Page 134 of Painted Truths

"What do you two fancy for dinner?"

Alex and I side-eye each other, knowing there's only one food we reach for when we need comfort, a slight smirk tugging on both our mouths despite the day's events as we answer in sync. "Italian!"

"Give me all the carbs, please!" And I rattle off some of the favourites that we always share when we go to our favourite place. "Make sure you order arancini. Maybe even two orders because someone doesn't like to share."

Raising his hands in defeat, Alex smiles that lopsided grin I haven't seen in an age, and I'm just so happy to be seeing him now after the events of today that I can't stop my own face from copying his.

Snorting at our display, Henry throws the menus back in the drawer, and once he's placed the order for enough food to feed a small army, he shows Alex to the guest bedroom. "There's a shower and full bath in the ensuite if you want to get washed up before dinner, Al. I'll lay out some of my clothes for you on the bed; you've filled out a lot since you last wore my shit."

The brothers share a smirk at some long-ago memory before Henry leaves to get the clothes from his closet.

Once Henry has departed, Alex’s face crumples like a piece of paper, his amber eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry all of this happened, Liv. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself."

Marching across the room, I wrap my arms around his waist and settle my head against his chest. "Alex. This was not your fault. How could you even think that?"

Huffing out a tense breath, he rests his chin on the top of my head, silent for several long moments.

"If I'd not had him drive you. Get close to you; maybe this wouldn't have happened.”

His voice rises, his words spoken at top speed, almost frantically. “If I'd paid closer attention to her instead of being involved in my own life. If I'd gotten her more help or given her more money… maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe she—"

His breath catches as a sob breaks from his throat. He takes a deep breath, followed by another. "Liv, maybe she would still be alive."

"Oh, Alex." My words are a faint murmur as I gather him as close as possible, willing my body to send him the strength to get through this. To realise it's not his fault.

"It's not your fault, Al." Henry's deep baritone echoes my own thoughts from his stance by the door's threshold. "If it was anyone's fault, it was Samuel Hastings and his deranged infatuation with Olivia.”

Alex’s chest trembles underneath my ear as I feel him inhale deeply into his lungs, his brother’s words a salve to his anguish.

“Your mother was in no way blameless having played her part too, but you, brother, are entirely innocent here."

At Henry’s absolution, I can feel some of the tension drain out of him before he plants a kiss on the top of my head and pulls back, focusing on me.

"I'm so grateful you're safe, sweet girl. Now, no offence, but you reek." Stepping out of his hold, my mouth dropping almost to my chest, the two men throw their heads back as loud, hearty laughter rings through the apartment. After the day from hell, I soak in their mirth with a contented heart as I fake flounce from the room, if only to encourage more of their camaraderie.

Reaching Henry's room—no, correction, our room—I grab my phone to see a barrage of missed calls and several messages in my group chat with Nola and Jo.

NOLA: Thanks for saying goodbye, horn-dog!

JOSIE: Leave the kid alone, woman. She's gotta go get some. It's been a long time coming! Geddit?! *devil emoji*

JOSIE: I know you were probs busy last night, but you should have cancelled lunch. I waited for hours, and you were a no-show.

NOLA: She sits on a throne of lies, Liv. We ordered after like 5 minutes. If even. Enjoy your day, whatever, or should that be whoever you're doing *wink emoji*

JOSIE: You know we're just joking, yeah?

JOSIE: Come on. Your vajayjay will be raw if you keep this up. You must learn to pace yourself, my young padawan *eggplant emoji*

JOSIE: Seriously, Liv. Where are you? Answer your bloody phone.

JOSIE: If I knew where loverboy lived, I'd be rocking up to the door. Seriously girl, I'm worried. Call me back!

It feels like a decade has passed since the events at Vivaldi when I last saw my friends. I hit Josie's name by accessing my favourite numbers, and she answers after half a ring, practically screeching down the line.

"The dead arose and appeared to fucking many! Jesus, Liv. You scared me. You scared both of us!"

In a spur of the moment decision, I decide to withhold the events of the last twenty-four hours from my best friends. Having barely accepted what happened and not yet having processed what could have happened, I'm not in a fit state to go there right now.