Page 47 of Broken Heart Syndrome
‘How not nice?’ He felt his gut clench again.
‘He didn’t hurt her, not physical. He was just … mean.’
‘Mean?’
‘Chris knew he wasn’t good enough for her, I’m sure that’s why he did it. He tried to wear her down. Told her she was nothing. Verbal abuse, but effective stuff, especially with somebody like Frankie. He ripped away the last of her self-esteem. They were together for four years. Four years she put up with that crap. Unbelievable.’
‘Who ended it?’
‘I did.’
‘Sorry?’
‘After her mum died, Frankie had had enough. He’d crossed a line, didn’t support her; got pissy that her dying mother was taking attention away from him. She wanted to cut him loose, especially after she caught him snogging a medical student. Dylan and I went down there. I helped Frankie move out, and Dylan … well let’s just say he convinced him pretty effectively to leave Frankie alone and never contact her again.’
‘There’s something else, some secret she’s keeping now.’
Lou looked away and when she looked back at him her face was wary and closed. ‘There are some things that you need to hear from her. She still has some … responsibilities – that aren’t too … pleasant.’ Tom made and impatient noise low in his throat; he was getting tired of being in the dark when it came to Frankie.
‘Look,’ Lou continued, ‘all you need to keep in mind is that she doesn’t see herself the same as the rest of the world sees her. No matter how much her friends try to build her up she just won’t believe it. She’s still shy –’
‘She’s not shy.’ Tom cut her off and Lou started shaking her head. ‘She’s not, Lou. I see her with you guys, with Ash, even with the goddamn porters. She’s not loud but she bloody well isn’t shy. She’s friendly, affectionate, she laughs and smiles all the time – except when she’s with me.’
‘For God’s sake why are you both so unbelievably thick?’ Lou clipped. ‘Sheisshy, but she’s managed to overcome it most of the time for the people she likes.’ Tom’s jaw clenched in anger, and seeing this Lou laid her hand on his arm, her eyes pleading with him to understand.
‘The problem with you is that she likes you too much. She’s never been able to relax around guys she’s attracted to, and with you … well, I think that with you she finds it especially difficult.’ Tom’s eyes flashed at this and Lou continued, ‘And I’m sorry, Tom, but you haven’t helped the situation by being an arrogant, demanding bellend for the last three months.’
He hung his head and his gut clenched. Christ, he’d really buggered this up.
‘I had no idea she was shy or about any of this, Lou,’ he muttered to his shoes, shame at his behaviour washing over him. ‘I just thought she was cold and aloof, and that she didn’t even remember me from uni.’
Lou snorted and he looked back into her disbelieving face. ‘Not remember you?’ Bizarrely she was now smiling. ‘Believe me, Weasel – she remembersyou.’
‘What’s that suppose to mean?’ He narrowed his eyes at her and she giggled.
‘I think I’ll let Frankie tell you that one as well.’
‘Goddamn it, Lou,’ Tom clipped, losing patience. ‘How can I proceed blind?’
‘Look, Weasel, all I can tell you is to proceed. Don’t give up on her.’ He rolled his eyes and she stepped closer to him again, her expression suddenly serious.
‘She’s worth it, you know,’ she said softly.
‘I know that, Lou. I’ve got eyes.’
‘No, I mean she’s worth it, really worth it. Worth any effort. You break through her shields and you’ll see.’
Tom softened his tone, ‘I know, Lou. I promise.’
‘Good, cause I’ll rip your dingaling off and shove it where the sun don’t shine if you break her heart.’
Well, that image would stay with him for a while. He smiled.
‘You’re a good friend.’
‘I know. So is she.’
They both looked round as the door to the office opened and Dylan stepped through followed by Rich. Dylan looked between Tom and Lou, who were standing close, and narrowed his eyes. ‘What’s going on out here?’
