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Clearly, Oliver didn’t believe a word of it.
“I’ve only got instant coffee.” She flailed. “I’m saving up for one of those capsule machines. But I guess you probably disapprove of all that plastic waste.”
She poured water over coffee granules and went to hand him the mug.
He was still staring at her out of unblinking eyes. “You know you’re the only girl Aaron’s ever got close to, don’t you?”
She glanced down at the mug in her hand.Don’t wobble, don’t wobble. Oliver took the mug and she gave what she hoped was a dismissive little snort as she turned away. “Well, that doesn’t mean much considering Aaron’s track record, does it?”
She busied herself untangling an Earl Grey tea bag from the rest of the pack. What was it with tea bags and those annoying little labels getting all snagged up in the strings?
“You’re referring to his Teflon-like sticking power in relationships?”
“I guess.”
“It’s because of what happened to Mum,” Oliver said quietly. “At least, that’s what I put it down to.”
Alice couldn’t help a surprised glance over her shoulder. “You mean when your mum died?”
Oliver nodded. “He’s talked to you about it, right?”
“Not really. Just that it was a head-on collision with another car. And that he doesn’t really think about it anymore.”
“Guess that doesn’t surprise me, I don’t think he wants to remember.” Oliver released an audible sigh. “The day it happened, Aaron was supposed to get a lift home from footy practice with another parent, but there was an information glitch and the woman left without him. So he phoned Mum. She was on the way there when… it… happened. Pretty hard on Aaron, knowing that.”
A long pause followed. Alice dunked the tea bag until her tea went murky brown. “Were they close? Your mum and Aaron?”
Oliver nodded. “Oh yeah, Aaron was definitely her favourite. I was Dad’s, that was pretty much a given. Those two just can’t seem to get along, no matter how hard they try.” Oliver stared broodingly into his coffee cup. “You know Aaron never cried? After she died. Not once. Not that I ever saw, anyway. And then his behaviour became a nightmare for a while. He drove Dad nearly insane with worry. That only made things worse between them, of course.”
Alice sipped her tea. It felt like an electrical storm was travelling up and down her spine and spiking into her brain. Why was Oliver suddenly confiding all this to her? Why had Aaron never told her any of it?
“When Andrea came on the scene it helped,” Oliver continued. “Well, by that I mean she helped Dad deal with Aaron better. And then, I don’t know, maybe because Aaron can’t stand competition, but when I graduated high school with good grades, he pulled himself together enough to do okay and get into university.” He lifted his head and smiled sadly at her. “And there he met you.”
Rescued me, she thought silently but didn’t say.
“You’re the only girl he’s ever brought home to meet the family.” He gave a short laugh. “The only person who could get all of us round a Monopoly board. We’re not great at relaxing together, being playful… but we did manage to when you came around.”
Alice felt a warm glow bracket her heart like a hug. “Thank you, Oliver, that’s really nice to know.”
They sipped in silence for a moment before Oliver said, “To be honest, we’ve all kept hoping…”
Alice’s fingers pincered round her cup. “Hoping what?”
“Oh, you know, that you two would get together eventually.”
She took a slurp of her tea and nearly choked.
Oliver didn’t seem to notice. “So when I saw you at the launch together looking—more than a little friendly, I guess, I nearly shouted hallelujah. I even pointed it out to Dad and Andrea.”
Bother, bother, bother.
“I’ve been trying to get Aaron to meet me for a drink—not that he’d tell me anything, of course—in fact, I’m sensing he’s avoiding me. So, when these books arrived, I thought, why not come here and get the truth from Alice?”
Alice put her cup down with a clunk, and did her best to peg together the pieces of herself that had been flying off in all directions while Oliver talked. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Oliver, but the truth is there’s nothing going on between me and Aaron. Never will be.”
Oliver looked truly disappointed. Sudden hot prickles beset the back of her eyelids. Thank goodness she was wearing her glasses.
“That’s a real shame.” He gave a grimace. “Especially since my life is so on track, I was hoping Aaron’s might finally be.” A sudden smile lit up his face. “I’ve just got engaged.”
