Page 98 of Rafferty's Rules
‘I’m sorry if that offends you. I know he’s your friend, but—’
‘No drama.’ The next thing out of my mouth is an incredulous chuckle. ‘I just wondered.’
The way he behaved at dinner, I don’t blame her for her opinion at all.First appearances and all that.But he’s not normally that bad. He’s a bit of an arsehole, but I reckon he must be going through some personal shit. Which is kind of the reason for my fishing expedition, because he’d said something to me at the table that I didn’t want Lissa to overhear. And I can’t exactly ask her outrightifshe’d heard.
Maybe she hadn’t. Fuck knows I wish I hadn’t.
While Byron was in the kitchen and Amber was checking on the kids, Mum and Roman we’re clearing the plates and brining out more wine, which left Lis chatting with Chastity when Tom made a point to come and sit next to me, sandwiching me between him and Flynn.
‘I’ve got a question,’ he’d asked, settling himself, his eyes anywhere but on my face.
‘Go for it.’
‘It’s pretty awkward.’
‘Sounds like the story of your night,’ Flynn offered up. Flynn and Tom aren’t exactly best mates. I’ve always thought it a rivalry thing. Flynn is second to Byron in the family age stakes, and growing up, Tom would have his nose all out of joint if By invited Flynn to tag along to the movies, bike rides or whatever.
‘I didn’t realise I had an audience,’ Tom sniped.
‘Come off it, fuck head. There’s always an audience in this place.’ That’s mostly true, though there are the occasions where you wish there was someone around to stop you from fucking up. As Tom was about to remind me.
‘Calm down, fellas,’ I’d interjected, not in the mood to put up with their shit. ‘What was it you wanted to ask?’ I asked, turning to Tom.
‘The wedding, right? Amber sent me an invitation with a plus one.’
‘So?’
‘Well, I’ve kind of got myself into a bit of a fucking pickle with it. And I might’ve invited Becci along.’
‘Becci?’ At this point, my blood had run cold.
‘Yeah, Rebecca Keough. Her and Byron used to have a thing. Do you remember? Maybe you don’t.’ There was something about his tone. Something I couldn’t put my finger on.
‘Fuck,’ Flynn growled from his seat. ‘You’re asking Tee if he thinks it’s okay for you to bring some chick that By used to screw to his wedding? You’ve got a nerve.’
‘Tom, I might be younger but it doesn’t mean I’m dumb,’ I’d replied. ‘We all know what she did to him after his first wife died.’ My stomach twists painfully as I recall what I’d done to Byron, too. ‘And then there was the shit that went down when he got together with Amber.’
‘But nothing happened—it’s water under the bridge—. Besides, they’re getting married, aren’t they?’
Flynn just shook his head, his disgust further demonstrated as he’s gotten up from his chair and stormed away.
‘She’s got me by the balls,’ Tom hissed, watching him go. He’d rubbed his hand down his face, his head hanging low. ‘I dunno how I’m gonna get out of it.’
‘If you bring Rebecca Keogh to this wedding, you’d better be prepared for Byron never to speak to you again.’
‘But mate—’
‘I’m serious, Tom. You better make sure your dental plan is up to date, too. He’ll fucking lose it. You know he will.’
That shit was all bad enough to not want Lissa to hear, but Tom’s next words? They had to potential to rock my world, and not in the fun kind of way.
‘Becci said if I saw you tonight, I should ask you something.’ The fine hairs on the back of my became pins. ‘She said to ask you, and I quote,if you’d like looking up an old friend.’ It wasn’t his words, it was his intonation. He knew. That wasn’t an invitation. It was a threat.
Like I’d react to either, the bitch. And I will fuck him up if he thinks he’s joining in with her games.
‘You can’t bring her,’ I’d growled, my hands tightening on the arms of the chair.
‘Tee, she’s got me by the short and curlies. If I don’t bring her as my date, my career—my life—it’s all fucked.’
