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She sighs heavily. “What happened with you and Albert?”
“He did what they all do, Meli. He walked away.” The line goes silent for a second, so I add, “It’s fine, though. I expected it. It’s kind of my own fault.”
“Don’t say that,” she murmurs.
“It’s true, isn’t it? It’s the same old story. I did everything I could to push him away until he got tired of fighting me. I got what I wanted.”
“But it’s not what you wanted at all, is it? You love him, Rosey. I wish you’d just be honest.”
I lay my head back and look up at the ceiling. “Why did he have to kill Archer?” I ask, my heart twisting painfully. “Everything was going good until then.”
“Did you book in with a doctor?” she asks, changing the subject. I eye the pack of pills mum gave me.
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“You keep saying that, but who are you trying to convince?”
I take the packet and pop out a small white pill, turning it over in my palm. It looks harmless enough. Maybe it’ll help. Maybe taking this pill will stop the hurt, lost feeling that’s ripping me apart. I stick it in my mouth and grab the glass of water from the table. “Do me a favour, make things right with Arthur,” I tell her. “I’ll call you later in the week.”
I wake with a pounding headache. Ollie is watching me from the opposite chair. “Are you okay?” he asks.
I frown, stretching out my aching muscles. “I must have fallen asleep on here,” I say, pushing to sit up.
“I tried to wake you this morning,” he tells me. “You were dead to the world.”
I snatch my phone off the table and gasp aloud when the clock reads four in the afternoon. “Jesus, I slept all night and most of the day?”
“I got in from school and you were still out of it,” he continues. I glance at the packet of pills guiltily, they’re clearly stronger than I thought. “Anyway, I gotta go.” He stands. “Dougie’s taking me for a drive in his Subaru. I hope the lads from school see me in it.” He grins, heading out.
Ten minutes pass before Mum arrives, letting herself in. “Hey,” she says brightly, freezing when she spots me still on the couch. “Oh dear, everything okay?”
I nod. “I think so. I took one of your pills. What did you say they were again? There’s no name on the box.”
She shrugs. “Dougie gets them. They’re good, though, right?”
“Not really. I passed out for almost eighteen hours.”
She smiles. “You must have needed the rest. Stick with them, they’ll soon have you feeling right.”
“Do you still take them?” I ask.
She nods. “Dougie says they help. I’m less of a cow when I’m on them.” She adds a laugh, but I’m not convinced. “Speaking of him, he’s out for most of the evening. Fancy coming over to watch a film?”
I nod. “Sure. Let me shower and change.”
We order takeout and watch two movies. I check my watch and it’s almost nine in the evening. “Ollie isn’t back,” I state.
“He’s with Dougie, he’ll be fine. They’re getting along so well. Take a pill, and I’ll text them to see when they’ll be home.”
“I’m fine, I don’t like how they knocked me out,” I say.
She takes the pack and hands me one anyway. “Trust me, they’ll soon begin their magic.”
I need magic right now, so I take it.
Chapter Thirteen
ALBERT
