“I had a crush,” I admit.
Eddie’s expression drops. “I do not want to hear about my brother being crushed on byanyone. Dusty old man,” he grumbles.
“I was twelve at the time,” I continue. “I don’t remember exactly what happened. I’ve blocked a lot of it out. But my brothers found out. And I was teased, both at home and in school. My brothers were older than me, and the teasing…” I shiver as the memories come back, creeping into my veins like ice. “I endured it until one morning…I couldn’t leave my room. Could barely even breathe at the thought of it. I got dragged in any way, because the guards were called after rumours spread about your brother grooming me and doing things to me—”
I’m interrupted by a long string of curses. Eddie’s face reddens and I wait for him to settle, anxiously turning my glass of water.
“I told them it wasn’t true, of course,” I say when the outburst is over. “I only knew that Leonard was transferred because Ronan used to taunt me through my bedroom door about it. Chris came home a little while later and he packed up my things, and I moved in with him. Put it all behind me…except, youlooklike him. You’re the age he would have been back then, right? I know it sounds like an excuse, but seeing you—I get this anxiety. And seeing you standing next to the guy I liked always made it worse.”
Eddie is silent, but I can see the gears turning behind his eyes. Thoughts chugging and forming. His scowl is gone, at least.
“Believe it or not, I actually really like you,” I say. “Despite how I’ve always treated you, when Mark and I started going out, you made a genuine effort to get along with me. And you’re always sticking up for Mark, having his back. Plus, Bethany wouldn’t spend time with you if you weren’t decent. Her standards are ridiculous.”
Eddie’s lips twitch as if he’s fighting a smile. He quickly hides it behind his hand, pretending to rub his mouth, but it’s too late. I saw it. “She mentioned me?”
“I have eyes,” I reply. “And anytimeyou’rethere, she doesn’t have time to spend with anyone else.”
Again, he looks pleased.
“What you said, yesterday, about me playing Mark,”
Eddie puts up a hand to stop me. “I don’t think that’s the case. I didn’t even really believe it when I said it…I just could never figure out why you were such a dick to me, and you’d be laughing up a storm with everyone else. I built you up so much in my head as a two-faced fiend I’m almost disappointed you have a genuinereasonwhy you couldn’t stomach me.”
“It was never anything personal. And I’m trying to be better. I’ve gotten better being around Mark in public. I just have to work on being around you.In general.”
“You don’t need to force yourself,” Eddie says. “If seeing me brings back bad memories, I get it.”
“I mean, we’ve had an entire conversation without me being a dick to you. I don’t think I would have managed that a few weeks ago, even,” I say. Looking at the conversation optimistically isn’t even forced.
It’s only when I lean back do I start to shiver, my muscles quivering as I release tension.
My phone buzzes next to me. I turn it over, seeing Chris’s name on the screen.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“I’m surprised you were able to convince him,” Mark says, stroking my shoulder loosely. He’s eyeing up Eddie, who is innocently making us all tea, but Mark watches as if he expects Eddie to try dose us with arsenic any moment.
“He would have lost an entire chain of training courses if he pulled out last second,” I say. Not that Chris would give it a second thought. “I told him I’d be staying with you, and he can do all his lawyer business over the phone.”
“Lawyer business?”
“He wants to get a restraining order. Make sure Ronan has to keep his distance.” I explain.
Eddie approaches with tea as the front door opens.
I look up to see Sebastian walking in; clothes rumbled and clearly slept in.
“Where did you crash last night?” Eddie asks, eyeing him up.
“Car,” Sebastian croaks. He strides straight to Eddie and takes histea right out of his hands. He flops into the reclining armchair opposite us and releases a long, weary sigh. “I’m getting all the freedom out of my system before the weekend.”
“What’s this weekend?” I ask. “Oh,” I remember before he has the chance to answer. I glance at Mark. “It’s your family’s dance, right? The one you didn’t want to go to.”
Mark finally gives up glaring at Eddie to gaze at me, his eyes brightening. “You should come,” he says.
“I should go to the family dance you both seem horrified about attending? You’re really selling it to me here…”
“It’ll be far from horrible if you’re there,” Mark declares, and I can see from his expression that he’s taking to the idea.
