Page 78 of Tainted Romance

“Allie, I need to tell you something. Please. Can we meet?”

“No, that’s never going to happen!”

“Fine. You leave me no choice. I hope you’re sitting down.” He paused for a moment. “I’m your brother, Allie.”

Everything seemed to stop for a moment. Jace’s voice faded out, the sound of running water disappeared, and all I could hear was my own heartbeat; and that was because it was beating so loud due to shock.

Then as quickly as I had entered the state, I was pulled out.

“ALLIE!” Zane thumped on the door. “Are you ok?”

“I have to go,” I muttered into the phone and hung up, and, as I did, Zane twisted the doorknob and let himself in.

His eyes flashed around the room and then landed on me. “Who was that on the phone?”

“No one.”

“Don’t lie, Allie. You went to great lengths to try and block the conversation from me.” Zane turned off the shower and bath taps.

My brain was ticking at half speed. Only two words kept running through it and those words being ‘Jace’ and ‘brother.'

“Allie?” Zane’s voice rose in frustration. “Would you answer me?”

In a numbed state, I slowly shook my head. “I told you it was no one.”

He looked as if he was getting angrier by the moment, and really, what right did he have to get mad? I hadn’t asked him who he was messaging.

“Look, Zane.” I paused in the doorway. “I need some space, ok, just leave me alone for a bit.”

Realization took over Zane’s face when he finally got that I was upset. He gave me a small nod, but I could still see the unvoiced questions in his eyes.

I managed to make my way back to my bed, and this time when I curled up to go to sleep, it wasn’t Zane keeping my mind awake.

***

“Want to tell me what the problem is?” Zane arched an eyebrow at me from across the table. “Or do you want to keep taking it out on your eggs?”

I had attempted to keep my behavior in check, and not let on that I was having a mental breakdown, but like most things, I failed.

“I told you. I’m fine.”

“No, you said you didn’t want to talk about it.”

“Same thing, isn’t it?”

Zane wouldn’t understand; heck, he wouldn’t even believe me. I didn’t even really believe it myself. I hadn’t let Jace keep explaining on the phone. I didn’t want to face it as a real problem so I chose to act like it just didn’t happen.

Like I said, I was trying and failing.

“Who called you last night?” Zane took a sip of his water. “And don’t give me that line‘it’s none of your business’again.”

“It is none of your business.”

“Allie.” He placed his fork down, and his face turned serious. “We’re on a breakfast date, so you could at least try and make conversation with me.”

“You’re choosing subjects I don’t want to talk about.” That and I was being stubborn. “Ask me how the weather is, and I’ll be sure to give you a detailed answer.”

Zane referring to this as a breakfast date nearly had me choking on my toast. In fact, any word with ‘dating’ and ‘Zane’ in the same sentence caused the gag reflex.

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