Page 55 of Spiralling Skywards
I just kept staring at Olivia. Olivia kept staring at me and Liam.
“My phone died. I didn’t have my charger with me.”
Both of our phones were actually dead, we’d both been unreachable all day.
“I tried calling you last night,” Olivia said. “I left a voice mail. Did you not get it?”
“Like I said, my phone’s dead.”
“Since last night?” Her eyes darted to me with that question. “Have you not been home all night to charge it?” Her tone accusing.
“Why are you here? Did you sign the papers? You must’ve received them by now, I was gonna call Lennard Bowman tomorrow to see what was happening.”
Her eyes were fully focused on Liam again as she answered him. I felt sick as I watched their interaction.
“I haven’t signed the papers, Liam. Things have changed, I don’t want a divorce. We need to talk.”
Her voice had much more of an Australian twang to it than Liam’s, but it was soft at the same time. It made my heart stop beating. It solidified like concrete in the cavity of my chest until I was sure she’d finished what she had to say.
She licked at her plump top lip. She was beautiful. Not pretty. Not cute. Beautiful. In that way people from money are. Groomed. Perfect. Nothing like me.
I was wearing jeans, a pair of Timberland boots, my Roxy snow jacket, and Liam’s scarf wrapped around my neck. I felt inadequate in every way.
“Okay, let’s give you some privacy here.” My brother clapped his hands together as he stepped towards me.
“No!” Liam stated loudly in my head, but it was only in my head.
In reality, he remained silent.
I stared at him, begging, willing him with everything I had in me to turn and look my way. To reach for my hand, to ask, “You doing okay, bub?” the way that he did.
I got nothing.
My brother started to head out of the room, but Will held his hand out to me in exactly the way I wanted Liam to do. I stared down at it for a few long moments before looking up at his face. He seemed to be wearing the same devastated look that I probably was. I wondered if he’d realised what was going on between Liam and me when he saw us holding hands and was feeling my pain. As I took his hand and let him lead me out of my brother’s house, I wondered if he would tell Luke.
Away from my hopes, my dreams, and my neck-kissing happily ever after.
“Where’s your car, Sunshine? We’ll go to yours for a bit.”
“I’ll drive,” Will jumped in, saving me.
Again.
“I’ll only have to come back here to get my car later anyway.”
Will steered me in the direction of his BMW, and Luke followed. I sat in the back and remained silent. The vibrations that had hummed happily through my body earlier were now causing me to shake. I was cold and I felt sick.
She wanted him back.
He promised he wouldn’t leave me.
He’ll go back to his wife, and I’ll end up just likeher.
I snorted out loud.
I had been fucking a married man, Iwasjust likeher.
And I’d end up just like her.
