Page 37 of Commitment Issues
Chapter Sixteen
Elliot
A quick glance around the pool area tells me Freddie’s not here. He’s been subjected to both Marcus and Gavin and if he’s decided to seek shelter back at the cottage I can’t blame him. I’m about to go and look for him, when he emerges from behind some shadowy bushes, his hand rubbing at his neck.
“I need a drink, and a large one.” The first words he says to me, a moment later. “And we need a talk, in private.”
“What’s happened?” He looks pale, even under the soft poolside lights.
Freddie shakes his head and makes for the bar, a man on a mission, and I follow him. A large vodka and tonic in hand, he downs it in one.
“Bloody hell,” he splutters, wiping his watery eyes.
“Freddie, will you tell me—”
“Andrew. He knows. About us, and our agreement.”
I groan as I thrust my fingers through my hair. If anybody was going to figure it out, it was Andrew. I’ve lied to my friend by omission, and my stomach churns at the thought that he must now think less of me. I’ve betrayed his trust, it’s as simple as that, and I’m a fool not to have confided in him from the start.
“I need to speak to him—”
“No, wait.” Freddie grabs my hand, jerking me to him. “Let’s talk, over there.”
Near the bushes, there’s a small stone bench, barely visible it’s so hidden in the shadows. His hand’s firm and warm in mine, and despite the shit show he’s just revealed, my galloping heart begins to calm.
“Tell me exactly what happened. I assume he was angry?” I say, as we sit down. I shudder. I’ve only ever seen Andrew’s temper truly break once, and it’d been seismic.
“He knows about us because I told him. Everything.”
“You did what?” My words fall from my lips as cold and hard as ice cubes.
“Just listen.” Freddie lays a hand on my thigh, his touch sending a tingling warmth through me. I shift, letting his hand slip from my leg, it’s a distraction I don’t need. “I went for a walk on the beach, and he followed me. He’d already rumbled us. How, I really don’t know, but he reckons nobody else has.”
“He confronted you.”
“He did, but he was very direct and very polite.”
Yes, that sounds like Andrew.
“I had no option but to tell him. It was either that, or I was going to have to leave, which would’ve definitely raised a few eyebrows.”
I slump forward on the bench. With my elbows on my knees, I stare down at the ground.
“I should’ve known better than to try and fool him. If anybody was going to see through it, it was going to be him. I’m going to find him, because I don’t want this festering.” I go to stand up, but Freddie grabs my arm, and pulls me back with a hard tug.
“He hasn’t asked me to leave. In fact, he said I should stay. Which is kind of odd. If I were him, I’m not sure I’d be so cool about it. And he’s not going to say anything, not even to Marcus.” Freddie frowns. “Why wouldn’t he tell him? They’re getting married in a couple of days.”
Why? That’s an easy one to answer.
“Because Marcus can’t be trusted not to run to Gavin with the news as fast as his legs can carry him.”
“What? Question marks over trust? Not the best way to start a marriage, or any relationship.”
The bitterness in Freddie’s words make me take a hard look at him. We may be in shadow, but there’s just enough light from the flares around the pool for me to see he’s frowning and his lips are pressed into a hard line that can’t quite control their slight quiver. Something hard and tight balls in the pit of my stomach. What, or who, has happened to hurt him? Because something, or someone, has. My heart goes out to him, because he’s too damn young for betrayal. The food and drink curdles in my stomach. Betrayal and the shattering of trust is something that’s meant to come later in life.
“Do you want to carry on with this?”
For a moment he says nothing, but when his face relaxes and his lips curve up in a smile, I know I have my answer.
