Chapter 19

Richand I backed off from each other a little in the next few days. I concentrated on how I was going to keep my friendship with Annie, tell my mum what was happening, and sort everything so Rich and I could still be together.

“Are you going out with Annie tonight, love?” Mum interrupted my thoughts.

“Uh, I think so.”

My mum gave me the look, the one all mothers manage when they can tell something is troubling their child. I knew what was coming next.

“Right, spit it out. Something is bothering you. It’s clearly over Annie, and I want to know what it is. Have you pair had a falling out?”

I winced. “Not yet, but I have a feeling we’re going to.”

She waited. She knew me well enough to know that if she kept looking at me, I would eventually spill my guts. I hated that about my mum. I loved that she always knew I was in need of talking, but I hated how easily she was getting this particular problem out of me. Maybe I just needed to talk to someone about it.

“Don’t kill me, okay?”

Mum’s eyebrows went up, and still, she waited.

“I’ve been seeing a guy, and it’s pretty serious, and I don’t think Annie’s going to like it at all. I don’t think you’re going to like it either. But that’s beside the point.”

Still, Mum said nothing.

Christ.

“It started over the last few months, I guess. I started to see him more and more and eventually, I admitted I liked him, and he admitted he liked me, and we had the most amazing kiss. It all kind of went from there.”

Mum nodded. “Annie likes him too?”

I shook my head. “Oh, Christ, no. It’s worse.”

I ran my hands through my hair. There was no easy way of telling my mum this at all. She might kill me, and I was pretty sure Rich was going to be on her hit list too.

Mum took my hands in hers. “Tell me.”

I stared at her. I wasn’t sure I could make the words come out.

“It’s Rich,” I blurted out, my heart pounding in my chest. I closed my eyes and waited for the backlash to start.

“Hmmm.”

I waited for more of a response. None came, and I risked opening one eye and looking at her expression.

“Liam, you’re an adult, he’s an adult, and to be honest, lately you’ve been happier than I’ve seen you in a while. I won’t say I’m delighted by it, but at least I know Rich, and I know he’s not a complete arsehole. Don’t think he won’t be getting a conversation from me about this, but what can I do, ban you from seeing him? You’re a grown man. But I will remind you you’re Annie’s best friend, and you and Rich need to be very careful about how this little fling is going to affect her. Is losing her friendship really worth it to you?”

I knew everything Mum was saying was right, even if her comment about it being a ‘little fling’ stung somewhat. Annie was going to be very hurt by all of this. She was going to probably never forgive me. She was my best friend, my almost sister, and had been for over fifteen years.

“I think that’s why I need to talk about it.”

“Is Rich worth it?”

I winced again. “Uhhh…”

Mum again raised an eyebrow. “He means that much to you?”

I nodded. “I think so.”

Mum’s response was making me more nervous. She was taking it too well, and I was expecting her to explode with anger about it.

Maybe she’s saving it for Rich.

“Look, I think you need to be honest with Annie, but I also know you’re going to have to think about that very carefully as to how you want to handle it. Get on the phone to her and get your asses out on the town tonight. I’ll think about how best to help you.”

I nodded. I wasn’t as relieved as I thought I would be at finally getting my secret out, but this wasn’t something that needed a rash reaction. I did what Mum suggested, headed off to my room, and fired off a text to Rich to let him know Mum was probably going to talk to him.

Shit.