Page 68 of The Truth About You and Me
‘Jesus.’ He flops back on the sofa.
‘Nope.’ I shrug. ‘Just me.’
He drags his hand through his hair, his cheeks flushed. We’re quiet for a minute.
‘When, I mean, how did it start?’
I tell him about my parents dying, being placed in my grandma’s care, the day I first remember hearing her thoughts, how they didn’t match the words coming out of her mouth. I tell him about the foster homes, about Tess and Hellie, and all the while Jack listens.
‘It must have been so hard for you.’
‘It was. In the beginning. I’ve tried to have relationships, to live a normal life, but it’s hard to be around people when I can hear their most private thoughts. It’s not fair on them either. So that’s why I’ve chosen to distance myself. As best I can.’
‘Hence the gloves.’
‘Yep.’
‘That first night, when we were trying to open the fire exit… did you hear anything from me?’
I hesitate then nod. ‘It was more of an impression, a lot of things pressed together. I knew that things had been tough for you, that you felt you’d lost something important. That you didn’t feel whole, somehow. I wanted to help.’
He links his hands and taps his thumbs together.
‘And Luke? Did you know it was him?’
‘Yes.’ The word comes out quietly, like an exhalation.
‘I don’t know how to feel about that.’
‘I wish I could have told you straight away, but I wasn’t sure. Not at first and I…’ I meet his eyes, my face heating. ‘I liked you somuch, Jack. And I thought that maybe, if you got to know me first… that maybe you would give me a chance.Me. Not this weirdo who can knoweverythingabout you, anytime I want. And that’s why I said we should be friends. I didn’t want to?—’
‘You could have touched me anytime.’
I look up slowly.
‘Why didn’t you?’ he asks, head angled to the left as I consider my reply.
‘Because it’s an intrusion.’ His eyebrows gather. ‘I didn’t have your consent.’
He leans towards me. I let him come as close as he wants. For the first time, this is his choice not mine. But still I’m convinced he’s going to end things, that he’s going to ask me to leave and wish me well. And I can’t let that happen before I help him find the answers to move on with his life.
‘Jack? I…’ I look into those brown eyes. ‘I want to help you.’
He frowns.
‘Help you remember what happened, after you came out of the pub?’
‘I’m not sure I want you to?—’
‘Never mind,’ I say briskly. ‘It was just an idea.’
He rushes on. ‘It’s not that I don’t trust you. I suppose I’m afraid of what I might find.’
‘So let me find it with you,’ I say, my voice quiet. ‘You don’t have to do it alone. And if you want me to stop touching you, just say, and I will.’
He exhales loudly.
‘No pressure. It’s your choice.’
