?? he said without looking up at me.
Bloody hell. Pia Deltetto had been a part of Grinder’s life since before we became friends in our early twenties. They’d met on holiday when they were teenagers, before Grinder joined the Armed Forces of the Crown, before his time in Afghanistan. Of Italian descent, Pia’s passions ran deep, both the good and otherwise. The times they were together invariably ended in an exceedingly dramatic manner.
While her always-anticipated departure wreaked some amount of havoc on Grinder’s life, this time seemed far worse. I’d never admitted it aloud, but every time she left, I prayed it was her last.
“Has she left town, Grind?”
He shook his head. “I can’t do this,” he repeated.
It was then I realized how drunk he actually was.
“What can’t you do?”
“I can’t be what she needs me to be.”
“What does she want this time?” I didn’t even try to mask the irritation in my voice. I’d seen the woman stomp too many times on my best mate’s heart.
“She wants me to be the father of her child.”
I poured myself a shot of his whiskey, downed it, and poured another, all the while trying to calm the ranting inside my head. My feelings for Pia had gone from dislike to out-and-out hatred.
“Who is the child’s father, Grind?”
39
Rebel
Something had been off with Edge since yesterday morning. Every attempt I made to find out what, was met with reassurances from him that everything was fine, and not to worry.
His stress sat so close to the surface, I couldn’t help but see it. He flexed his right hand more often than usual, his jaw was clenched, and when he was deep in thought, his brow furrowed. It was almost time for us to leave for Tee-Tee’s, and I couldn’t stand it any longer.
I found him in the gym, sitting on the weight bench.
“If you don’t want to go to Tee-Tee’s, we don’t have to. And if celebrating Christmas with me tomorrow is too much, just say so.”
He slowly looked up, and his eyes met mine. “What’s this, Rebel?”
“You’ve been so stressed. You say it’s nothing, but it is, Edge. You asked me to tell you if there’s something bothering me instead of pulling away. This is me telling you.”
He stood, walked over to me, and cupped my cheek with his palm. “I’m sorry, Rebel. I promise it isn’t you. It’s nothing to do with us.”
“Do you need to leave?”
His eyes scrunched momentarily, and then his face softened. “No, this isn’t work either.”
I took a step back so he was no longer touching me. “What is it, then? If you aren’t going to tell me, then—”
“Stop. Please. I need you to trust me. Believe me when I tell you that while I do have something on my mind, it isn’t anything to do with us.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “I cannot be specific, Rebel. I promised I wouldn’t betray a confidence, but it’s about Grinder.”
I sat down on the weight bench, and Edge sat beside me. I felt such relief that it truly wasn’t anything to do with me, but it was quickly replaced with worry for Edge’s best friend. “Is there anything I can do?”
Edge smiled and shook his head. “You’re sweet to ask. I wish there was something either of us could do, but there isn’t.”
“Did you invite him to spend Christmas Eve with us?”
“I did, but he has other plans.”
“Christmas Day?”