My gaze flicked to his when he sank into the cushions of his dark blue sofa.
“Maybe. Things were, I don’t know… a bit weird in Brissy before I left.”
My brows shot to my hairline. Since being back, Ross had barely mentioned Brisbane or his time there. While I knew about his break-up, it had also happened a while before he’d returned to town. Other than that, I’d assumed he’d been having a good time.
It had only been when Craig had told me Ross was returning that I asked a half-hearted why. Not truly caring why he was coming back, just that he was.
Figuring that made me a shit friend, disappointment ached in my chest.
A grimace formed on my face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise. I just thought…. Actually, I don’t even know what I thought the reason was for you heading back north. I was too caught up in being happy that you were,” I admitted, ignoring the burn in my cheeks.
Dan’s smile was soft. “You’ve nothing to be sorry about. I haven’t offered up any information, wasn’t really keen to talk about it.”
I stilled at his words, holding my breath for a beat. “Shit, did something bad happen?” The thought that he hurt brought forth a wave of unexpected emotion. It had been a night of it, apparently. But my bullshit run-in with a high school bully was nothing to the concern thrumming in my veins at the possibility of Dan not being okay.
When he shook his head, I expelled a heavy breath. Despite the line etched between his brows, he formed a smile. “No… well, not physically. Perhaps a bit hurt there for a while.”
“Because of Duncan?”
Removing his glasses, Dan rubbed at his eyes and placed his specs on the armrest. “Well, he didn’t help.”
In all honesty, I didn’t know much about his past relationship. I hadn’t met the guy. All Craig had told me was Duncan was “all right.” Not the most glowing or helpful of reports. Beyond them being together for a couple of years, that was the extent of my knowledge.
My title as crap friend seemed secure, but self-preservation was one heck of a motivator.
I remained quiet, not sure what to ask or say, hoping he’d continue so I could understand Dan and his past better.
After a gulp of water, his expression softened when he directed it at me. “Duncan could be… difficult.”
“Okay?” I dragged the word out, immediately wondering why they’d been together for so long if that was the case.
“We were friends, actually, for a couple of years before we sort of, I don’t know, fell into a relationship. I met him originally through a guy at work. Duncan’s his cousin. We hung out, and I soon joined his group of friends. They’re who I hung out with most of the time, but when things didn’t work out between me and Duncan, our…hisfriends sort of closed ranks.”
“What, like all of them?”
“Not quite, there’s Mish and Lee, who I still saw, and Ian and his partner, Phil, but everyone else made it clear it would be awkward since they were friends with Duncan.”
My expression hardened. “It sounds like you’re better off without them anyway, if they can just do that.” What I really wanted to do was call them all insignificant arseholes, not worthy of his time or energy, and say I wished he’d come home sooner. I kept my mouth shut, not needing Dan to see just how riled up the idea of him being shut out and lonely made me.
“So yeah, your brother told me to come home, and it didn’t take too much convincing.”
“Good. You belong here.”
His gaze hit mine. “Yeah. That’s what I think too.”
A crackle of tension grew, and I swallowed hard. What I wouldn’t give to lean in and eat up the distance between us, finally pressing my mouth to his. I shifted a little, my body getting on board and liking that idea.
“It was a hell of a lesson,” he said, his mouth twisting as he worried his lower lip.
Dan’s words pulled me up short. I straightened, my back becoming ramrod straight. “What was?”
“Getting involved with a friend.”
The punch to my chest had me catching my breath. My heart squeezed tightly as his words bounced around my brain. I lowered my head, needing to look away, too terrified my pain would be front and centre for him to see. I struggled as my throat swelled with emotion, choking down my distress at hearing his words and the truth in them.
When I didn’t respond, he cleared his throat. “You okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” I croaked. “Just tired. Perhaps we should go to sleep?” The need for space brought me to my feet.
