Page 35 of Push

Gwen had noticed. She’d warned me. Why the hell hadn’t I listened to her?

Ian side-stepped the bin and bent over in front of me. “Kay’s into you. Fucking head-over-heels shit.” His voice lowered. “I thought you were into her, too. Remember when we talked at the party? Out on the balcony?”

I stared up at him, calm, despite my thoughts spiraling out of control. Broken bits of memories clogged my mind, but I couldn’t slot enough of the pieces together to remember talking to Ian on the balcony.

He sighed. “You said you needed a chance to get Kay alone. You wanted everyone else to fuck off, so… Jesus… Fill in the blanks, Tobes. Remember?”

My heart stopped in my chest. “I didn’t say that.”

“Yeah, you did.”

Anger surged through my blood. I stopped thinking, and the last frayed edge of my self-control snapped. “I didn’t say that!” I shot to my feet. Why was he lying about this?

Ian’s palm landed on my chest, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Calm down, okay?” He didn’t want to fight me. Wise move. “That night, you were fucking wasted. Maybe it was just the booze talking, yeah?”

The shake of my head was a furious denial. I wouldneverhave said that. Not drunk. Not sober. Not in a million years. I was lonely, aching for Gwen to look at me, but I had no feelings for Kayleigh.Not one.

“I know how I feel about Gwen. I’d die for that woman. Ineversaid that about Kayleigh,” I insisted. “And even if I did, you tell me to go home and sleep it off. You don’t encourage me to screw around on my wife!”

He jerked a nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It was a completely dog act, but you’re my best friend—no matter what. You always looked out for me when the other kids gave me shit for being the poor kid of a single mum. You stuck by me even though your mother hated my guts. And now…” He sighed. “I thought it was my turn to look out for you. You’ve been miserable for months. I thought being with Kay was what you wanted.”

“Are you fucking crazy? I’d never cheat on Gwen!”

Ian’s palm disappeared from my chest. “You did, though.” He stepped back.

My fist stayed clenched by my side, but I was grateful for the space between us. “Ineversaid I wanted to stay to…to…”

“Youdid, though.”

My hand clawing through my hair, I threw a helpless look around the changing room. I’d give anything to retrace every step I’d taken and word I’d said the night of the party. I’d change it all. I’d never go. My stomach clenched so tight I thought I’d puke all over the changing room floor. I was tearing apart at the seams again—just like that moment with Kayleigh in her kitchen. I hated that feeling. Lost. No direction. And the one person I desperately wanted to talk to couldn’t look at me without disgust in her eyes.

“Tobes, I’m sorry. It was a giant fucking error of judgment on my part,” Ian said. “I thought—fuck—what was I even thinking? You’re family to me. I wanted you to be happy. That’s all I was thinking.” His head cocked to the side again, back to watching, a little warier than before. “Mate, if you need space to sort this out, I’ll cover you.” His smile seemed uncertain. “Family first, right? Take some time off.”

My refusal was instant. “No.”

Work was the only thing stitching me together. If I had more free time, I’d only waste it staring at the empty car park at the hotel. I needed to keep moving forward. Doing something—anything—butnotnothing.

I’d created this mess.

And now I needed to clean it up.

13

She Misjudged the Situation

Gwen

My home had turnedinto Grand Central Station. The doorbell had rung more times in the last month than it had in the three years since we’d bought the place.

I peeked at the baby snoozing on my chest. His thumb dangled, almost slipping from plump lips, but he didn’t stir. Tucking my hand under his butt, I ungracefully maneuvered myself off the couch a bit like a drunk crab and headed for the front door.

Ian was on the other side. Grinning, he held up a brown paper bag and a cardboard tray with two coffees.

“Hey, you. I come bearing—” His eyes widened at the sleeping baby, and he lowered his voice to a whisper. “Am I interrupting?”

Shaking my head, I hoisted Noah higher on my shoulder. “I was about to pop him down for his morning sleep.”

“Impeccable timing then. I’m here with gifts. Your favorite.” He held up the bag. “Avocado toast with extra feta cheese.” The cardboard tray with two coffees was showcased next. “Fancy cappuccinos from the café down the road.”

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