Page 40 of Silent Scream

Kim weighed it up and answered honestly. ‘No, I’m really not.’

‘He loves you.’

Kim shrugged.

‘And you were different when the two of you were together. I wouldn’t say happy but perhaps more tolerable.’

‘I’m happier now.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

Kim poured coffee for both of them and they returned to the lounge.

‘Look, Kim, I’m sure he’s sorry for whatever he did wrong.’

Kim doubted that; because the truth was, Pete hadn’t done anything wrong. It was her. It was always her.

‘Bryant, how long had Peter and I been seeing each other?’

‘Almost a year.’

‘And how many times do you think he stayed over?’

‘Quite a few.’

‘Yep, and do you want to know what lead to that final argument?’

‘If you wanna share.’

‘Only so you’ll get off my back. I finished it because one morning he didn’t take his toothbrush with him.’

‘Are you kidding?’

Kim shook her head, remembering the day when he’d left for work and she’d gone into the bathroom to see it there, brazenly lying next to hers. No crime scene had ever induced that level of horror.

‘I realised that if I’m not prepared to share a toothbrush glass, I’m not prepared to share much of anything else.’

‘But surely you could have worked it out.’

‘Jesus, this is notBlind Dateand you’re not Cilla Black. Some people are meant to find a soul mate and live happily ever after. And some people are not wired that way. That’s all.’

‘I just want you to have someone in your life that makes you happy.’

‘Do you think it’ll make me any less difficult to work with?’ Kim asked, signalling that the conversation was over.

He got it. ‘Bloody hell – if it was that easy, I’d move in here myself.’

‘Yeah, well, make sure you don’t leave your toothbrush.’

‘No, I’ll just bring the glass I put my teeth in at night.’

‘No, really, stop there.’

Bryant finished his coffee. ‘Alright, enough foreplay. We both know why I’m here. Are you gonna show it to me or not?’

‘Well ...’

‘Come on, enough with the teasing.’