Well, there is one thing I want to say—something that’s been coming to me for a while now—but I don’t dare let myself say it.
“Alex, baby.” He draws back and his eyes are shining as he brushes his thumb over my cheek. “I know that as long as I’m with you, I won’t feel that way again.” He presses his mouth to mine in a soft, sweet kiss, then gathers me into his arms.
We hold each other in the dark room for some time, listening to the bustle of the corridor outside. Eventually, Michael lets out a weary sigh and stands, pulling me up.
“It’s going to be a long night. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
I survey his tired face. I don’t want to be anywhere else, but I also don’t want to overstep. “Do you want me to stay?”
He gives me a tiny nod and I slip my hand into his.
“Then I’m not going anywhere.”
We wander back out into the corridor, blinking in the bright light. Hand-in-hand, we turn and head back towards Henry’s room. I’m not looking forward to seeing Mel again, but I’m sure Michael wants to confront her about her lies.
Just as we are about to reach Henry’s room, the door swings open and a guy steps out. He’s tall and lean, with dark mussed hair and a silver chain glinting from under his leather jacket. He strides past us and my eyes follow him curiously.
He looks so familiar. Where do I know…
Mark. That’s Mark. That’s Cat’s ex-husband.
A chill rushes over my skin as I put the pieces together.
Surely not. She wouldn’t.
But when my gaze swings back to Henry’s door, Mel is standing there with her arms folded and her eyes narrowed to slits.
I glance at Michael, numb with shock, but he didn’t even notice Mark pass us. He’s staring at the floor, rubbing his chin, no doubt planning what he’s going to say to Mel.
Because she is fucking unbelievable. Not only did she lie about Michael cheating, she’s also lying to Cat.
What. A. Bitch.
Mel steps out of the room, pulling Henry’s door closed behind her. Her narrowed gaze is trained on me, but I don’t care. I haven’t done anything wrong, and any second now Michael is going to lay into her.
Her eyes flit to Michael and her beautiful face twists into a scowl. “Mike,” she snarls. The way she says his name makes my skin crawl. “The doctor came in and wanted to speak to us. But you were off, fuck knows where.”
I watch Michael expectantly, waiting for the anger I saw in him a few moments ago, but he just sighs. “Why didn’t you come and find me?”
“Because that’s not my job. A decent father would have been here.”
My lips part in shock. I can’t believe she would say that to him. Anger prickles hot under my skin as she continues her vicious tirade.
“Poor Henry is in there, suffering, but do you care?” She rolls her eyes. “No. You’re thinking only about yourself. Typical, selfish Mike, who—”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” The words slice through the air, stopping Mel mid-rant, and it takes me a second to realize they’ve come from me. “Don’t speak to him like that. Don’t you dare speak to him like that.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t get to talk to him like that anymore. He’s the best man I’ve ever met, and you are just a liar.” I turn to Michael, ready for him to step in, but he’s giving me a wary look.
Fine. Alright. I’ll get the ball rolling.
“He knows you’ve been lying, telling people that he was the one who cheated, when—”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Mel snaps, her eyes blazing. “What happens between my husband and I—”
“Your ex-husband,” I correct. “And it is my business if it’s a lie that’s still causing damage.”
Mel opens and closes her mouth, momentarily wrong-footed, then her gaze cuts to Michael. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her the truth,” he mutters. “She seemed to be under the impression that I was responsible for our marriage falling apart.”
I squeeze Michael’s hand and when he squeezes back, I feel a swell of triumph. Right. Time for him to put her in her place, once and for all.
“Well, you could have tried harder, Mike,” Mel spits. “This is your problem—you don’t try hard enough.”
“Look, I know I’m not perfect,” he says. “But—”
There’s a noise from Henry’s room and Michael drops my hand, pushing past Mel and in through the door. I go to follow after him, but Mel’s manicured claws curl around my arm and I freeze.
“We’re not done,” she hisses as the door to Henry’s room swings closed.
I feel a dart of panic at being alone in the corridor with her. It was one thing when I had Michael beside me, but now I begin to shrink.
“It’s a shame you’re involved with Mike now, right when Justin was about to offer you that column.”
What?
I step back to examine her face, trying to read her expression. She has to be lying. Justin would have called or emailed me if I’d gotten the column. No, she’s just using something she knows I want to manipulate me. God, Michael was right. She’s the worst.
“I don’t believe you,” I say, squaring my shoulders. “Justin would have contacted me if I’d gotten it.”
“Oh, he will. But you, unfortunately, will be unable to accept.”
I force out a breath, suddenly exhausted. “Fine. Whatever. Then I’ll talk to him about writing something else.” I glance over her shoulder to Henry’s room, hoping he’s okay.
“I don’t think so. We don’t just offer out jobs at random, Alex.”
Her words drag my attention back to her and I wonder,
