Part 76 (2/2)
”No,” he says in a flat voice and stands. ”I need to go.”
”Don't be like this.”
”I came back to London and found my girlfriend has flowers from another guy! How do you expect me to react?”
”I don't know who they're from! Somebody is s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g with us, Will!”
”Why would somebody do that? And how would the person know where you live?”
”You keep telling me you're famous! Fans do weird things, right?”
”Nice excuse, Fleur.”
Last night forged further the closeness I've never had with a guy before, a step into Will's world and his into my heart. How can he doubt me like this? Does Will know so little about me, he thinks I'd behave like this. I bite down the accusation that he used to, and I should be the jealous one, but I don't. What would be the point?
I could go to Will, hold him, and hope he sees the truth in my eyes; but he won't look at me. He's closed down.
”I'll talk to you later when I've got my head around whatever the h.e.l.l is going on between us.” I watch in shocked disbelief as Will pulls open the front door, steps away from my perfect day, and closes it quietly behind him.
I don't know who sent the flowers, or why; but this is not ruining what I have with Will.
In a fit of fury, I tear the heads from the flowers and throw them in the bin outside. Then I stand in the cold and stare at the clear winter sky, head spinning from a mixture of exhaustion and emotion.
What the h.e.l.l do I do? I understand his reaction because if I were in Will's shoes, I'd be suspicious too. The level of trust in our relations.h.i.+p isn't there yet, which is partly my fault for not telling Will about Shaun. If Will knew what was happening, he may not have jumped to this conclusion. But can I tell Will about Shaun? If Will loses his temper when somebody upsets me, how the h.e.l.l will he react to the Shaun problem?
No. I'm not leaving this. I refuse to let Will brood on the situation and to follow his trail of thought to the wrong conclusion.
A couple of hours later, I'm outside his small house in Greenwich, stomach flipping over and over as I wait for somebody to answer the door. What if Will's shock has turned to anger? Nate answers and looks at me through bleary eyes.
”Fleur?” He rubs his face. ”Thought you were already here with Will.”
”No.”
”Ah.” He steps back and opens the door further. ”I'll see if he's around.”
The house is littered with bottles and empty fast food boxes and I stay near the front door as Nate pushes a pizza box from the sofa. ”Sit.”
”Thanks.”
”William!” yells Nate suddenly. When there's no response, he yells again.
”What?” an equally loud voice calls back.
”You have a visitor!” Nate runs hand through his hair and eyes me warily. ”So, yeah. I should get you a drink?”
”I'm fine.”
”Right.”
We both sit. Nate folds his arms and I chew a nail as we refuse to look at each other. This time I don't feel animosity, but awkwardness. ”So, how's uni? Haven't been there much. Well, you knew that. Um,” he asks.
”Great. Thanks. How was your trip to Edinburgh?”
”Yeah. Good.”
”I enjoyed the concert last night.”
The stilted conversation continues; and in this moment, the twins become separate to me, visually. Not just the hair, but Nate's manner. His facial expressions are less open to me, and he has different habits. He flexes his fingers, scrunches his nose. Little things that make him Nate and not the twin I'm in love with.
This is also the moment I'm convinced Will's love for me goes beyond the physical l.u.s.t. They share the looks and the body, but Nate's eyes don't hold the tenderness that Will's do.
I worried I might be attracted to both twins; at first that wasn't possible because of Nate's att.i.tude to me, but now he's friendlier, he's still a different man however much he looks like Will.
Footsteps thud down the carpeted stairs and I turn my head. Will.
”Hey,” he says.
”Hey.”
Awkward conversation looks set to continue, with both the twins.
”Ah. I understand.” Nate grabs a plate of toast from the low table and heads upstairs. ”Good luck, man. I warned you, didn't I?”
Will steps aside to allow his brother past. ”Why did you come over?”
”To be mature about the situation.”
”And what's the situation?” he asks, voice cold.
”Something is happening with Shaun.”
Will straightens. ”What the h.e.l.l? You're with that douche?”
”What? No! You know what I think of him!”
Will narrows his eyes. ”Shaun sent you the flowers?”
”I think so. I can't be sure.”
”Why would he if you're not... with him? That makes no sense.”
”He's messing with me, Will. I don't think he took my no very well.”
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