Page 62 of Outlier

“I was six,” I said quietly, and he stared at me. I shook my head, putting what he was implying together. “No, that wasn’t the trigger.”

His eyebrows went up. “Worse shit than that went down when you were six? Is that what you’re saying?”

I stiffened.

Yes, worse shit had gone down when I was six. But I wasn’t going to go into that.

“I don’t want to speak about my childhood anymore.”

He watched me as I sat stiffly on the stool for a moment, and tracked the movement of my hand as I tucked some hair behind my ear. I brought it back to my lap when I realised it was still shaking.

“Okay, love,” he said softly. “Eat your eggs.”

I grimaced when I looked at the now-cold eggs. “I…um, well…”

“I’ll make you some more,” he told me, jumping off the stool.

“No, it’s fine. I can?—”

“Vicky, are you going to be able to eat a cold poached egg? Tell me the truth.”

“No,” I whispered, feeling like a fusspot, but thatwasthe honest truth.

“Well then,” he said simply.

“But—” I was about to tell him that I’d do it. He might have watched me, but he didn’t know all the exact timings and?—

“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin, holding up his phone. He’d typed a whole paragraph of notes and timings in his notes app with the title, Vicky’s Eggs.

I smiled and felt my eyes sting, which was ridiculous. It was just eggs.

“Thanks,” I said in a hoarse voice.

He gave a firm nod and set about making my second breakfast.

“When is that wedding?” he asked casually.

“W-what?”

“Your sister’s wedding that you were talking about with your mum. When is it?”

“Oh… next Saturday.”

“Right, what time am I picking you up?”

My mouth dropped open.

“Picking me up?” My voice was high-pitched with shock now.

“For the wedding.”

“You’re picking me up for the wedding?”

“Baby,” he said firmly. “If you think that after overhearing that little chat with your mum, I’m letting you go to that wedding alone, you’re crazy.”

It hadn’t even occurred to me that Mike might be willing to take me to Rebecca’s wedding. That weight on my chest lifted at the thought of having him by my side.

“Vicky?” He’d paused what he was doing to look at me. “You okay?”