Page 86 of Only Ever You

Offer.

“Faye? You still there?”

Her feet were stuck in place right outside of the bathroom door. “Yeah … yeah I’ll tell him, Bennet.”

“Great, thanks. Good to speak to you, Faye. And Happy Christmas.”

“Happy Christmas,” she said numbly.

The phone went dead.

Static silence swept the room except for the thundering beat of Faye’s heart echoing out of her chest. Her body went still like a ghost had passed through her and had taken her soul with it.

The bathroom door opened three inches from her face and Bash caught himself before he walked right into her.

“Hey—You okay?” He lowered his stance when she didn’t answer and grasped her shoulders like she was a bomb about to detonate. “Faye? What’s wrong?”

Faye dragged her gaze up from the carpet, finding focus on the creases of concern at the corners of his eyes.

“Who areWoodrow and Sturridge?”

26

BASH

He staredat the phone in Faye’s hands.Hisphone. The namesWoodrow and Sturridgehovering between them like wasps about to sting.

“Where did you hear that?” Bash’s heart was heavy as it thumped.

“Bennet just called you,” Faye said, distress in her voice matched by the square set of her shoulders. “I thought it might be important since it’s late, so I answered.”

All Bash could do was stare at that damn phone. Hyper aware of the sounds of his breathing, his throat and lips went dry.

He’d heard a ringtone from inside of the bathroom and then Faye’s voice, so he’d assumed it was hers which had rung; her step-sister or one of her parents calling to wish her ‘Merry Christmas’.

He hadn’t expectedthis.

If she hadn’t answered it then none of the argument Bash was sure was about to happen,would. But he couldn’t blame Faye for that. No, this was his fault. Minimising damage was all he could do now.

It must be midnight but this couldn’t wait until morning.

“What did he tell you?” he asked as a chill crossed over his bare chest.

“I don’t care what Bennet said, Bash,I want to hear it from you—whatever you’ve not been telling me.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Isn’t it?” Faye’s sharp eyes didn’t believe him. When had she stopped trusting him?

Bash’s jaw feathered. “Can I have my phone, please?”

“No.” Faye tossed it backwards on the bed instead. All around her eyes were red, understandably so.

Her shock to hear whatever Bennet had told her came out as frustration. “You were upset I didn’t tell you about Manchester, but you’ve hiddenAmericafrom me. This is fucked up, Bash.”

“Because I’m not leaving.” His voice pitched too loud. “I’ve never wanted the deal. I’m not going. I don’t care what this new offer is – I’m not chasing the money.”

Bash looked Faye in the eye with every word that came from his mouth, because damn him if he was going to give her a reason to believe he wasn’t telling the truth.

---