Page 70 of The Season
Eve titters out a laugh, even though all Antoine did was say some names. “And you guys are together?”
Lily chokes on her wine, her fist flying to her mouth, her eyes going wide. Antoine stills, his lips parted, as if whatever he’s wanted to say has got stuck in his throat.
“I’m pretty sure Lily’s sleeping with all of them,” Tom drawls, coming back from the room he shares with Lily, his arms now free of Eve’s coat and bags. “Didn’t you say she kissed you a few days ago, Eddie?”
I turn to scowl at him. I have absolutely no recollection of telling him about that. Which means someone else told him. Or, more likely, I got drunk and forgot what a douche he is.
“Yep, they’re all my boyfriends,” Lily deadpans. “Except for Tom, obviously.” She pauses, giving Tom an exaggerated wink, then turns to Eve and lowers her voice to a mock whisper. “He didn’t quite make the cut.”
Holy. Shit.I press my lips together to stop the laugh that threatens to burst out and stare at Lily with a sense of renewed awe, that now-familiar ache in my chest deepening.
Eve blinks in confusion, giggling before covering it up with one hand, like she’s only just realized Lily is ripping out her boyfriend.
“Whatever,” Tom huffs, his face going almost purple with repressed rage as he stomps across the kitchen to pull out a bottle of soda from the fridge.
“In all seriousness, it’s cool you guys are doing the whole open relationship thing and making it work,” Lily continues. Her voice is soft now, gentle, and she’s looking at Eve with unabashed compassion. It’s the same look I’ve seen on our local vet’s face, when she’s called out to my grandparent’s farm and some poor beast is beyond saving.
“Open… open relationship?” Eve asks, her voice rising in pitch as she looks at Tom in silent question.
Tom stills, his features lit by the fluorescent light of the refrigerator. For a brief moment, the only sound is the crunching of the plastic soda bottle in his hand as he glares at Lily, his jaw ticking furiously.
Lily doesn’t reply, just gives Eve a little nod.
Eve looks around, at Antoine, Seth and then me. I fold my arms over my chest, my lips pressing together, and stare back at her in stony silence.
Yes, Tom is a man-whore. And yes, I can’t stand to be in the same room as him when I’m sober. But it still feels wrong outing him. Like telling on him to his girlfriend would be some unforgivable violation of the unwritten bro-code, and I’d be branded for life as a traitor to men everywhere.
“What is your fucking problem, Lily?” Tom hisses, slamming the fridge door shut.
“Enough.” Seth’s voice is harsh, eyes cold as he turns from where he’s ladling sauce over pasta, knuckles white as he clutches the spoon. He takes several deep breaths, an expression of forced calm washing over his features as he adds tiredly: “We all know you’ve been having women over. Just own up to it.”
“Is that true?” Eve’s voice is soft, a pleading warble. “Tom?”
For a brief moment, Tom looks like he’s going to deny it. Like he’s going to try and plead his case. But then Liam and Matty walk in, completely oblivious to the bomb that’s just exploded in the kitchen, and Tom lets out a defeated sigh.
“Fine. Yah. Okay, so I might have hooked up with a few chicks.” He gives a dismissive wave, wrinkling his nose. “It was just a bit of fun. What did you expect? You know I didn’t want to do long distance.”
Liam stumbles at Tom’s words, straightening to look at me with sleep-bleary eyes. “I’m sorry, but what the fuck is going on?” he mutters.
I don’t think anyone else hears him but me. I give him a tight-lipped grimace and shake my head, because no way am I involving myself in any of this.
“Oh, wow, this looks amazing,” Matty exclaims, completely oblivious as he brushes past Tom, his attention fixed on the plates of food lined up on the bench. He turns to give Lily a bashful smile as he takes a plate from Seth. “Did you help with this?”
Meanwhile, Eve’s eyes are welling up with tears, her hands clasped in front of her on the table as she stares blankly in Tom’s general direction. Of course, he’s not looking at her, just staring at his half-drunk bottle of cola as if it holds all of life’s answers.
“Hey.” Lily scoots her chair closer to Eve’s, placing one hand on her shoulder. “Want to come hang out in my room for a bit?” Her voice is low, gentle. “We can eat dinner in there if you want.”
Eve nods, her lower lip trembling as she rises to stand. Lily gives Seth a look over one shoulder, then guides Eve to the room she shares with Tom.
“That’s my room too,” Tom mutters petulantly, as Seth pushes past him with two bowls of pasta. No one replies, the only acknowledgment that Tom has spoken is a glare from Seth as he pulls the door shut.
“That was out of line,” Tom continues, folding his arms over his chest. He looks at me for some reason, like maybe he thinks I’m going to side with him. “Who the fuck does that?”
I stare blandly back at him.
Sure, I probably wouldn’t have said anything to Eve, but I can see why Lily did. Not just because of female solidarity or whatever. She has more reason than any of us to have it out for Tom. Seeing as he’s been banging random chicks in her room almost every night. Bloody inconsiderate, really.
“Maybe you should go for a walk,” Seth suggests. “And I assume your girlfriend…” he chokes on the word, then clears his throat. “I assume Eve will need to spend the night here?”
