Page 106 of Best Wrong Thing

He inhales and lets out the air slowly. “We should go now. Well, after getting dressed.”

“That would help. I don’t want to get arrested.”

“That would put a dampener on the holiday.”

“Just a tad.”

We get dressed. Now that I’m clean, my club clothes feel stiff and scratchy. I can’t wait to get out of them into something fresh. Once we’ve gathered our meagre belongings, we walk to the villa, proudly holding hands.

Chapter 25

Jacob

Molly is lying on a sun lounger.

“Where’s Dad?” My mouth is dry.

She sits and smiles. “Welcome back.”

“Where’s Dad?”

She waves her hand. “On his way to the airport.”

My jaw drops. “He left?” My heart rips open into a cavernous gulf.

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

Archer wraps his arms around me. I lean into his embrace and stroke his hand. But even his comfort and support can’t erase the tension in my body.

“We went around in circles for a while. I suggested he needed some time to cool off, so he said, ‘fine’ and left. Hopefully, by the time he gets home, he’ll see sense and apologise, and we can put all this arguing behind us,” Molly says.

Dad has never apologised for anything. Even if he did, it wouldn’t be enough.

“Are you okay?” Archer asks Molly.

She looks okay, but a slight tremble at the outer corners of her lips suggests she’s not.

“Of course. It was an argument, that’s all. Everything will work out.” She leans across and puts her hand on Archer’s knee. “Are you okay?”

He clenches his fists. “No.”

She raises her eyebrows.

“How can you think about forgiving Barry after the way he treated Jacob?”

“He was angry?—”

“No. He was out of order. He was wrong to accuse Jacob of sleeping with me to get back at you. I don’t know what you see in him.”

Molly opens and closes her mouth.

Archer glances at me. “I’m sorry, but your dad isn’t a nice man. You deserve better.” He glares at Molly. “So do you. I only wish you could see that.”

“He loves me.”

“Does he? I’m not sure Barry Hart loves anyone but himself.”