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I take a step back, putting the phone in my pocket when I see the call has connected.
“I don’t have anything to say to you. I want you to leave.” I move further away, feeling my entire body tremble—and not from the cold.
He pauses before taking a few steps back, his face pale. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. I just want to talk.”
“Are you following me?” I blurt out, glancing over my shoulder briefly before turning back to him. I no longer feel any eyes on me, but some primal part of me is worried it wasn’t Darren I felt watching me. I don’t think Darren being in front of me is a coincidence.
He looks taken aback. “No. Why? I promise, I just want to talk. You didn’t reply to my letter.”
“Idon’t wantto talk to you,” I tell him, before deciding to leave. If I know Banner, he will drive over here, so I head to the carpark, wanting to get away from him.
“Please, Emma. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for what I did to you.”
I stop and spin around to face him, nearly causing him to bump into me. Memories from my attack assault me, and I feel the fear I felt that night. It hits me so hard I struggle for breath. Darren watches me as I bring myself back to reality, and wisely takes a step back.
“Sorry for what you did to me? What about my sister—are you sorry for killing her?”
He glances away, having the audacity to look ashamed. “I didn’t kill Lara. I gave her the drugs, yes, but they weren’t mine. I had sold out and she begged me?”
I hold my hand up. “Stop! I don’t want to hear it. Leave me alone and stop following me, otherwise I’m going to the police.”
“I just want you to hear me out. I need to explain, Emma.”
I grit my teeth. “No! I don’t owe you anything, Darren. I don’t have to listen to a word you have to say, and I won’t.”
Tyres squeal in the car park, and I know it’s Banner without looking. He’s not even next to me but already I feel safer.
“I owe you everything.”
“Get the fuck away from her!” Banner yells as he comes storming up behind us. He doesn’t stop when he reaches us.
“I just wanted to—Fuck!” Darren holds his bleeding nose as he falls to the floor. I gasp, before rushing over to Banner and pulling him back.
“Stop! I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
Banner doesn’t look at me as he glares down at Darren. “Stay the fuck away from her, Darren. You’ve put her through enough.”
“I need to tell her something. Please. I’ll only take five minutes.”
I have to look away from his pleading face, almost feeling sorry for him. He’s not the Darren I remember. Back when we were younger, he would never apologise. He was cocky, arrogant and sure of himself. I never liked him, but I put up with him for Lake. I never understood what she saw in him. She was my best friend, though, and I’d do anything for her. Even put up with a low life like Darren.
“I don’t give a fuck if it takes two. You aren’t talking to her.”
He looks to me, his eyes pleading. “Did you read the letter?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Read it, please.”
I watch him get up before answering. “I destroyed it. Darren, go home. I don’t want to see you or speak to you.”
He nods like he understands. “If you change your mind, contact your lawyer. I gave them my details, explaining I wanted to talk to you.”
“Go, before I deck you again. You’ve got no fucking right coming here and doing this to her,” Banner growls.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just sorry,” he says, sounding broken.
I thought seeing him drowning in guilt, broken up over his sins, would make me happy, but it doesn’t. I just feel confused. I’ve hated him for so long. I hated him so much it ate away at me. I would daydream over what I would say to him, what I would do differently—what I would do to him. In none of my imaginary scenarios did I feel sorry for him.