Page 71 of Fool Me Twice
“That’s...”Si’s brow creased.“Hang about.I don’t think his dad knows it was Zig that got them banged up.”
“Huh.”Adam paused.“In that case, all the more reason not to barge in like you think his dad’s about to deck him or worse.You don’t wanna give the game away, do you?”
“S’pose not.”Gods, Si’s knees went weak at the thought of putting Zig in danger.
“Right.So there’s no need for the rescue mission.He’s not a bloody damsel, and he doesn’t look all that distressed to me.We tried to warn him, and we didn’t make it, but it looks like he’s handling it on his own just fine.So we let them have their chat.Chances are, Zig’s gonna tell you all about it when he gets home, yeah?”
Si wasn’t daft.He knew what Adam really meant was,See if he tells you about it, then you’ll know if he’s been honest with you.Half of him wanted to say bugger that—he trusted Zig—but the other half, the shameful half that remembered all too well the pain after they’d split up six years ago, seemed to be in charge right now.
It wasn’t a betrayal of Zig’s trust, was it?It was simply giving Zig an opportunity to be open with him.
“Fine.”Si’s heart clenched painfully, and he let Adam lead him away.
Zig didn’t hang around after his shift.He cleared up in record time and was out the door while Ange was still saying goodnight.No way was he hanging around chatting when Si would be all on his own back at the flat.
Who knew where Dad had disappeared off to after he’d left the pub?Zig didn’t trust him any further than he could throw him.It’d be just like the old bastard to cause trouble and make sure Zig didn’t forget who was in charge.
Christ.Tears pricked at the corners of Zig’s eyes.He’d thought he was free.Thought he could be happy.Now...Zig couldn’t see any end in sight.It wouldn’t be only one job.He’d be sucked back into Dad’s life, and Si would never be safe.
He stopped dead on the street, gut-punched by a realisation.If he wanted to get out, he’d have to leave Glastonbury.Leave Si.If Zig wasn’t there, Si would be safe.
Or would Dad hurt him in revenge?God, if only he couldthink.Misery spread through his entire body.He’d never get out.He’d never be free because he was too fuckingstupid.
Zig balled up a fist and punched the nearby wall.It hurt like fuck, and it didn’t do a thing to distract him from the pain inside.Stupid.Zig’s internal voice was sounding like Dad again.
“Are you all right, my lover?”A large woman in long skirts was peering at him in concern, while her bloke, who was even larger, hovered protectively.
Zig wanted to burst into tears.He managed to dredge up some kind of a smile instead.“Yeah.I’ll live.Been a day, you know?”
“You go home and get some ice on that hand,” she told him firmly.“Have a hot drink, and watch something nice on telly.And make sure you call someone before you go doing any more damage to yourself.Samaritans, if you don’t want to talk to anyone you know.Google them.Now, are you going to be okay getting home?”
Zig nodded.“It ain’t far.”
“We can come with if you want,” she insisted.“So you’re not on your own.”
“Nah.I’m good.I’ve...I’ve got someone waiting.”His heart broke again at the thought of Si.“I better go.”
“Well, I hope they take care of you.Remember what I told you, won’t you?”
He nodded again and strode away, head down, before she could kill him with any more kindness.
Zig took a deep breath and pasted on a smile as he put his key in the door to the flat.Gotta act normal.He couldn’t tell Si what had happened.Si’s world was good, and kind, and decent.Dad, and his crimes, and his fucking vengeance couldn’t be allowed to taint it.And what about you, then?an inner voice demanded.Aren’t you tainting Si’s world by being in it?Zig felt sick.I’ll sort this out, he told himself desperately.I’ll think of something, and Si will never have to know Dad was here.
But he needed time to get his head round it all.To work out what the fuck he was going todo.
He kicked off his trainers and walked through to the living room, where Si was on the sofa nursing a can of beer.
“You all right there, my lover?”Si asked.
Was he giving Zig a searching look?
Nah, your guilty fucking conscience is seeing things.Zig laughed awkwardly.“Sounds bloody weird you calling me that.Seeing as it’s actually true.”
Si blinked.“That how you think of me, is it?Your lover?”
Ah, fuck.“Well, you know.We’re shagging, ain’t we?”And so maybe you ain’t my lover, but I’m bloody well yours.
There was a pause.“You have a good evening at the pub?”
