Page 87 of The Day After Christmas
Her friend looked across at her, her expression blank.
‘Can you turn back time? Can you send me to a desert island where no one can ever find me? Can you take away my memories? Any one of those would do me.’
Felicity sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Bex. I can’t do any of those things.’ Then she brightened. ‘But we are having an open day at the centre on Saturday. Why don’t you come? It might do you good? You could come see the cats and dogs. We’ve got the most adorable puppies.’
‘So you want me to turn into Crazy Animal Lady now, do you?’ Bex practically spat.
‘No, not at all. I just thought…’
‘I appreciate it,’ said Bex, with a sarcastic smile. ‘But I’ll pass.’
Felicity stood up. ‘Look, it’s obvious I’m not being much help. I’ll just get you some lunch and then I’ll get out of your hair.’
‘I said I don’t want any lunch.’
‘Fine, then I’ll just go.’
‘Fine.’
Felicity was almost at the door when she turned back.
‘Bex?’ she said. Bex was crawling back under her duvet and didn’t even turn at her name.
‘What?’
‘I did try to warn you.’
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew they were a mistake. What a cruel thing to say. She felt sick.
‘I know you did,’ said Bex, with a bitter laugh. ‘And I thought you were trying to break us up so you could have him. When all along he’d found someone else anyway. Two people maybe. He can’t keep it in his pants long enough to make it through a wedding without someone wanting him, apparently.’
‘He never deserved you,’ said Felicity quietly.
Bex sat up again. ‘You’re right, he didn’t. Why are you here, Fliss?’
Her words were sharp and they cut Felicity almost physically.
‘I’m your friend,’ she said, her voice catching.
Bex scoffed. ‘Some friend I’ve been to you.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Felicity.
‘It’s not okay. I’m a terrible person and now I’ve got what I deserved, haven’t I?’ Again, that bitter laugh.
Felicity took a step towards her, then stopped. ‘No one could deserve what he’s put you through,’ she said.
‘Please don’t mention it. I can’t even think about Saturday, I’m so embarrassed.’
‘No, of course not, sorry.’
‘Do you think he ever even cared about me at all?’
Felicity shifted from foot to foot. ‘Honestly? I don’t know, my lovely. He’s your classic narcissist. I don’t know if Adam is capable of loving anyone but himself, and he doesn’t even do that very well.’
‘I wondered if he was a sex addict, you know, like that actor.’
‘That was never proven, was it?’
