Page 55 of Imogen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ben

One hand lies over my stomach, the other above my head as I stare at the ceiling. The painkillers the doctors prescribed spoilt me with sleep, and now I’m no longer taking them, I’m being punished. I can’t settle my mind enough to drift off to sleep.

It doesn’t help that all I can think about is Imogen. She had to go to the police station this morning, and I have no idea how it went. I nearly messaged her dad, but decided against it. Even though I was there for the recording, it felt weird to chase it up with him. And I couldn’t find the courage to message Imogen. I’ve made a point for years to keep a barrier between us, but any time I’m around her, it threatens to fall. And I made promises… promises I want to keep. When Micky—a lad interning at the company—went to ask Imogen out, Evan called the situation out. He didn’t mind his daughter dating but he didn’t want anyone who worked for him to date her due to conflicts. I don’t think he liked Micky too much either, but he never admitted it. He also made it clear that his daughter was off limits, and he didn’t let us get back to work until we agreed.

It was a year later when he pulled me aside and told me she had a crush. He told me to keep my distance so it would fade. And I did.

I respected him too much to go behind his back.

Yet she holds a power over me that makes me want to break all of my rules.

To get her off my mind, I’ve wanted to call April, a chick I’ve been off and on with for a couple of months. I couldn’t though. I’m not that guy. And it feels sordid now, like I’m taking advantage of her. We both agreed not to be exclusive, but the last time she was around—which was before I went to work with Cole and Emily—I had a feeling she wanted to change our non-exclusivity. That’s when I put some distance between us. She tried to visit me in the hospital, but I didn’t want to give her false hope. As much as I enjoy her company, that’s all it was for me.

Relentless banging echoes down the hallway from my front door. I groan as I swing my legs out of bed. My sisters have a habit of getting drunk on a night out and ending up here for either a lift home or a couch to sleep on.

As I reach the bedroom door, a thought occurs to me.

It’s Tuesday. They’ll be working or doing coursework.

Fuck!

I rush down the hall to the door as a thousand thoughts rush through my mind at once. Did the restaurant get burgled? Has one of them had an accident? So many scenarios race through my mind, faster than my legs are carrying me to the door.

My stitches pull but I push through it. I throw the door open, expecting a hysterical sister to charge at me. Instead, it’s Imogen. Seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks, I pull her inside, closing the door behind her.

“What happened? Did Zach do something? Did he hurt you?”

I flick on the hallway light to find her trembling. She inhales sharply. “He revealed a secret my parents have been keeping from me.”

Her legs give out, and I quickly catch her, pulling her into my arms. “Alexa, turn living room lamps on,” I call out, and the front room glows in a warm light. I sit her down on the sofa and grab the throw blanket Mum bought for me during my first week of recovery. I wrap it around her shoulders before moving over to the mini bar and pouring a little bit of vodka in a glass.

I hand it over to her and keep the bottle close as I take a seat next to her. “What can I do to help?”

“They lied to me my entire life,” she rasps, her voice scratchy and raw.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Betrayal shines in her eyes, taking me off guard. “God, does everyone know?”

Her accusation confuses me. “You’ve lost me,” I admit.

“Did you know my mum isn’t biologically my mum?”

“No! Wait, your mum isn’t your mum? What? How? I don’t understand,” I stammer. “You need to start from the beginning.”

“I went to the police station like I was supposed to. On my way out, Zach was arriving. We got into a little argument outside, and then the next thing I know, he’s accusing my mum of being a drug addict.”

I roll my eyes. “Your mum would never touch drugs.”

She snorts. “Wait for it.”

“Go on.”

Her expression crumbles as she begins to bawl. “He told me my mum isn’t biologically my mum. I thought it was another sick game he was playing, but one look at my dad told me all I needed to know.”

I place my hand on her shoulder blade, rubbing soothingly. “You can’t seriously believe a word Zach has to say right now. You’re the spitting image of your mum.”

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