Page 67 of Happily Never After
‘Finn and I are friends, yes. What’s it to you?’
‘Friends, or more?’
I can feel my temper starting to fray. How dare he?
‘Angus,’ I begin, trying to keep my voice level. ‘That really is none of your business. You ceased to have any right to know anything about me or my life the moment you walked out of our front door.’
To my surprise, this doesn’t have the intended effect at all. Instead, his expression turns earnest.
‘I see what this is,’ he says. ‘And I totally understand.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘You’re using this guy to punish me. It’s no more than I deserve and, for what it’s worth, I forgive you.’
Once again, he’s so far off beam that I don’t even know where to start. Unfortunately, he obviously interprets my silence as agreement, because he continues his frankly delusional speech.
‘I did the wrong thing, Laura,’ he’s saying as I continue to stare at him. ‘I wasn’t happy, I explained that, but I should have stayed and worked on our relationship rather than running away. I know there’s nothing I can say to take away the pain I caused you, but I was a mess. I needed time to reflect and work out what I really wanted, and I know now that it’s you. I’m not expecting us to just pick up as if nothing was wrong, don’t worry. I had some sessions with the cruise therapist and she explained how I’d need to take things slowly and allow you to move at your own pace. I broke your trust, and that doesn’t come back overnight. I want you to hear that I understand, and I’m prepared to be patient.’
I can’t take any more. ‘Which part of this are you not getting, Angus?’ I demand furiously. ‘You left. You didn’t just break my trust, you took everything I thought I knew, everything I felt was safe, and smashed it to pieces with a sledgehammer. You can say sorry all you like, but it’s not going to change that. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a walk waiting for me.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘I don’t want you to come with me!’
‘I know you don’t, but what kind of man would I be if I just let you wander off on your own in a foreign country? Anything could happen.’
‘Have you seen this place? Nothing is going to happen, and I don’t need your protection, or whatever you think this is.’
‘Still coming with you.’ His stubborn expression is instantly familiar, and I realise any further argument is just going to be wasted breath on my part.
‘Fine,’ I huff. ‘Keep up and don’t be annoying.’
He smiles. ‘I can promise the first, but there are no guarantees on the second.’
Thankfully, he does seem to have heard me, as the first part of the walk passes without him interrupting my thoughts with his idiotic ramblings. I’d still much prefer him not to be here at all, but I’m grateful that he’s stopped spouting nonsense, at least. One thing that he said is niggling at me though, and in the end it’s me that breaks the silence.
‘You saw a therapist?’ I ask.
‘I did.’
‘But you hate therapists. You always dismissed therapy as navel-gazing bollocks for needy people who are too lazy to sort their own lives out.’
‘Yeah, I know. I was wrong about that too. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. Laura?—’
I hold up my hand to stop him. ‘You’ve answered the question. Please stop speaking now.’
When we reach the bridge, I’m almost amused to spot the old woman shuffling towards us. Of all the days to bump into her again, it would have to be the day that I’ve got Angus in tow.
‘Bonjour, madame,’ I say politely as she approaches.
‘Bonjour, mademoiselle.’ She pauses to look Angus up and down. ‘Un nouveau copain?’ she asks, curiosity written all over her face.
‘Non,’ I tell her firmly. The last thing I need is for her to think that Angus is my boyfriend. If she starts one of her rants about true love, it’s just going to add fuel to the fire.
‘Bon,’ she replies, before leaning in to whisper in my ear. ‘Je ne l’aime pas.’
I can’t help smiling as I reply. ‘Je ne l’aime pas aussi.’
