Page 107 of Butterfly

All the time.

“Why didn’t you ever write back?”

I wanted to.

“But you didn’t.”

Could not.

Ollie let out a tired sigh. “Captain, Green, Jack… They all would’ve helped you.” His eyes started stinging again. “Even one wonky word on a piece of paper would’ve meant the world to me…or…or you could’ve just told me to stop.”

Teddy picked his words.I never want you to stop.

Ollie slumped back in his chair. “Who the hell are you, Teddy? I don’t get you. I thought I did, but I don’t.”

Teddy eyes, gleaming and searching, said Olliedid.

He got Teddy better than anyone.

“You pushed me away again, when you knew I wanted the opposite.”

I know.

“You didn’t start that fire, did you?”

Teddy inhaled and exhaled from his nose.

“Just tell me that much,please.”

Time stretched from seconds to minutes, then Teddy slowly shook his head.

“Then why?” Ollie whispered. “Why say you did?”

My fault.

“It was your fault, but you didn’t start it? What does that mean?” Ollie glanced around the room. “Is this some self-inflicted punishment?”

Teddy stared at him, making it clear he wasn’t going to answer.

“Who was Gary to you?”

A friend.

“Boyfriend?”

Teddy shook his head.

“You didn’t kill him? You didn’t kill them?”

Teddy looked him dead in the eye.No.

“Tell someone,” Ollie blurted. “Wait—I can tell someone. I’ll tell Rory, I’ll ask him what—”

Teddy clutched both Ollie’s hands across the table, shaking his head so violently he blurred.

“Why not?”

Ollie pulled his hands away.

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