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“Nah, he’s just got that kind of energy.” Riley let out a laugh and it was his turn to be glared at. “What? I love you, man, but sometimes you do sound crazy.” He looked at Keira, grinning. “I’m Riley, by the way.”
“Keira,” she said, smiling back. I knew that smile.Jesus, Keira. Really? Now?
“Eye fuck her somewhere else, Fitzpatrick,” Alfie snapped, but Riley just chuckled.
“You know, I never thought I’d have to say this, but your skills with women really need some work.” Riley gave him a wry smile before looking my way. “This isn’t his best light, Lola.”
“Does he have a better light? He’s been screwing with my head this whole time.” I glared up at Alfie, but he remained cool as usual. “I was here, miserable, while you were swanning about in London doing your PA.”
“Angie, again? I’ve told you?—”
“And she told me about you and her,” I snapped. Keira gasped audibly. I’d forgotten I hadn’t told her about my run in with Angie. I guess it was just too humiliating. Unlike this, which wasn’t humiliating at all.
I turned to Riley. “Tell him.” Alfie looked at his friend and Riley gave him a small nod, confirming what I’d said.
“That’s definitely how she made it sound. She, uh, might have been trying to stir things up between the two of you. I would have told you but I’m not looking to get in the middle of you and Angie.”What the hell does that mean?
Alfie ran a frustrated hand through his hair. I knew that gesture well by now. It was what he did when he was trying to figure out a problem, to prioritise what he needed to fix first.
“I’ll deal with her later,” he snapped at none of us in particular. His eyes fell back on me, and despite my better judgement I could feel a weakening inside me. I looked away, up the street to where partiers were having the time of their lives. I gazed after them wistfully.
“Look at me, O’Connell.” He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. “I didn’t leave you. You needed time and it was just easier to stay away from you when I was in a different city. Maybe I should be doing this differently, making you all kinds ofgentle promises, but that isn’t who I am. You know exactly who I am and we fit.”
I pulled away, unable to look at him anymore, but he just stepped further into my space, not giving me time to breathe.
“Do you think I relished the idea of coming here? Of prostrating myself in public? Vulnerability is weakness, emotions are irrational, and public declarations of affection are not something the Tells do. I’m here anyway. For you. If you think I’m letting you go, you’re out of your fucking mind.” His eyes bore into mine and I saw the truth there, his unwavering resolve. It scared the hell out of me.
I buried my face in my hands. I was tired. So fucking tired, right to my soul. My feet hurt and my head was spinning. I could feel the eyes of everyone on me, waiting for my decision.
I just wanted to breathe, to feel safe again. I turned to Keira, weary and exhausted. I wanted her to take my hand, flip off the world, and get me away from all this crap that could hurt me. I also wanted to go with him more than I’d ever wanted anything.
What should I do?
“I need to go with him. I need to hear him out,” I said softly.
She crossed her arms. “Are you crazy? He put a tracker on your phone. His dick can’t be that good, Lola.”
“I assure you that it is,” Alfie said smoothly. We both ignored him.
“I’ll be alright.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to reassure her or myself. “If I still hate him in the morning, I’ll call you.”
She was shaking her head, clearly not buying a word of it. Instead of fighting me, she turned to Alfie.
“She’s been through enough in her life. Any more psycho shit and I’ll cut your parts off myself. Clear?” Alfie nodded, though I doubted he would ever let her near his parts with a sharp implement. She turned her attention back to me. “Don’t put up with anymore crap.”
With that she turned and stalked away. I watched her go, my stomach in knots. I looked around and realised that Bradley had already gone. I hadn’t even noticed him leave and that made me feel awful. He’d heard everything. My cheeks burned with humiliation.
Riley and Alfie were muttering, and a second later Riley walked away, probably to find somewhere to have a stiff drink. I couldn’t blame him. Elliot had gone too, disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
“He’s getting the car,” Alfie said. I’d forgotten he could read my mind. I was alone withhim. My fingers went to my necklace and I clasped it like a lifeline. A shiver ran through me. My fingers were freezing, my legs shaking. I hadn’t noticed before how cold I was.
“You left me.” I whispered it like a prayer. I needed to say it. I needed to hold onto the thought that he’d abandoned me, because if he hadn’t, then he was really here and this was really happening.
He reached for me, trying to take my hand. “Don’t.” My voice echoed up the almost empty street. His jaw clenched and he reached for me again. I shoved him with both hands, putting all my strength into it, but he didn’t budge. He advanced again, and again I shoved him, but he just kept coming, forcing me back as I pummelled his chest with a frustrated yell.
My back hit a cold brick wall and I screeched in frustration. The anger was leaving my body, slipping through my fingers no matter how desperately I tried to cling onto it. My arms were growing weak. With a gut wrenching sob that I felt right to my core, the rising swell engulfed me. My body bent double at the pain of it and Alfie,myAlfie, was there to hold me up. He pressed me into him as I cried, one hand rubbing my back, the other stroking my hair.
“I didn’t leave you,” he whispered. “I waited so long for you. Where would I go without you?”