Page 56 of Ace My Heart

“Uh-huh,” I grunted, as a key snicked in a lock and the door opened.

“Home, sweet home!” I crowed, taking two steps and collapsing face first onto the lounge.

I turned my head to the side, watching through hazy eyes as they talked about me like I wasn’t even there.

Thomas: “Does she get this messy a lot?”

Brad: “Hardly ever. Although this is the second time I’ve seen her like it this year. She was like this the night that Steve …”

Thomas: “What set her off tonight?”

Amanda: “She was serious with Grant Johnson – you know, the NRL player? They were together basically all through high school.”

Thomas: “And what’s that got to do with tonight?”

Brad: “He cheated on her with that woman who was out on her hen’s night. Susie Keens. It was going on for years – every time Mel travelled to compete.”

Thomas: “Why didn’t anyone tell her?”

Amanda: “We all thought she knew. Mel’s … she’s never been one to wear her heart on her sleeve. It was so obvious, none of us imagined that she didn’t …”

“That I didn’t realise that he was fucking her every time I was away long enough for him to get away with it?” I interrupted. I snorted as the three of them jumped like they’d forgotten I was there. Suddenly I felt stone cold sober.

“For the record, I didn’t know. Grant was … he was very good at hiding things from me. I … I honestly thought he loved me. I never thought we’d be forever, but I thought it would be my career taking off that would end it. Not that he’d been pounding Bogan Barbie basically since I popped his cherry.”

“Is it really that bad a thing, that he’s marrying her then, if you never expected to end up there with him?” Brad asked gently.

I chuckled humourlessly. “It’s not even that. I couldn’t give two shits about him marrying Susie. It’s just …” My throat got tight, and my eyes blurred.

“He’s the first guy I ever trusted … you know? The first one I ever let in. Towards the end, things were shit, and I knew a breakup was coming, but when he turned up to meet me at the airport and she was with him … I have never felt so … betrayed!”

I was sobbing in earnest now.

Amanda sat beside me, her hand stroking soothingly up and down my back. “You had every right to feel that way, Mel,” she reassured me. “What Grant did – that day, and every time he cheated on you – it was so shitty. He’s a shitty person who never deserved your love.”

“I feel like after the way that felt … anything more than just casual stuff … it’s not something I can do. Grant fucking broke me.”

I’d never said it out loud before. Never even really recognised it, but the truth of it hit me like a freight train. Pete … Ben … there had been no likelihood for anything long-term with either of them. Had that been what had made it possible for me to sleep with both of them?

“Well, that’s absolutely untrue!” Brad murmured. “You’ll find someone who is worthy of your trust, Mel. And when you do, that dickhead will be so far from your mind, you’ll forget he even existed.”

I swallowed, nausea rolling suddenly through me. “I’m going to be sick,” I gasped, lurching off the lounge and rushing towards the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before my meagre dinner, and many cocktails, came hurling back up.

Amanda was behind me, gentle hands holding back my hair. When the last of the dry heaving finally subsided, she stood up and flicked on the shower, helping me to undress and climb under the warm spray.

“Thanks, Mandy-Moo,” I whispered.

She smiled, placed a fresh towel within reach and walked to the bathroom door. “I’ll be waiting on the other side, if you need me.”

I had such good friends. I probably didn’t deserve them.

I woke up with a mouth that tasted like Connor’s litter tray, and a banger of a headache. Hello hangover.

Staggering into the kitchen, I poured a big glass of water, collapsing into a chair and sipping it slowly. Bit by bit, the previous night came back to me.

Susie …waytoo many cocktails … Brad and Thomas carrying me home … spilling my guts about Grant Fucking Johnson.

“Ugh!” I groaned, and my head throbbed as someone knocked on the door. I staggered over to answer it.

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