Page 22 of The Jealous Girl

I’d known it was only a matter of time before the subject came up again. And yet, I’d still hoped to avoid it.

I lowered my spoon back into the bowl. The reminder of home, of family, was always enough to make me lose my appetite.

‘I can’t believe it’s next week. It’s come round so fast.’ Ryan shook his head in disbelief. ‘The idea of coming out here for a month between exams and graduation felt like ages but it’s gone—’ he snapped his fingers ‘—like that.’

I pushed my bowl away and stood, stepping out of the narrow kitchen onto the tiny balcony. I squinted in the bright morning sun as it warmed my skin. It felt comforting.

A month. That’s what we’d agreed on when I’d suggested this trip. I’d sold it to him as a break. An experience. An adventure. He hadn’t needed more persuasion than that.

I closed my eyes and breathed in slowly, listening to the hum of traffic drifting up from the street below.

Our apartment wasn’t much. Small. Old. Temporary. But it was ours, and it felt more like home than anywhere else ever had.

I opened my eyes and glanced back at him.

‘What are you going to tell her?’

Of course he’d go back. Why wouldn’t he?

He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. What’s your dad said?’

‘Dad?’ I stared at him blankly.

‘Hasn’t he been on at you like my mum’s on at me?’

‘Why would he⁠—?’

I clamped my mouth shut. Ryan’s gaze snapped to my face. I shifted awkwardly. I needed to be calm. Neutral.

‘What?’ Ryan asked, his brow creasing.

I shook my head. ‘Nothing.’

His frown deepened.

‘My family’s just not that…’ I dropped my gaze, my words trailing away as I searched for the right one. Interested. Involved. Close.

‘Yeah, but he must have asked…’ Ryan said, his voice lacking certainty.

‘Dad never asks about anything.’ The admission slipped from my lips unfiltered. I shrugged, like it didn’t matter. It was just a fact, detached and emotionless. But it never was.

I looked up cautiously, my pulse quickening as I searched his face. His confusion was still there, but there was something else now too. Something worse. Pity.

‘What are you going to do?’ I asked quickly, determined to shift the focus away from me, from my family.

Ryan sighed. ‘I guess we have to go back, don’t we? I mean, it’s graduation. Mum would kill me if I didn’t. Can you just imagine how many photos she’ll take of me in my cap and gown?’ He shook his head with a chuckle.

I swallowed. No. I couldn’t imagine.

‘I’ll check the flights later,’ he added. ‘See if we can stretch it out as long as possible before we have to leave.’

We. He assumed I was going with him. But then, why wouldn’t he…?

You won’t be able to manage on your own.

I inhaled sharply at the familiar words that slipped into my mind.

I gritted my teeth.