“You’ve lied to me.” I stood. “You’ve been lying to me for months.” Pushing my hair away from my face, I let out a slow breath. “You need to go to Zayn.”
He looked up at me.
I shrugged in defeat. “I don’t have that money. I don’t know anyone who does. Only Zayn. He can help.”
“I can’t ask him,” Julian mumbled, his eyes fixed on the corner as if avoiding my gaze.
“Why?” I pressed, and my tone got firmer. “Why can’t you ask him?”
Julian’s silence spoke volumes.
“You’ve done this before?”
He gave a slow nod.
“How many times?”
“Enough.”
“Why have you never told me!” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. I felt like I was stuck in a never-ending cycle of desperation lately. I shook my head in disbelief. “Well, that’s just fan-fucking-tastic,” I said bitterly, the words heavy with exasperation.
Julian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know you’re angry, but I can’t keep asking him like he’s a personal cash machine.” He looked at his hands. “I promised him last time it was over.”
“Do you have another option?” I shot back, my eyes flashing. “Zayn’s the only one who can cover this mess. Don’t tell me you’re too proud—or too scared—to reach out.”
He looked up, his eyes a mixture of regret and stubborn pride. “It’s not pride. It’s… I can’t, Isla. I can’t risk losing what little relationship I have left with him. He’s my friend. Ineedhim to be a friend, not because of what he can get me out of.”
I looked at him and felt my eyes widen. “You sneaky bastard.” I leaned over him. “You wantmeto ask him?” I felt a bitter lump form in my throat. “That’s why you’re telling me? You wantmeto go to Zayn.”
He looked away for a long moment, and when he finally met my eyes, his voice was low and heavy with resignation. “He’ll do it for you.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “He’d do it foryou, you stupid prick.” That wouldn’t help anything. “I’ll go after work.”
Julian looked at me with hope. “Really, Isla?”
“Yes.” I turned my head away. “You need to go. I feel quite emotional right now, and I want to hit you so bad, so you better go.”
“I’m sorry.” He reached out and took my hand.
I nodded. “I know. I do.” I squeezed his hand. “I love you, but go. I need to think.”
After he left, I was so distracted that I decided to finish work early. Gerard and I had no set hours. He was happy for me to do my thing as long as it brought his hotel money. So far, it was working.
In my car, I decided to head home to change before I had to go to Elixir and ask someone I had actively avoided for weeks if he would bail out my best friend.
Pulling my hair into a ponytail, I took a deep breath. He wasn’t a monster. This didn’t need to be difficult. I picked up my phone.
Is there any chance I can come see you before the club opens?
I waited and then waited some more.
“Fuck it.”
Picking up my car keys, I grabbed my purse and headed out of the apartment.
My phone pinged as I got to the car.
I’m not there.
“Shit.”
Turning away from the car, I saw a guy walking towards me on his phone and thought nothing of it as I headed back to the apartment. I sent a text to Julian.
No luck, I don’t think he’s there. We’ll figure this out, I love you.
A shiver ran over me, and I turned to see the guy behind me. “Hi? Are you lost?”
He spoke into his phone. “Got her.”
***
