Page 43 of Fighting for the Forbidden
Chapter Twelve
Lauren
I didn’t anticipatehow empty I would feel as I walk away from Ben. Everything inside me screams to turn around and go back to him, but I know I can’t. That’s my heart talking, and it’s already got me in enough trouble where Ben Johnson is concerned. Before I let it have its way, my head needs to be certain that he’s in it for real this time. I already know I won’t survive the heartache if he walks away again and I’ve allowed myself to fall.
It’s late Friday night and I expect the flat to be empty, so I’m shocked when I hear water running from Joe’s room. He’s usually out getting drunk and having the time of his life by now. I’m definitely the quiet one in our friendship while he’s the wild child.
Propping my suitcase up in the hallway, I step into his room. “Hey, I’m back,” I call but get no response. Glancing around, I take in the mess that I’ve become used to. Thankfully, he keeps it all confined to his room.
A stack of papers on his desk catches my eye. I shouldn’t be spying, but the giant red FINAL DEMAND stamp on the top is kind of hard to miss. Walking over, my heart pounds when I see the logo for our letting agent at the top of the letter.
“What the fuck?”
Picking up the paper, I read words I never thought I would. Pay our outstanding rent arrears or face eviction. Joe hasn’t been paying the rent?
“Oh, hey, you’re back. Did you have…fuck.” Racing over, he snatches the paper from my hand and screws it up. “Did you have a good time?”
“What the fuck was that, Joe?”
“It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“I don’t need to worry that we’re about to be evicted? What the hell?”
“It’s just a mistake. I’ll sort it.”
“Look me in the eye and tell me that,” I demand when I notice that he’s looking everywhere but me.
He turns his dark eyes on me, guilt etched into every one of his features, and I already know that this isn’t a mistake. “I…fuck.”
“I give you half of the rent every month. What the hell have you done with it?” Anger starts to bubble through my veins. I really fucking want this to be a joke, because I’m not sure I can deal with anything else right now.
“I spent it.”
“All of it?”
“It was never an issue before, because the rent was covered.”
“What do you mean the rent was covered? Who was paying for it?” I don’t know why I ask. The tight knot in my stomach already knows.
“Lauren, this isn’t how it sounds,” he pleads, concern filling his eyes.
“You’ll need to tell me before I figure that out.”
“Fuck.” Lifting his hands to his hair he runs his fingers through and tugs hard. “Fuck.” I jump at the volume he shouts it at.
“Just tell me.” My hands tremble as I wait for the inevitable to fall from his lips. “Who paid our rent?”
“Your dad,” he mutters, and although I knew it was coming, I still feel like the world just fell from under me.
I drop down onto the edge of Joe’s bed as I try to figure out why.
“I didn’t have any other option at the time, and your dad knew it.” Frustrated with hearing the same words from so many people recently, I narrow my eyes and wait for him to continue. “My parents had disowned me. I had no money and nowhere to live. It was my only option if I didn’t want to sleep on the streets.”
My mind spins and blood rushes past my ears as what he’s confessing registers. Sucking in a few deep breaths, I look up. Joe looks like hell when my eyes land on him, but it doesn’t make me feel any better about all this.
“You’re telling me what exactly? My dad paid you to be my friend?” My body trembles with anger as I wait for his response. Surely those words can’t be true. Joe has been the kind of friend I could have only wished for, especially when we first became close. I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t in a great place back then…why would he want to spend time with me if heweren’tbeing paid? A sob rumbles up my throat as I realise that it’s true. He doesn’t need to say the words; they’re written all over his face.
“Lauren, it wasn’t like that.”
