Love Reflection (Entwined Hearts #1) (14 page)

“I’m going to make her live with me for a while,” I tell him.

“That’s better,” he exhales.

I smile.

My pocket vibrates and I realise it’s my phone. I pull it out and see there’s a text from Con.

Con:
Thank you for calling me. Hearing your voice relaxes me. I hope to speak to you soon.

I smile again.

I finish typing the text and throw the phone on the dresser to go and shower. It might be 4.30 a.m. but I’m up and I ain’t going back to sleep now. At the last minute, I veer away from the bathroom, instead deciding to hit the gym and work out some tension. I pull on some joggers and a top, grab my keys and phone in case Soph calls and jog down the stairs to the basement.

An hour and a half later and I’m feeling calmer.

Aside from the Soph incident, I’m not sure whether I’m pissed because the douche that Pea is spending time with gets to see her more than me, or whether it’s because I shut her out for so long thinking I’d started to move on, and then one phone call and I’m sucked right fucking back in.

“Shit!”
I spin around and head right back into the gym and for the punching bag, although I mainly kick the fucker. Another twenty minutes passes before I stop and hold the bag resting my head against its gentle sway.

When all that shit happened years ago I wanted her back more than anything. Then she came back to the UK and I could tell she wasn’t ready, so I didn’t push her. I wanted her to settle and to heal. After a while we just moved into the friend’s zone, but my intention was always for her to be back at my side.
The idea of her being with someone else… fuck!
I punch the bag again trying to release my frustration. I was a dick leaving her alone in her head for so long, and then I fucked her and was an even bigger dick by going out with Tom the next day on that clusterfuck of a date. Ugh! Such. A. Bellend.

Still I was determined to get her back, but then the Saul thing happened. I shake my head. She hasn’t been the same Pea since. I mean before that she was slightly distant with me, but I know that’s because she knew what I wanted and felt the need to keep me at an arm’s length. But with everyone else she was still Pea.

She’s always been the most kind and caring person I know. Obviously getting that from her Gran, who was a truly amazing lady. She used to be like a live wire, always buzzing around and making everyone smile. She was also, and probably most importantly, the glue in our group, the one who has always kept us grounded. After the accident she fell apart, and Soph and I didn’t know what to do. Without Pea and without Saul we’d lost our family and lost our way.

Still this morning she’d said she was getting her shit together and I hoped she was right. It killed though, to know that I’d tried to help her do just that for months and couldn’t, yet within a few weeks this Dane prick had managed so much more than I was able to.
I wonder what the story really is with him?
I know one thing, he hurts Pea and I’ll kill the fucker.

I walk over to the benches and grab my towel. It’s still early and quiet. I wish I came down here at this time more often.

I stretch my body out starting with my legs and moving up to my neck. Even after my workout I can’t get shit out of my mind. My head is buzzing like I’ve got a thousand gnats in my damn brain.

There’s no getting away from it.

She’s mine.

She’s always been mine.

I’ve just forgotten for a bit. Ever since the Saul disaster I’ve become a pussy where she’s concerned.

Well, no more.

Tomorrow I start sorting shit out.

Pearson doesn’t know it yet, but soon she’ll be back in my life… back in my bed, and I’ll be back in her heart, in a permanent way. Whether she fucking likes it or not!

As we pull up at the hospital, I hop out of the car while Dane finds a parking space. I take the opportunity to call Soph’s mum. Not a thought I relish, but I’ll walk through hot coals for that girl. I take a breath and dial the number tapping my foot as I wait.

“Hello.”

“Hello, Mrs. Rawlings, this is Pearson Amberry. Sophie’s friend.”

“Hmmm, what can I do for you, Pearson,” she replies curtly.

“I thought I’d call to let you know that Soph was taken to hospital last night because she was attacked.”

“And how exactly was Sophie attacked?” she asks like she’s asking about the weather.

“She left a bar and was walking to find a taxi when she was grabbed by a man, we don’t know who.”

“Well, she
will
hang around in bars with untoward men.” She’s so cold I want to throat punch her.

“I assumed you would want to know. I mean she’s okay now, but she hurt her head pretty badly and she was concussed. They kept her in overnight,” my voice is getting louder and I can see people around me are starting to stare.

“It’s not like she died, Pearson. If that’d been the case, I would’ve been told first, no doubt.”

What a bitch!

“Well, now you know. I’ll make sure to let Soph know that you don’t give a shit then?”

“Well, now Pearson, there’s no need to behave in such a vulgar way. I’m unsure what you want from me? It seems like everything is in hand.”

I take a deep breath, it was either that or scream, and I didn’t think the tiny granny with her Zimmer frame walking past me right now would appreciate me screaming.

“I’ll tell Soph... I’ll tell her that she has me… always. I’m going to go and see my best friend now.” I don’t give her a chance to reply. I press the end call button and place my phone on silent and in my bag. Not that I’m at all concerned that she’ll call back. I learnt a long time ago that the women is heartless.

When I arrive at the ward, Soph is sitting up in bed staring out the window. “Hey girl.” She whips her head around and beams at me. “Pea, I’m so glad to see you. Help me escape?” She laughs.

I walk over and hug her, closing my eyes so grateful that she really is okay.

“The doctor said I’m good to go, so let’s go,” she says just as Dane walks around the corner.

He walks over and gives her a hug. She’s looking at me and I raise my eyebrow at her wondering what the hell has happened between them. She gives me a watery smile.

“Dane, she’s good to go. We can leave already,” I say to his back.

He pulls back and holds her at arm’s length and just stares at her.

“No going out with pricks anymore or leaving any place on your own at night. Period.”

“Don’t worry Dane, I’m not intending to date for a very long time. Like so long that my foo foo may get cobwebs,” she states and laughs.

Dane looks unamused which makes me laugh and add through the laughter, “Don’t worry Soph, I won’t let you get cobwebs. I’ll introduce you to rampant rabbit.”

She smiles and adds, “I’ve never needed him before, this will be a brand new experience for me,” she’s still joking, but I can see past her smile, she’s dealing, but only just. I’m going to need some serious time with her.

“Come on, funny girl, let’s get you home.” I gently tug her arm.

We all walk down to the car after Soph says goodbye to the nurses and Dane grabs her stuff. I brought some of my clothes with me so she didn’t have to try and wear her ripped dress home. Everything from last night is in a bag that Dane is holding. I’m pretty sure Soph will set the bag on fire with everything in it later. We get in the car and I slide in the back. Soph looks perplexed and then smiles at me.

“You’re doing better, Pea,” she says softly.

“I am. I’m bringing myself back.” She leans in, squeezes my hand and smiles, then she slides into the front and I’m amazed, yet again, at my friend who notices so much even when she’s been through hell. We drive back to my place and head inside.

“I’ll go make coffee,” Dane says and wanders away before I have a chance to tell him I want a tea.

“Pea, I have to get back home soon,” Soph murmurs.

This is it.

The moment that I’ve been building up to. I know she’s going to shout and argue, but I just have to dig my heels in and tell her for once, that it’s my way and she has no choice but to get on board. And I need to do that without upsetting her more.

Her mum made her life hell when she was younger, blaming her for things that were never her fault. Then, of course, she was never a good enough daughter. She wasn’t intelligent enough, she wasn’t groomed enough, and she didn’t speak posh enough. Soph tried when we were little to make her mum proud or even happy. I watched her do it for years, clinging to the hope that her mum would throw her even a scrap of attention and act like she cared. She didn’t even hope for love. Imagine that a seven-year-old child knew better than to expect love from her own mother. It still hurts, and it wasn’t even me it happened to. Then there was the major blow when Soph was nine and her mum started blaming her for the death of her father.
Shit!
That woman needed karma to bite her in the arse.

“Soph, come sit down with me sweets,” I say and nod to the sofa. We sit and face each other, like always, ready for a chat.

I grab her hand. “Soph, I hope you don’t get angry,” she tenses at my words but stays silent watching intently. “I’ve made a decision. It’s a decision on your behalf. I think it’s for the best and I know you probably won’t agree with me, but you have to understand where I’m coming from with this. Just bear with me and let me get this out...” I pause looking at her for a moment then continue, “For years I grew up watching you go unloved by your awful mother.” She flinches, but stays quiet. “I watched you trying to gain her love, trying to make her proud of you, trying to make her happy, and when nothing made a difference you tried your best to keep out of her way so she could have the ‘peace and quiet’ she always demanded from you. I watched you once when we were ten, do you remember? We’d been picked to star in the school nativity, you as Mary and me as the North Star.” She nods and a tear slides down her cheek. “I remember you standing there and bouncing up and down. You were sure she’d finally be proud of you. You were so excited, desperate to get home and tell your mum. I remember the look of wonderment on your face as you told her all about it.” I stop and catch my own breath to stop from crying. “I stood next to you when you told her, and watched your little ten-year-old face crumble when she told you, ‘she thought Mary had brown hair, and that they probably should’ve picked someone who could speak more clearly, and that Diane Taylor’s daughter Josie, would’ve probably been better choice for the part,’ and then to add insult to injury she told you, ‘she wouldn’t be able to make the nativity as she had a charity event.’ Her bloody excuse for everything that woman.”

Soph is silently crying now, the tears flowing freely. “She didn’t deserve you then, she doesn’t deserve you now either. When we were younger I wanted to save you. I thought if I could just become an X-Man or X-Girl then maybe I could get you away from her. When I was little I thought she was an evil witch. I watched her chip away at you over the years. To be honest, I’m surprised you even became a model, because at one point your self-esteem was so low, Soph… so low. There are so many more stories, you know that and I know that. The point I am trying to make – badly – I will add,” she smiles at me through her snuffles, “is that I couldn’t rescue you before, but now I can. You’re my best friend, my sister and for the time being you’re going to be living with me.”

Her eyes widen and she’s about to say something, but I interrupt her, “No, wait! This is non-negotiable, this is a done deal. I need you here as much as you need to be here. I love you, and that’s all there is to it.” I sit back and cross my arms in a ‘brook no arguments’ pose. The next thing I know she’s flung herself into my arms and is sobbing uncontrollably. I panic at first, but then I wonder if it’s just what she needs? A good cry? Maybe it’s cathartic, maybe this will help her in the healing process? So I just sit and rub her back whispering, “Shhh,” to her.

Dane comes back in while I’m comforting her and when he sees us his face goes soft and he smiles at me and towards Soph’s back. Then he twists around and heads back to the kitchen obviously wanting to give us some time.

After a few minutes of holding on to each other, Soph pulls away and composes herself.

“Pea, you don’t know what you’ve just done for me. You don’t know how scared I was to go back to my flat. I didn’t know what to do. I know I could always ask you, but I didn’t want to impose, so the fact that you told me this is how it’s going to be has given me such relief you’ll never know,” she stops but holds up her hand to indicate she wants me to wait to speak so she can finish. “You grew up with me. You saw my home life, but you didn’t live it so you’ll never really appreciate how soul destroying my upbringing was. You have to understand I had nobody to share that burden with or to go to when things got really tough. No siblings, no grandparents, nobody… just
her
. Then I had you and your gran. You tried to be there for me as much as possible. You kept me from becoming another statistic, in more ways than you’ll ever realise. I love you, Pea. You saved me when I was younger and you’ve saved me again today. I’ll always be here for you. You show me what being a family really is. One day I hope to be the kind of person you’ve always been. Kind, loving, trusting, thoughtful, selfless. People have always been drawn to you because you’re just that type of person. Drawing them in without even realising it. And you know what? Every single one of us is lucky to have you touch our lives. I know you haven’t been yourself lately, and you’ve shut yourself away, but I’m so glad that you’re coming back to us.” She hugs me and I feel a tear slip down my cheek, but it’s from happiness, to know that I have always given that to my friend, my sister.

A few minutes later and Soph goes to the bathroom to clean up and I wander into the kitchen to let Dane know it’s safe to return. He walks across and throws his arms around me and holds on for a few seconds.

“She’s right you know, you are all those things and so much more. I think you’re finally starting to realise it.”

I look up at him. “I’m not sure I’ve been the best friend I could’ve been, but I intend to change that starting today,” I tell him.

“Pea, I think by the sounds of it, you’ve been a better friend than you realise throughout the years. These people wouldn’t stay close to you, protective of you, making allowances for you if you weren’t worth it. And now? Now you’re taking the control back.” I look at him speculatively. “Yes, you are,” he chides, “and you’re doing what you need to do for your friend.” He gazes down at me. “You’re special, Pea, and I’m so glad you allowed me into your life to experience that for myself.” I’m not sure where he’s going with all this, but then Soph wanders in.

“So Dane, it seems I’m moving in here with Pea. Any idea where I can find a big strong man to help move all my things?” She winks at him.

He smiles at her. “How about we go to your place and collect what you need now, and then next weekend we’ll get everything else and you can cancel your lease?”

Soph looks at me with a question in her eyes and I just nod and look at Dane.

“That sounds perfect. Let’s get going now so we can get back and I can get the dinner on.”

The day slips away quickly and that night after Dane has gone home, Soph and I are sitting on the sofa watching bad Sunday night television. I look at Soph as she receives a text and frowns at the phone.