Page 60 of Always Beth
‘This isn’t about me, Lauren,’ James says softly.
‘Well, it should be because I’m sick and tired of it being about me, the last few years it’s always been about me and now finally, it’s about you.’
What on earth are they talking about? I knew twins were close, but what the hell am I in the middle of?
‘You have your whole life ahead of you, James, and I’m—’
‘Don’t.’ He storms across the room and towers above her.
Pulling herself from the chair, she reaches out and he immediately recoils from her. ‘James…’
‘No, don’t you dare say it. Don’t you dare.’ Something in his voice has changed. I’ve never heard him this way.
He’s scared.
‘James, you need to accept it. I’m dying.’
He gasps for air and throws his arm across his face to mask his pain. ‘No…No. No. No.’
As I hear the crack in his voice, I know that his heart has just broken. As I stand silently, Lauren reaches out for him, but he shrugs her away.
‘Don’t.’
‘James, please?’ she pleads.
‘I said don’t.’ He forces the words out before breaking into unrelenting sobs and turns straight into my arms. A lump forms in my throat as I hold him close to my chest. How was he going through this, and I never knew? The pain is heavy and unrelenting and he was wearing it on the inside this whole time. I mirror Lauren’s gaze as tears silently trickle down my cheek.
She’s dying?
ChapterSixteen
Beth
Idon’t know where the time’s gone, but all I know is it’s late and after the events of the last few days, I’m now more confused and overwhelmed than ever. Despite profusely claiming I’d be okay for the five-minute walk from cottage to cottage, James insisted on walking me back. We’ve remained in a comfortable silence the whole time and the closer we get to my gate the less time we have left to address the one topic that never came up this afternoon.
Us.
I stare up, holding his gaze. ‘Thanks for walking me back, you didn’t have to.’
‘Well, I think I did, my character is already in somewhat of disrepute. I can’t add leaving a lady to walk home in the dark to the ever-growing list of undesirable opinions you’ve already formed of me.’
I smile weakly. Any discussion about whatever our relationship is, or was, now seems irrelevant in comparison to what James and Lauren have going on in their lives.
I shuffle uncomfortably from one foot to the other. ‘Oh, I don’t know, you’re not in my bad books completely. I’m sorry again, about everything.’
‘Everything?’
He raises an eyebrow and I realise that saying sorry about everything, is no more subtle than saying I’m sorry your twin has terminal cancer.
‘What I meant was—’
In one swift motion, I’m in his arms and his lips are on mine and it’s like the last twenty- four hours haven’t happened. He holds my head tenderly between his hands and slowly brushes his thumbs across my cheeks. Something about this feels bittersweet and I’d keep my eyes closed and remain in this moment forever if I could.
‘Beth.’ His breath is warm against my skin, and I shudder in anticipation of what’s coming next.
‘I’m sorry about breaking down earlier but thank you for being there for me.’
I curl my hands comfortingly around his muscular forearms. ‘I’ll continue to be there for you, I promise.’
