He made a comment that it hadn’t been aired for a few weeks as he lifted my case from the trunk, and that he ought to take it out for a spin. As we walked through the orchard the cottage was still and quiet, the upstairs curtains closed. “Do you want a cup of tea?” Nick asked, stepping into the kitchen and placing down my case. “No, I’m fine. I just want to see him.” “Of course. He’ll be upstairs, in our room. You know where it is.” I nodded and walked around the island, being careful not to glance at its shiny surface for now was not the time to be bombarded with images of Josh fucking Nick over it. “Laura,” Nick said. I paused and turned. “Yes?” “Just…please, will you let me be part of it, whatever you have with Josh? Don’t exclude me, don’t hide things from me. I couldn’t bear to be an outsider in my own home, in my own relationship.” “That’s the last thing I intend to do.” It twisted me up inside to think of causing Nick more pain, or creating more distressing situations for him to cope with.
