On Dublin Street(87)

“What’s going on?” Ellie asked softly, her brows drawn together as she watched us.


We mumbled a couple of ‘nothings’ back at her.


“Guys?” Ellie looked paralyzed. “Did the doctor call?”


Our heads jerked over to her and immediate remorse settled over us. “No.” Braden shook his head. “No, Els. We’ve got the appointment with Dr. Dunham later this afternoon, just as planned.”


“Then why are you two acting strangely?”


We stared at her impassively, but one of us gave something away, something big, because after a minute of searching our faces, Ellie’s fell. “You broke up.”


Braden ignored her. “Els, you should get in the shower, brighten yourself up a bit. You’ll feel better.”


“Because of me?” Ellie stood up, her eyes round. “You broke up because of me.”


I chanced a look at Braden but he was staring solemnly at Ellie. Like me, he hadn’t wanted to add any more weight to her shoulders. I turned back to her. “No, Ellie. Not because of you. This had nothing to do with you and it’s done. We’re okay. Don’t worry about us. We’re getting you through this minus drama.”


Her expression hardened, her chin jutting out mulishly. “You’re clearly not talking to each other, though. What happened?”


Braden sighed. “She doesn’t love me and I think she’s an untrustworthy, cold bitch. Now get in the shower.”


Since he wasn’t facing me I didn’t bother to mask the pain I felt at his words. Untrustworthy cold bitch. Untrustworthy. Cold. Bitch. Cold. Bitch. Bitch. BITCH.


I also forgot that Ellie could see me and her eyes turned dark with sympathy.


“Braden,” she whispered, soft admonishment in it.


“Shower. Now.”


Her eyes came back to me, worried. I couldn’t believe she was worried about me at a time like this. “Ellie, shower.”


“You’re worse than my parents,” she murmured humorlessly, but deciding she’d rather not face off with two of the most tenacious people she knew, she headed out of the kitchen leaving us alone in a thick, awful silence.


Finally Braden spoke, “You left some of your shit at my place. I’ll drop it off this week.”


He had stuff in my room too. “I’ll get your things together for you.”


It should be noted that at this point we were leaning against opposite ends of the kitchen counter, talking to the wall in front of us and not at each other.


Braden cleared his throat, “You came back for her?” Was that hope in his voice?


“Well, sometimes untrustworthy, cold bitches keep their word,” I answered stiffly, taking a sip of my juice.


Braden grunted and slammed his mug down on the counter. “She doesn’t need your charity or your f*cking guilt.”


Fuck.


Shit, f*ckity, shit, f*ck.


Clearly Braden had taken the night to let his anger simmer and boil over. I braced myself, trying to be understanding and not hurt him any more than I already had. “She doesn’t have my charity or my guilt.”


“Oh so I was right last night then.” Braden nodded. “Unlike me, she has your love.”


“Braden…” I choked out. I’d expected him to be like he always was. Braden was stoic, intimidating, immoveable and cool. Not vulnerable and bitter and angry. Basically a dick at a really inappropriate time. Then again, I’d dumped him hours after he learned his little sister might have cancer so, who was the bigger dick? “You don’t love me either, Braden.”


His eyes flashed at that before casting down my body and back up again, in a cold perusal that sent horrible shivers through me. His gaze came back up to mine and it was pale as ice. “You’re right. I don’t love you. I’m just annoyed I have to look for a new arrangement, especially when the old one wasn’t half bad in bed.”


I’d say I was a pretty good actor, but any more of his verbal assault and I was going to crumble under the pain. I turned away quickly, so he wouldn’t see what his words did to me. “I’d hoped that we could still be friends, but clearly you don’t want that. So can we just agree to not talk to one another unless we have to for Ellie’s sake?”


“If it were up to me, for Ellie’s sake, I’d kick your arse out and tell you never to darken our doorstep again. But Ellie doesn’t need that right now.”


Shock drew my head up and I gazed at him incredulously. “Are you kidding?”


He crossed his powerful arms over his chest and shook his head. “No. I can’t trust you. You’re f*cked up. I don’t think Ellie needs that.”


“Last night you wanted me here for Ellie.”


“I’ve had time to think about it. If I could, I’d get rid of you. But that would just cause Ellie more pain. She doesn’t need that right now.”


“You could do that?” I was almost wheezing. “Just throw me out of your life?”


“Why not? You did it to me last night.”