Page 89 of Vying Girls

Relief unspools in me, some of the guilt chipping off. He hadn’t hurt her then, hadn’t used her when he couldn’t get to me.

‘Is that why you’re living in halls?’

‘How’d you know I’m in halls?’

He shakes his head when I don’t answer. ‘Yeah. That’s why. Mum cut me off. Damien made her, I reckon. I’m not allowedback at the house.’ He laughs sadly. ‘Joey said they even took all my pictures down, like they did yours.’

‘Shit, man.’

‘No. It’s cool.’ He kicks at the ground. ‘The right thing.’

I wonder if he feels it too, this guilt. He threw me under the bus so many fucking times. That timid little kid, terrified of his big, bad brother. I hated his weakness. Looking back, I probably treated him as badly as Damien did, just with fewer fists. The fact he did this for me, at least in part, makes me feel weird. Good or bad weird, I can’t tell.

‘So, are you going to help him? Whatever it is.’

‘Fuck am I.’

‘I can’t think what it’d be.’ He frowns, staring off. ‘A ruse maybe? Wouldn’t put it past him.’ He looks at me, the sudden concern in his eyes startling. ‘Are you okay? I mean, with seeing him and all. That was probably shit for you.’

‘Wasn’t the best day I’ve ever had,’ I allow. ‘But I’m not here about me, couldn’t give a shit. It’s Tilda. Damien’s got it in his head that she and I are a thing, and he’s blackmailing me with it. Help him or she gets hurt.’

Tommy’s eyes widen. ‘What? That fucking twat!’

‘Yeah. So I really need to find out what’s going on. Preferably without involving him.’

Tommy rubs his shoe over a log as he thinks. ‘I can maybe ask Joey. Want me to give her your number?’

I nod. Because if he gives me hers, I’ll never have the guts to do it.

I get my phone out as he does the same. It’s a weird moment standing there as he punches in my number. Never thought I’d see the kid again, let alone the man, and to be seemingly on the same side too. My insides writhe with discomfort. I kick the log to dissipate it.

Tommy looks up when he’s done. ‘Just…be careful with her. Don’t want her mixed up in stuff. More than she already is.’

I nod again. ‘I’ll leave it up to her. I won’t push anything.’

‘Cool.’ He smiles, eyes suddenly lighting up. ‘She grew up good, you know.’

I take my phone back and repocket it. ‘She was always good.’

CHAPTER 15

Haz

Noon sun makes me squint where it streams in through the kitchen window. Slouched on a chair, I play with the salt and pepper pots, leg jiggling with impatience. Tilda helms the hob, frying up bacon and eggs and a pot of bubbling beans. Even got a little salad going. Could do without that but I’m not about to complain.

‘I am so turned on right now.’ I watch her sway to lo-fi in those tiny bed shorts. ‘Wife life.’

Her profile smiles, a hand coming up to brush hair behind her ear. Her nails are tipped with black and she’s wearing that moth ring I bought her. It’s turning her finger green, but she doesn’t give a shit. Face fucking lit up when I gifted it. It was only acheap thing, I told her as much, but she didn’t care. Always the thought with her. Makes her easy. I fist a hand thinking of all the fucks before who might have taken advantage of that.

There’s a shit-tonne of food. Think she forgot Elly’s at home this weekend and Nic’s off on some English trip. She hadn’t wanted to go but Tilda persuaded her, said she’d be fine with me looking out for her. Yeah she fucking will be. I smirk thinking how the fucker’d have to untie her from my bed before abducting her. And that’s even if he got that close. I’d rearrange his face first.

Nic, I was more concerned about. They’re staying at the residence of some long-dead author, right out in bumfuck nowhere. If Blakely wasn’t rooming with her, I might have made her reconsider going. But fuck it, that cunt won’t have us cowed. We’ve got lives to lead.

Especially this weekend.

I check the time on my phone. As soon as brunch is done, me and Tilda are out of here.

She presents it with a flourish, nudging my knee as I sit up. ‘You are such a man spreader.’