Page 19 of Shattered Union

She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “No, we broke up.”

I blink. What? “And you’re only telling me this now? Ava, what the hell happened?”

Tears brim in her eyes, and I panic at the sight. I don’t do well with tears. I move further into the kitchen and reach for the bottle of vodka she left out on the counter. I bring it to the island and pour us both shots. “I’m guessing we’ll need these?”

She nods, her tears spilling from her eyes and down her face. Thank God for waterproof mascara. “The past couple of months have been weird. He’d be gone most of the night and when he’d return, he’d purposely start fights. I had enough of being treated like shit and told him to cop the fuck on or get out. I’m no one’s doormat.”

My throat burns at her words. “What happened?” I lift the drink to my mouth and down it in one go. The sharpness of the vodka hits me and I shudder, but glad of the burn.

She blinks furiously as the tears continue to cascade down her face, leaving track marks on her make-up. “He’s been cheating on me.” She too throws her drink back in one go, gasping once she’s downed it.

I suck in a sharp breath. “Tell me you’re fucking joking?” I snarl. God, what a piece of shit.

I refill our drinks. We’ll be drunk before we even hit the bar tonight.

“Get this,” she hisses, the anger overriding the pain and the tears slowly stop. “He’s been fucking Leeane McHugh.”

Bloody hell, that woman gets around.

“I knew he was a dickhead,” I mutter. “You’re better off without him. Any man who cheats isn’t worth the time or effort you’ve spent on him.”

She swipes at her eyes. “You’re right. God, I can’t believe I wasted two years on that arsehole.”

I walk around the island and pull her into my arms. “As shit as it is, it’s better you know now than in a few years when there were kids involved.”

Ava has always wanted a big family. Having as many children as she can have. I haven’t even thought that far ahead. I know Denis has children, but neither of us is at a stage where we’re ready to introduce the children to me. At the moment, it’s kind of abstract. I know they exist, but it doesn’t seem real.

“I hate him, Callie, I really do.”

I rest my chin against her head. “I know, honey. I know.”

My heart hurts for her. I know how hard a break-up can be. Keith didn’t cheat on me, but we had spent two years together. Breaking up isn’t easy. You’re mourning the loss of someone, the life you had, and the love you shared. It’s a painful process.

“Let’s do a few more shots and then we’re going out,” I tell her, hating that she’s got the sadness in her eyes. She had me fully convinced earlier on she was happy.

She nods. “That fucker will not ruin our night. I’ve been looking forward to this since last week. I’ll book us a taxi,” she tells me as she reaches for her phone. “There, should be here in about twenty minutes.”

Perfect. That gives us time to finish this conversation, have another shot or two and get it all out of our system before we head to the bar.

“When did you break up?” I ask, feeling like a lousy friend. I’ve been so wrapped up in the business and Denis that I’ve not seen how miserable she is.

“Last month, I finally found out the truth when I followed him to a hotel where he met that bitch in the bar.” She shudders. “I’ve been to the doctor and have been tested. Thankfully, I’m clean.”

Jesus. I hadn’t even thought about that.

“We always used condoms, but I can’t help but wonder what she’s given him.”

I can’t help but laugh. I’ve heard the rumours about things that Leeane has caught while sleeping her way through the Irish male population.

“I’m sorry,” I say. She’s been going through so much shit and I haven’t been there for her.

“Don’t be,” she whispers, and I see there’s something in her eye. A glint. She’s hiding something else from me.

“What is it?” I ask. “What’s happened?”

She bites her lip as she glances away from me. “I slept with Freddie,” she confesses.

I bite back my smile. God, these two have been pretending they don’t want each other since Ava was sixteen. Freddie Kinnock is Stephen’s best friend. The two of them are practically like brothers to me, whereas to Ava, Freddie is the man who infuriates her like no other. He’s also the guy that makes her burn brighter than anyone else. They’ve been denying the connection between them for almost a decade.

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