Page 89 of The Vow We Made
“What?” I ask while she raises her eyebrows. I point at my own chest. “You think it was me?”
“Maybe. I know how protective of Will you are.”
Stunned and little hurt, I shake my head in disbelief. “Victoria, if I was going to tell my brother, I’d tell him to his face.”
She drops her hands and sighs. “I know that, of course I do. Sorry. I just can’t imagine who would do such a thing.”
“Well obviously me.” Folding my arms across my chest, I straighten to my full height. She can tell I’m pissed off.
“Aiden, I really am sorry. You know I didn’t mean it.” She takes my arms, pulling them away from my body and folding them around hers. “I’m clutching at straws here.” She pushes her breasts against me while running her fingertip along my jaw. It’s a move she knows I can’t resist. I glide my hands down from her waist to her adorable, firm behind, pulling her closer while her fingers curl around my neck.
I’m about to get my real apology from her pouty lips, that is until I hear Will charging out of the front room, shouting at the top of his voice, “I know your sort treacle. Did you think we’d have a laugh? Were you just killing time?”
It’s clear Steph is crying. “It’s not like that Will.”
“I can’t mean that much to you if this is how you treat me. What is it? Not good enough for Mummy and Daddy? Wouldn’t I fit in to your hoity-toity world?”
Our lips are a flea’s man-hood from touching when we stop because Victoria is looking past me, towards the commotion. I’m thinking,could he not have waited a few more seconds to throw a paddybut Victoria already has her fingers laced with mine.
“Come on.” She tugs my hand and we head down the hall to where the action is. Bronte and Faith are doing a bad job of busying themselves with the magazines on the console table while Steph stands in front of Will, her face soaked with tears, her hands trying to capture his face and make him see sense.
“You’re being irrational. Come back in the lounge and we can talk it over,” she tries to reason but Will seems pretty set on leaving.
“You obviously don’t trust me, not in the way I trusted you. I told you it all Steph, laid it on the line, so it wouldn’t take much for you to do the same.”
I whisper in Victoria’s ear, “Don’t you think it’s a bit intrusive, with us standing here? We should leave them to sort this out for themselves.” I obviously wasn’t whispering quietly enough because Victoria, Bronte and Faith have daggers in their eyes. I hold my hands out. “I’m just saying.” I try to explain, not that it makes any difference. Will and Steph are too wrapped up in their own anger to care who’s watching.
When Will attempts to leave for a second time and Steph stands in his way, I decide I have to do something, but only because I can’t stand to see Steph in such a state.
“Will, for Christ’s sake.” I make my way over to my brother and move Steph out the way. Blocking his exit, I look him in the eye. “You’ve kept things back from her too, youknowyou have. So why don’t you just come back inside—?”
“And what do you know about it? Don’t tell me, your Mrs already told you about Her Ladyship here. Well that’s just fucking fabulous. Everyone knew but me.”
“Will—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks with narrowed eyes.
“I’ve only known a week or so and it wasn’t up to me.”
Bronte comes alive with this new information. “You already knew? So all that cocking about when you came home was just an act?”
I glance over my shoulder and throw ayou’re not helpingglare before turning back to Will. “This was personal and not my place. I was certain she’d tell you in her own time.”
There’s a tick to Will’s jaw as he listens.
“What’s the problem Will, why are you making such a big deal about it?”
“I’ve told her everything, bruv. The money, how I made it, the ex-wives, everything.”
“I think we need to go and make some tea or something,” Victoria suggests, rolling her lips together then herding a worried looking Faith and Bronte towards the kitchen.
I’m left with Will staring up to the ceiling and Steph to the floor. “Come on you two; don’t let this ruin a good thing. All you have to do is talk about it.”
“There’s nothing left to say.” Will informs me and attempts to leave again.
“It was me, Will.” There’s silence for a beat until Steph continues, “Iput the magazine through your door.”
He closes his eyes. “Why? Why would you do that?”
