car careering down the lane towards me.

I turn back and instinctively speed up, which is ridiculous because I’m not about to outrun it. I’m not getting in. I’m not ready for the massive argument we’re going to have. And above all, I can’t bear to think I’ve let Art down. Conflicting thoughts churn over in my mind. Right now, I want to be anywhere but here.

The car slows to a crawl behind me. I hear the buzz of a window going down.

“Sophie, get in the car,” he yells.

He’s angry. Very angry.

I push my wet hair out of my eyes. “Go back to your mum, Art. You should be with her.”

“Get in the fucking car.”

I know he won’t leave it. And I really need him to.

I carry on walking, unable to look at him. “Please, go back.”

The engine cuts. I hear a door slam. I turn to see him stalking towards me, his whole body taut in anger.

Wild eyes stare at me as he jabs a finger in the direction of the car. “Get in.”

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