Page 99 of The Reality of Us
“My parents are here,” he said, and Alice understood the hidden meaning. They’d be watching him like a hawk. The curtain behind Phoenix twitched. “They’ve been helping me detox. Next stop is court-ordered rehab because I gave the cops some information they wanted.” A dry laugh cut through the tension hanging in the air, and he flicked his cigarette ash into the small bowl next to him. “I’m officially not your problem anymore.”
Alice stared at her unpainted fingernails. “We caused a lot of problems for each other. It wasn’t right, what we were doing, lying to everyone like that. We never should’ve gotten married.”
“No kidding,” he snorted, running a hand through his hair.
“Staying together was the real mistake, though.”
Phoenix scuffed his boots along the concrete path. “About the video … I wasn’t thinking clearly. I haven’t been myself for a long time.” He pushed his hair off his face, something like genuine regret in his eyes.
“It doesn’t matter,” Alice said softly. And it didn’t. “I’ve sorted it all out.” She’d gone live and told everyone the truth about the video after her surgery. How she and Phoenix had been unhappy for a long time. Trapped in a lie of their own creation, spurred by her fear that she’d never be good enough. It didn’t matter if anyone believed her or not. She didn’t care anymore. She just had one last thing to do.
Phoenix stubbed out his cigarette, flicking the butt into the garden. “What are you really doing here?”
Alice pulled a large envelope out of her pocket. Tossed it onto the table. “You’re going to sign our divorce papers. Now. There will be no financial settlement. I’m not taking no for an answer. Rico or your parents can be our witnesses. But this ends now.”
Phoenix’s lighter ticked, the flame blooming as he lifted another cigarette to his lips. “Is that so?”
“Yep. You know I didn’t damage any of your stuff. And you’ve brought all this trouble on yourself. Last thing you need is for me to tell everyone what the last two years have really been like. Not if you ever want to work again.”
She let her threat hang in the air. If he was going to continue to tell lies, it was time she stood up for herself. Made it clear her weapon of choice would be the truth. She watched as realisation rolled across Phoenix’s face, followed by the smile she’d foolishly thought she’d once loved.
“You must really love this new boyfriend, huh?”
She’d never even gotten to enjoy telling people Owen was her boyfriend. Alice stared at her feet and bit the inside of her cheek. Hopefully, that would all change soon if things went according to her plan. “Just sign the papers.”
“I’m going back to Sweden after I get out of rehab.” His voice was low and stripped of all the snark and derision she’d gotten used to hearing from him. “It’d be easier if all of this was behind me.”
“I’m glad you’re getting the help you need.”
Phoenix’s icy blue eyes met hers. “Yeah, me too. Got a pen?”
35
Owen was staring at his dinner when the security light above his front door flicked on. All he’d wanted was to sleep in his own bed the night before his surgery.
“Are you expecting someone?” Lulu asked, her knife and fork poised over the plate of roast lamb and veggies balanced on her knees. Wilbur was squished on one side, Raff on the other. Nate and Teddy were sitting on the floor, their plates on the coffee table. Several moving boxes were stacked behind them.
“Nope.”
A shadow stretched across the concrete. He recognised her immediately from her profile, the delicate slope of her nose, her full lips. Even in pitch black darkness, Owen would’ve noticed the redness in her cheeks, how her hand shook when she knocked.
“Want me to get it?” Nate asked.
“Nah, I got it.” Owen pushed himself up and grabbed his crutches.
“Hi,” Alice said when he opened the sliding glass door. She looked over his shoulder, panic flaring in her eyes when she saw his family. Her wave was so awkward.
“Where’s your car?” he asked.
She jammed her hands into the pockets of her fluffy lavender coat. “It broke down near the turn-off.”
He looked down at the sequined sneakers on her feet. She’d walked almost three kilometres to get here. That had to be a good sign, right?
“I can come back another time if you’re too busy.”
Owen pulled his big puffer jacket off the hook next to the door, keenly aware of the silence behind him. “It’s fine. Why don’t we …” His head jerked towards the patio area.
She nodded, stepping back to make room for him to pass through the doorway.
