‘What happened… after…?’ he ventured.
‘After your mum sent us to our rooms?’
‘Yeah.’
She stopped what she was doing and looked into his eyes.
‘Aidan accused me of cheating on him with you. He was angry and aggressive and wouldn’t listen to anything I said.’
A customer came to the bar, and Will had to wait while she served him. Then she picked up from where she’d left off. ‘I told him I wouldn’t talk if he wasn’t prepared to listen, so we left it at that.’
‘What happened in the morning?’
‘I said I wanted to go home before everyone woke up, so he drove me home.’
‘How wasthatjourney?’
‘Awful. He kept apologising, saying he didn’t mean what he said, that he was drunk and jealous. He kept asking me to forgive him.’
‘Did you?’Please say no.
‘I told him I don’t like violence, and I can’t be with someone who would punch his brother. He said, “Every bloke whohasa brother haspunchedhis brother”.’ She rolled her eyes at the idea.
‘So you dumped him?’ Will prompted.
‘He begged me to give him another chance. He was…emotional. He said he loved me. I said I need time to think.’
Will panicked. She didn’t need time to think. She deserved better; she deserved the truth.
‘He cheated on you,’ he blurted.
Her body stiffened. ‘What?’
‘He cheated on you. The night of your show, he came to our gig, and he left with a girl.’ Will’s words came out in a rush and hung in the air between them.
Emily knitted her brow. ‘What girl?’
‘I don’t know – some blonde.’
‘How do you know she wasn’t a friend?’
Will faltered. ‘I saw them kissing.’
Emily’s eyes narrowed. ‘Do you hate each other that much you would use me to get at each other?’
‘No—’
‘Please go.’ Her tone was suddenly ice cold.
‘Let me explain—’
‘Please, Will. I can’t handle it!’ She came out from behind the bar and marched around the pub collecting dirty glasses. When she returned, she said, ‘What are you still doing here?’
‘Look, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know the facts before making any decisions.’
‘How can I possibly know the facts? Why should I take your word over his? I hardly know you.’
Her words stung. ‘I’m telling the truth. Deep down you believe me. You deserve better than him. You deserve better than me too but give me a chance.’