Page 159 of Love ad Lib
‘Why?’
‘Because I wanted to help you, but you wouldn’t accept it. I wasn’t going to stand back and watch you struggle at Claire and Ritchie’s. There isn’t even room for a blow-up mattress in the nursery. Every night you’d have to wait until they went to bed before you could sleep on their sofa, which isn’t long enough, even for you.’
‘So, you’ve been paying me to live at Jack’s?’
‘Yes. I want to make your life easier. Why can’t I do that?’
The bus was getting closer.
‘Because it’s too much, Henry!’
‘Why is it “too much” for me to give you a few hundred quid, but you can happily hand over your life savings to Lucas?’
Her mouth opened. ‘What?’
‘Twelve grand, wasn’t it? You gave that fucking arsehole twelve grand and you won’t let me give you anything? How the fuck is that fair?’
‘I’m not a charity case.’
‘Of course you’re not. But you’re in a difficult situation and I want to help you out. Just as you wanted to help Lucas. Tell me, Libby. How is this different?’
The bus drew up and the doors opened with a hiss.
‘You lied to me,’ she whispered.
Henry shrugged. ‘And you’re still in love with Lucas.’ His face was etched with pain. ‘I don’t want you to go, but I can’t stop you. I’m going to try and fix things with my family.’
He stood, waiting for her decision.
Libby got on the bus and the doors closed behind her. As it pulled away, she didn’t look back.
32
The bus disappeared around the corner, taking Henry’s heart with it. As a child, he’d known paralysing fear and misery, but never pain as raw as this. He swallowed back a lump of emotion. Was this it?
When Gram-Gram had suggested they get married, he was shocked, then excited. And when Libby had agreed with his grandmother’s edict, he thought his heart would fly out of his chest.
But as soon as Gram-Gram looked away, Libby’s face fell into an expression of abject horror. She smiled and nodded at everything his parents said, but he could see the panic in her eyes. Then before he could talk to her, Lucas had arrived.
Henry stood for a few moments longer, staring up the high street, hoping Libby might change her mind, then turned on his heels, resigned to facing the music back at the Manor.
As he passed through the main gate, Lucas was ahead, walking briskly away from the front door.Little fucker.Adrenaline roared through his blood, spiking his heart rate as his body prepared for battle. His mind fought back.Play the long game.He might have lost Libby forever, but he could still try and get her money back.
Lucas noticed him and slowed his pace, his gaze wary.
Henry gave him a friendly wave.
Lucas stopped.
‘You off back to London?’ Henry asked, as pleasantly as he could manage with the dogs of war in his belly snarling to be let off the leash.
‘Uh, yeah, I thought I’d better leave you to it,’ Lucas replied. ‘What with your granny ill and everything.’
Henry nodded. ‘I thought I could chat to my father about your work. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to your show opening last month.’
Lucas shrugged. ‘I’ve left Balbis. I’ve got more freedom without a gallery taking fifty per cent for doing fuck-all. Means I can offer you a better deal, too.’
‘Hmm. Let me take your number and I’ll give you a call next week.’
