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“Seriously?Anyway, I’ve got some news.”He popped his eyes and lifted his eyebrows.“We’veadvanced.”
What was he talking about?She must have stared blankly because he said with slight exasperation, “To the next level.We’ve decided we need to take our proposal to GameX.”
She rubbed at the line between her eyebrows.“Sorry, what?”
“Smidge.”Mark’s lower lip protruded.“I know you were never that interested in what I do.But come on, GameX is the biggest gaming convention in the world.”
“Oh, right.”
“Which means…” His look turned suddenly shifty.“I need to borrow a bit more cash.I’ll pay you back with interest once it’s been accepted.Which is a dead cert, of course.We’re going to make squillions.”
Something inside her threatened to snap.“You stole my savings, and now you’re asking for more.”
He planted his feet wide.“They wereoursavings.And I didn’t steal.I borrowed.And only because I had to spend my share on the bond and rent.That wasn’t really fair.”
“You chose to leave.”She stifled a little shudder.Thank heavens he had.
He waggled his brows.“Maybe we could rethink that.After GameX.”
“What?”Her eyes widened in horror.“No!”
“Oh c’mon, Smidge.”He put on his puppy dog look.Ew, how could she ever have found it remotely cute?“We were okay together.”
“Maybe once, years ago.When we’d actually do things together.You didn’t even want to be with me on holiday, remember?”
“I did, just not Scotland.We went to Japan two years ago.That was good.”
“Yes, because it coincided with a gaming convention.”She flicked a glance at the clock.Suddenly it seemed time had decided to speed up.“This discussion is going nowhere, you should lea—”
“I was thinking if you gave me a loan for another three grand, that’s tidy isn’t it?And I’ll pay you back all of it after we’ve got the contract signed.”
Her mouth gaped.“You’re crazy.”Now the tightness had spread to her scalp.“Besides, I don’t have it.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“I don’t.”
“How about your dad?He’d give you a loan if you asked.He’s loaded.”
“No WAY!”
He looked incredulous.“You have no idea how big this is going to be.”
“No, Mark.I’m not asking Dad.I’m not enabling you anymore.”
He gave a scoff.“Don’t use your snotty therapy words on me.”
Judith summoned every bit of strength she had.“I want you to leave.Get out of my house and go.And I want my money back.All of it.”
He stared at her armpit and she realised the stitches she’d unpicked had left a gaping hole.“I always supported your crafting shit, why can’t you support my interests?”
His barefaced lie almost winded her.She’d retreated into craft because all the intimacy with him had gone.
She stood up and drew her shoulders back.
“Do you know what I’ve learnt since you left, Mark?Relationships need work from both partners.Give and take.”Seriously murderous thoughts ran through her head.“And frankly, all you’ve done these past few years is take.”
Mark gave her a hurt look.The minute hand of the clock above his head shifted to 10.36.
