Page 96 of The Side Road
‘It’s been fun, but it’s over.’
‘I didn’t take you for a chicken.’
‘I’m not a chicken. Why am I a chicken?’
‘Because you’re running away.’
She hesitated. ‘If I’m a chicken, then you’re pig-headed.’
‘You fucking rock my world – that doesn’t happen very often. I know you feel it too. For whatever reason, you’re not being honest.’
‘Well, this is interesting.’ She crossed her arms over her chest. ‘First, you call me a chicken and now I’m a liar.’
‘I’m calling it how I see it.’
‘Maybe you should get your eyes checked because you’re not seeing straight.’ She leered at him.
‘I have perfect vision. I can even see into the future, and you’re making a big mistake.’
‘I won’t change my mind. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck with the bike, and I hope you find the money.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Of course I’m serious. Oliver, I can’t do this. I really can’t. It’s no one’s fault. We just ran out of gas.’
He swept a hand through his hair. ‘I will sort this out.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘Please don’t do this. Stay with the program. Stay with us.’
‘Oliver, it’s over. You made the rules. I can back out any time.’
He paused, considering her. ‘At the first hurdle, you bolt. And it’s not even that big a jump. Okay, run away. Go back to your house on the hill. Goodbye.’
At home,Mia lay on the floor and Snood lay next to her, a metre of space between them. She rolled the tennis ball tothe dog. Snood stopped the ball with his paw and rolled it back to her. Mia pushed it back.
‘Are you enjoying this? Because it might be the most relaxing game in the world. Honestly, he doesn’t matter. I don’t care about him.’
Snood rolled the ball to her. She rolled it back.
‘Besides, loneliness is not the epidemic people make it out to be – it’s more like a sanctuary. I can see the value in living a monk-like existence.’
Snood always knew when she was lying. Depending on the depth of the lie, he would either walk away or ignore her. This time, he stood up and walked away. Not before picking the ball up and taking it with him.
‘Come back,’ Mia called. ‘I’m not lying, I’m omitting on purpose. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re mistaken.’
Snood turned and gave her a look that said, ‘You broke his heart.’
‘Better his than mine,’ she replied.
Oliver was like a flash flood over the dry country. Great while it lasted, but eventually the clouds moved on. Spending time apart would benefit them both. They needed time to reflect on their feelings for one another. It had been a whirlwind affair. Stepping back was a sensible approach.
But she hadn’t just stepped away. She had ended it.
From the sitting room chair, Quinn’s wonky eye gave Mia an amused, self-effacing look, which made Mia feel profoundly sad. Like stitches falling from a needle, she felt love slipping away. Stoicism was beyond her, and she cried like a bereft child, who, having taken her netball home, realised she had hurt her friends and ruined the game. If there was a loser in all of this, then it was her.
Eventually, she picked herself up off the floor. With theheels of her hands, she wiped her face. After a few deep breaths, she felt better.
She considered taking a bath. But there was only so much hot water, a pair of comfortable socks, and a cup of imported cocoa could do. What she needed was to curl up in a nook with a pleasant outlook. A place with a view of the garden. A place where she felt safe. One that she could peek out of and view the world. She lit a few candles and threw a rug over herself.
PART IV
