Rubbing my eyes, I groan, hating that he’s right. I have nothing to do but wait, and talking to himisdistracting me from my thoughts of Teddy. “Fine,” I murmur.
“Can I take your full name and date of birth?”
“Bailey Smith, previously Bailey Harrison Townsend. I changed my name by deed poll when I was eighteen. Date of birth is 14th April 1996.”
“Okay, Bailey. In your own words, can you tell me what happened this morning?”
PC Rivers getsup to get more coffee. I’ve started crashing pretty hard. Recounting everything that happened in the past few hours has left my mind a mess.
“Bay!” a voice calls out.
I look over my shoulder, relieved to see Noah running down the corridor towards me. I stand up just as he barrels into my chest. I stay still as he clings to me, confused for a moment because Noah hates hugs. Tears start to stream down my cheeks again, and I wrap my arms around him. We stand there for a moment in silence, but when I look up, Robbie’s glaring at me. He looks furious, dark brows furrowed, jaw ticking.
As soon as Noah steps away, Robbie pushes past him and grabs me by the shirt, forcing me onto my toes as he pulls me up against him. Shock keeps me immobile as I let him shake me about.
“What the fuck have you done?” Robbie growls. “They won’t tell us anything. What did your psycho brother do to Theo?” My tongue’s so tied I can’t get anything out. Noah pulls on Robbie’s arm, shouting something I can’t hear through the ringing in my ears. He finally lets go when Noah barges a shoulder into him with some force, pushing him backwards.
“It’s not his fucking fault!” Noah shouts.
Robbie growls and takes another step towards me, but Noah steps between us and shoves his chest.
“He never even told you that hehada twin brother, Noah. No one knew!”
I flinch at the truth in his words. I kept my whole childhood a secret. However much I trusted Noah, I could never tell him I was … that IthoughtI was dangerous. I was too scared that he’d leave me like Teddy did, or that he’d report me to the police. It was stupid and selfish, but after a few years, I wassureI would never hurt Noah, so I stayed silent.
Years of guilt, and all for nothing … just because Shane wanted a plaything.
I feel sick.
“Go for a walk,” Noah orders, staring Robbie down until he relents.
“Fine. Theo’s family will be coming soon. I’ll be back when they get here.” He storms off and I can breathe again, but only for a second—everyone’s going to blame me for this, just like Robbie did.
“I shouldn’t be here,” I mutter.
“Why?” Noah asks.
“They’re going to hate me.” I start pacing, struggling to stand still.
“What happened? Why didn’t you tell me about your brother?”
I run my fingers through my hair, gripping tightly, as I shake my head. I can’t go through it all again. How many times am I going to have to tell the same story? Until it doesn’t even feel like my life? Until I’m forced to separate myself from it or let it consume me?
“Okay, stop. You don’t have to talk right now,” Noah says, grabbing my arm and pushing me into a seat.
Eventually, Teddy’s family arrive, and Robbie comes back, sticking to Isla’s side. When I look over at him, he’s glaring back at me, so I quickly avert my eyes.
I’m startled when everyone starts fussing over me, asking if I’m okay. Ellen pulls me into a warm hug, and I cling to her, telling her I’m sorry, over and over.
“Shush now, it’s not your fault,” she mutters, stroking my hair. I feel myself being passed into someone else's arms, and when I open my eyes, I see it’s Jake. I instantly burst out crying, clinging to him like a child. So many secrets I kept from him, too. Now it’s easier to see through all the lies my brother told me. IknowJake would have helped me if I’d told him what happened. He’s the closest thing I’ve had to a parent since my dad died, and I’m so glad he’s here. He holds onto me for a long time, and I notice Theo’s uncle Luke hovering close by. He reaches out and strokes Jake’s back, and I frown at the contact, curious.
After a couple more hours, the doctor finally steps into the waiting room. Just seeing him makes me sway. All I can hear is static. My body is about to give out when an arm wraps around my waist. I look up to see Robbie next to me, frown gone. His eyes are wet, but he’s smiling.
“Doc said Theo’s doing good. He’s out of surgery and going to the ICU.”
The pressure lifts off my chest, and despite Robbie’s attempts at holding me up, I collapse to the floor anyway, chest heaving.
He’s not leaving me.
