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“Most of the time you weren’t even here, Xander. Especially the first couple of years, while I was getting to grips with it.”
“We were building our career. It was a crazy time.” It came out defensive and he ran his hand through his hair. It fell back into perfect shape and she felt a moment of irritation. Her own hair would look a mess after he’d touched it.
She forced a placatory smile. “It wasn’t important. There was no need for you to know.”
“Maybe not then. What about later? When we were…”
“More than friends? You still spent ninety per cent of your life away from here.”
“We talked all the time.”
“It wasn’t something to drop into a phone conversation or a message.Hey Xander, BTW, I have diabetes.It’s not a life changer; for you. I’m still the same person.”
“It looks like a pretty big deal to me.” He indicated the pump. “Do you still have to do injections?”
“Only if I have a break from the pump, like if it needs repairs or replacing. I wore the first one in the shower not long after I got it.”
“Not a good thing?”
“This one is waterproof to eight feet.”
He raised one eyebrow. “No deep-sea diving.”
“Nope.”
He walked past her to lean on the bench. “Is it really no big deal?”
She shifted uncomfortably. Lying didn’t come naturally. “There are limitations.”
“Four years. Is that why you didn’t come to the US with me? It’s not like you didn’t travel. You’ve been in Canada all this time.”
“No. Canada was different.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t the reason?”
He must have read the quaver in her voice. “Maybe it had some influence. I still couldn’t come. What was I going to do for months on end while you were in the studio? I couldn’t get a work visa on such short notice.” And without a legitimate job, no affordable medical insurance would cover her condition in the US. Pre-existing conditions were the pits.
“I could have supported you. I’m not exactly broke.”
“You’re rolling in it, I know. You don’t get it, do you? I don’t want to rely on anyone else for what I need to live. Including medical treatment.”
“Miss Independence. I do get that.” He leaned both forearms on the bench. “Do my grandparents know?”
About his invitation to go with him? She fudged a response. “Know what?”
He nodded at her waistband. “About the diabetes.”
“Yes. Nan told Flo straight away. No secrets between those two.”
“I was sorry about your nan. She was a great lady.”
“Even though it meant I couldn’t swan off to Sydney with you?”
His smile was rueful. “There was that. But you owed her. I can understand why you couldn’t leave her. Especially once she got sick. Did anyone else know about the diabetes?”
This was what she’d dreaded him asking. “Tinker knew.”
“Why the hell would you tell him?” He pushed his fingers through his hair, almost yanking the long strands. The news had hurt, as she’d known it would.
