Page 77 of Actually Yours

“You. Have. A. Girlfriend.” I articulate each word, trying to get them to sink in.

“I know,” he replies hotly. “And I really like Rebecca. But Amelia, well, she was special.”

I know that!my inner voice wants to scream at him.I’ve always known that.

“So, what was the plan? You leave the note and then take off, expecting what…?”

He has the decency to look somewhat ashamed. “I left the note two days before I was due to leave. If she’d called me and wanted to give us another chance, I’d have stayed.”

I’m floored by this information.Does Robby still have feelings for Amelia? Please don’t let it be so. We have enough obstacles in our way.

“And now?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Now what?” he has the audacity to look confused.

“How do you feel about Amelia now?”

I hold my breath as he ponders this, the time he’s taking to answer the question speaking volumes.

“Eh, I think I’m over it. It was just an impulse thing, you know? I have Rebecca now and she’s cool.”

The air whooshes out of my lungs.How can Robby speak about women like this? Like they’re interchangeable and he can pick and choose as he pleases? And how dare he put Amelia in this scenario, like she’s one of many instead of one in a million?

“You’re a jerk, you know that?”

Robby looks surprised that I’m speaking to him like this. Which is fair, because in his entire pampered life, no one had ever really called him out on his destructive behaviour. He’s forever been the golden child who can do no wrong.

“What’s up with you?”

I growl. A literal growl from deep inside my throat. “What’s up with me? I had to deal with a furious, very upset Amelia when she came here looking for you.”

“Well, sorry man.” He doesn’t look the least bit sorry. “But it’s not like you have a busy social life. You have the time to deal with these situations. And Amelia always liked you. I’m sure you smoothed it all over.”

I tuck that small piece of information away for later. Amelia told Robby that she liked me. My heart blooms, just a little. “So?That’s not the point. When are you going to grow up and learn, you can’t mess with people’s feelings on a whim?”

“Alright,” he huffs, sitting up and glaring at me. “I get it. Enough with the big bro lecture.”

It’s not nearly enough, if his defiant expression is anything to go by.

“I’ll call Amelia and apologise. She’ll be cool.”

The blood in my veins runs cold at the thought of Robby reaching out to Amelia.My Amelia.

“You leave her alone.” My voice is low and threatening even to my own ears. “You’ve done enough.”

Robby throws his hands up in surrender. “Whatever. It’s all in the past. I’m sure you’ve fixed it and Amelia is fine.”

Again, this is typical Robby. Happy to make a mess and equally happy to have someone else clean it up. Not that Amelia is a mess, even though she seems convinced otherwise.

“She is fine,” I tell him, my voice now firm with authority.I will make sure she’s always fine.“Just leave her alone.”

He stands up, turning his back on me. “Fine. Geez, man. I just got home and you’re already getting stuck into me. You know you’re not my dad.”

“I know that. I just wish you’d stop acting like a kid.”

With a grunt as his only reply, he slinks off into his bedroom, muttering a ‘happy homecoming to me’ under his breath. Like the brat that he is.

“Should’ve stayed gone,” I mutter in reply, then wishing I hadn’t. There’s something about Robby that brings out the worst in me. Makes me stoop to his level.

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