He rubbed his hand through his hair. ‘Because I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to be yet another thing you had to deal with. You’ve been going through a lot, you know? I didn’t want to add to that.’
‘So, you just felt sorry for me?’ she scoffed. ‘Poor little lost Tara, fresh out of rehab—’
‘You know that’s not the case!’
Aiden stood and walked over to the window, cranking it open. The air in the room was stifling.
‘You know that my dad died the day after my brother told us he was sick, right? Eli couldn’t help with the funeral, or travel back for it. A month later I sold my business and came to live in London to be nearer to him and his family. Are you only with me because you feel sorry for me?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Well, that isn’t my motive either. You are greater than the sum of your parts, Tara.’
‘OK, Aristotle.’
His futile attempt not to smile failed.
As they sat in silence, Tara felt empty. Of course, she’d known that Aiden wasn’t forever, she just never expected it to end like this. Deep down, she’d thought that when the time came, she’d be the one to bow out first.
‘Regardless of what I feel for Alex, I didn’t… Idon’twant to lose you. I’m sorry I fucked this up.’
‘Well, you did,’ she replied. ‘Christ, Aiden, you should have just been truthful with me.’
‘You’re right.’
‘In fact, you shouldn’t have come on this trip at all. Fuck being the good guy, Aiden, you should have been the honest guy.’
Aiden put his head in his hands. ‘So, what happens now?’
‘I’m leaving,’ she replied. ‘I’ll go back to Erin’s, tomorrow we’ll all go our separate ways and then, I guess we just all move forward. One foot in front of the other. But first, I need to deal with Alex.’
