Page 86 of Never Tell Secrets

“Well…good. That’s good.” I smiled at her, trying not to laugh at how awkward I felt.

She turned to leave but paused, hesitating. “Lola, you’re a really good friend.”

“So are you, Maia. I’m really happy you moved in with us.”

She blinked before giving me a stiff nod and turning away. I heard the soft click of her bedroom door a moment later.

Coffee in hand, I settled on the couch to read the latest installment of my nephew’s story when the front door opened and my best friend stumbled through it, carrying her shoes. Her hair was dishevelled and her lips were swollen.

“Rough night?”

“It wasn’t bad.” She picked up my coffee and took a long gulp as she fell into the old worn armchair.

“Who’s the lucky guy?”

“No one important.”

I frowned, noticing marks on her wrists. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve been tied up.”

“It was consensual.” She sipped my coffee, holding it close to her chest. “How’s Moneybags? You saw him last night, right?”

“Yeah, he’s good. We went to therapy.”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Seriously?” I wasn’t sure whether she was more shocked at the idea of him going to therapy or me. I proceeded to fill her in on our session. When I was finished she sat there, holding my now empty cup of coffee, a skeptical look on her face. “You really think he’s gonna let you decide when you can and can’t see each other?”

“If he doesn’t, I’ll know whether I can trust him or not.”

“You don’t already know that? Dude stole your birth control, Lola.”

“I know.” That wasn’t something a person could easily forget. “I can’t trust the man that he was but he’s changed more thanI ever thought he could. I guess I just need to find out if it’s enough or not.”

She rolled her eyes, a move that sent a prickle of annoyance up my spine. “And then what? You walk off into the sunset?”

“I don’t know, Keira. I don’t have all the answers, I’m just trying to figure it out.”

“Well, don’t come crying to me when he fucks you over again,” she muttered, scowling into my coffee cup. I stared at my best friend, studying her face which I knew as well as my own.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Please don’t lie to me. You haven’t been right since you met Damien and?—”

“I’m fine,” she snapped, the defensive look in her eyes telling me she was anything but fine.

“No, you’re not. When you thought Alfie was hurting me you fought with me until I told you the truth and now I’m on the other side, watching you unravel and it’s scaring me. Why are you out drinking so much?” I grabbed her wrist, forcing her to look at the marks. “Was this really consensual? If Damien did something you can tell me, you can tell me anything.”

“Lola, you’re being so fucking dramatic.” She snatched her arm away. “I’mFine.”

Liar.I knew my best friend better than I knew myself and something had happened.

She took a breath, her shoulders slumping as she pulled away. “I think I need to get out of London.” She rubbed a hand over her eyes, smudging her already smeared mascara. “First I need sleep.”

She sat next to me and pressed a kiss to my cheek. A peace offering. I leaned into her, welcoming her familiarity.

“I’m sorry for being a bitch,” she said. “You can always come crying to me.”

“Right back at you.” I hoped that she would take me up on the offer there and then but instead, she pulled away.