Page 24 of Where She Is
I blush, “Can we get back to talking about something other than—”
“What did they say?” I don’t expect his interruption.
“I’m sorry?”
“What did they tell you?”
“Nothing solid. It was all hearsay.”
“Will you at least tell me who it was?”
“It wouldn’t be fair of me to say.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m sure he told me for the right reasons.”
“He?”
Oh, shit. Rookie mistake. “Yes. He.”
I wait for his response and note his staring eyes glazing over. His palm takes the weight of his chin and one finger rests over his lips as if contemplating.
“It could only be Richard.” I open my mouth to protest, but his thought process interrupts, “Unless… unless it was… did that poisonous snake say something?”
Oh shit. “No.”
“Oh, so you know which poisonous snake I’m talking about.” He shakes his head and looks away. “When did you have the pleasure of his slimy company?”
This isn’t how I wanted tonight to go. The best thing I can do is sort it out quickly. “He took me out for a drink to apologise.”
I note the tick to his jaw. “Apologise for what?”
“For nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does.”
I mumble under my breath, “Jesus Christ, this is ridiculous.”
“What is? This conversation?”
I lose my temper, but I also remember where I am so I shout whisper. “Yes! This stupid bloody conversation is ridiculous and pointless.” I rest my elbow on the table and lean my forehead to the tips of my fingers. My eyes close as I take in a calm breath.
He whispers, “I’m sorry,” as he moves around to my side, then rubs his palm over my back. I let out a heavy breath.
“Why do things go from nought to sixty in a matter of seconds?” I’m bewildered by him. “Everything you do is so… fast.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I got so mad. I suppose deep down I’m still disappointed you ran off last week, and now I find out you went for a drink with that shit.”
My body slumps back in the seat, but Daniel’s hand remains glued to my back.
“He wanted to apologise because we didn’t catch up again after the party. That is the truth.” Although I miss out on the part where Matthew was warned off by my knight in shining armour here. I don’t want to rattle him any further.
“Matthew rubs me up the wrong way. I wish you hadn’t gone.”
“I can see that.” I huff, “Believe me, I didn’t want to, but I felt guilty.”
“Tell me exactly what he said.”
