Page 56 of Fighting for the Forbidden
“You should have told me, Joe.”
“I wanted to. I intended to. But I soon realised that I really liked you, despite you being a miserable bitch and pining after Ben.”
“Thanks.”
“Would you put it any differently?”
“No.”
“You quickly became my best friend, Lauren. You truly did, and I didn’t know how to tell you then. You’d already had your trust smashed, and I just couldn’t do it to you.”
“So you just kept up the façade?”
“Yeah. I kind of thought your dad would get fed up with paying for this place once he realised you’d moved on with your life, but he never did. So I continued spending my wages every month—and your rent,” he adds with a wince, “and here we are.”
“Didn’t you think to do something when you started getting late payment notices?”
“I mentioned it to Nick and he said he’d sort it. I had no idea he had no money.”
“Jesus, this is such a mess.”
“I’m so sorry, Lauren. I never had any intention of hurting you. I was just in the right place at the right time. Maybe it was wrong of me to agree, but I don’t regret it because it brought me you. I might have been there to support you as a distraction for you, but you were the same thing to me, and I’ll forever be grateful for our friendship, even if you don’t forgive me.”
“Forgive you? Don’t be stupid.” Getting up, I sit myself down next to him. “You should have told me sooner. If I’d known what he was capable of, a lot of other things might have gone differently.” I glance over at Erica and she gives me a sad smile.
The three of us talk for hours. Thankfully the topic of conversation steers away from my dad and it almost feels like old times. Sadly, one look at the boxes surrounding us and I’m brought back down to earth with a bang.
“So what now?” I ask.
“Now, we start over without the lies and secrets.”
“That sounds like a plan, but you’re moving in with Erica and I’m about to lose my home.”
“We sort of assumed that you and Ben…” Erica trails off.
“We’re not together.”
“Why not? Lauren, he looks at you like you’re the most amazing thing to ever grace the earth. He loves you so much; it’s obvious every time he glances your way. It’s been that way since you were eighteen. Put the poor boy out of his misery!”
Both Erica and Joe stare at me, waiting for my response. I open my mouth to say something, to argue, but nothing comes out.
“You know we’re right,” Joe adds, but I don’t miss the sadness that darkens his eyes. “That man would move heaven and earth for you.”
I can’t fight the smile that twitches at the corners of my mouth. I can’t argue with Joe, and I’m starting to realise that I need to be brave. I can hide all I like, but at the end of the day, I’ll regret not having this time with him. Even if it all comes crashing down again, knowing my fears kept me from living life to the full with Ben would haunt me forever.
“Do you want some help packing?”
A few hours later, our flat is totally packed. It didn’t take long to realise that we didn’t have all that much stuff to begin with.
“I’m so sorry it came to this,” Joe says, regret written all over his face.
“It is what it is. I think we could all use the fresh start, don’t you?” Both Joe and Erica nod sadly as we each collect the last few things to carry down to our cars. The only thing left is furniture, which Joe says he’ll collect tomorrow in a work van—as long as the boss agrees.
I tell myself I’m not going to cry as the three of us stand in the car park. Nothing’s changing, not really. We’re all still friends. Yes, our relationships might be a little more strained than they once were, but things will get better again with time.
“This is stupid,” I say, my voice heavy with emotion as tears sting the backs of my eyes. “I’ll see you both soon.”
Two sets of arms wrap around me, and I lose the fight with my tears.
