Page 115 of Tangled Up In You

“You’ve got to be kidding,” she said. “Look, he’s in no shape to see you now. You have to understand that he’s hurting and you being here will only make it worse.”

“Nonsense, my dear. Just lead me to him.”

Sophie appraised him for a moment. He had gained weight since she had seen him last and it had added to his usual disheveled appearance. At the same time, he returned her stare with a look of stubborn determination that told her it was no use in trying to dissuade him from seeing Gavin.

“Fine. I warned you though,” she said, and started toward the back garden.

He followed closely behind her. As they stepped out into the sun, he held his hand to his brow in an effort to adjust to the light.

And in that moment, Gavin saw who his visitor was and jumped to his feet, his entire body tense with hostility. Sophie knew that this wouldn’t end well.

“Look now, calm yourself,” Ian said, holding up both hands.

“I’ll tell you once,” Gavin said. “Get out of my house.”

“I knew it, I bloody well knew it,” Ian said in disgust. “You’re putting this whole thing on me, aren’t you? As if you’re not the very one who set this whole disaster up!”

“Fuck off, Ian. There’s no way you’re going to turn this around on me just so you can get by. You know damn well what you did was wrong.”

“And what was it I did, anyway? I told the truth—something you should have tried from the beginning. You wouldn’t have been in this mess if you had.”

Sophie watched as Gavin’s posture relaxed and his shoulders sagged beneath the weight of his brother’s words.

“What’d you come here for?” he asked quietly.

“To tell you to get this thing under control, if only for Da’s sake. He’s being humiliated by this.”

“Funny, that. Since the focus seems to, in fact, be on me. And because of you, my band has to suffer even worse for it.”

“What, the lyrics shite?” Ian asked with a smirk. “Give us a break. Like it was an original concept, or something to figure not every word was about Sophie. Yeah, like you’re so bleedin’ deep they needed me to clue them in!”

“Why don’t you go fuck yourself, Ian,” Conor said.

“Stay out of it,” Ian replied.

“Why don’t you stay out of it?” Gavin returned. “You’ve done nothing to help the situation. Tell me how you justify saying one word to that reporter?”

“At least the world knows you’re fucking human now, don’t they?” Ian said, spitting his words. “Everyone knows now this fairy tale you’ve concocted for yourself is bullshit, that you’re just some kid whose own mother couldn’t even be bothered.”

In a flash, Gavin raised his fist and punched his brother hard in the face, drawing blood instantly. Sophie cried out for him to stop but he kept swinging at his brother again and again.

“Conor, stop this!” Sophie said.

Conor hesitated before finally pulling his friend away. Gavin had left Ian’s nose bloody and most likely broken, his lip split, and his left cheek quickly bruising.

“You fucking arsehole,” Ian moaned as he cradled his head in his hands.

Gavin was still seething as Conor finally forcibly moved him to the far side of the back garden and held him there by the shoulders.

“Come with me,” Sophie told Ian, taking his arm.

“Show him the fucking door, Sophie!” Gavin shouted.

Sophie ignored him as she took Ian inside and sat him down at the kitchen bar. She quickly wet a towel and put ice into a plastic bag.

“You’re a mess,” she said softly as she gently wiped at the blood around his mouth.

“That’s your fucking husband. A real prince, aye?” Ian said, shaking his head.

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