Page 33 of By His Play

I cringe, unable to do anything but agree with him. I’m pissed at myself too.

I close my eyes and slump in the chair as the weight of my regrets gets too heavy.

“I’m sorry.”

“You might be. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, though, did it?”

I swallow down any response I might have had.

“How’s Grams?”

“Asleep. Peaceful.”

“Good. Th-that’s good.”

“Is it?” I sigh.

9

KIERAN

My cell has finally died, and I have no intention of turning it back on.

I’ve spoken to my brothers and attempted to explain, but everyone else can get fucked.

I’ve had over ten missed calls from Kat, probably wanting to scream at me for not warning her about this huge development in my life, but I don’t care.

The only person who matters is sitting right beside me. That’ll always be true, even if I want to throttle her for lying to me.

The reason our friendship has lasted for so long is because we’ve always been honest with each other.

It hurts more than I’m willing to confess right now that she didn’t talk to me about this.

Would I have thought she was crazy if she’d brought it up? One hundred percent, yes. But I’d have understood.

I’d have done anything to make Grams’ final weeks happy ones as well.

If she’d have explained, I’d have agreed. It might have freaked me the fuck out, but I’d have agreed.

I’d do anything for both of them, including going along with this farce of an engagement.

Suddenly, all the weird comments from both Grams and the whistleblower nurse make sense.

If the whole thing wasn’t so unbelievable, I might have figured it out.

I glance down at the ring on Effie’s right hand and wince.

Did they really think I’d have given her that?

Sure, it’s pretty. But Effie deserves something so much better.

She deserves the world, and a man who can buy her the ring of her dreams, amongst many, many other things.

There’s so much I want to say to her, but I can’t find the words. They’re trapped under a thick layer of hurt.

I’ve told her so many times this week that I’d do anything for her and Grams. Anything. I meant it too.

And yet she still didn’t tell me.

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