Sidelined (Game On 3)

“Hey, Bree.”

She looked at me with the kind of Bambi eyes that would have men rushing to her side but to me, they were just… eyes.

“Bree, please can you hear me out?”

“Nothing you can say will change anything.”

“Please. Bree, I need someone to listen. Is that so much to ask?”

In true Taylor style she’d managed to utter the sentence that struck a painful chord with me. What harm would be done if I let her speak?

“You have two minutes,” I told her.

“Thank you.” Her shoulders sagged with relief. “I’ve been the worst friend ever. The worst person ever but I only ever wanted to fit in with you. You and your friends were always so cool and respected and I was an outsider.”

“You weren’t an outsider, Taylor. We included you. I included you.”

“I wanted to be like you,” she insisted. “You’re beautiful and you always have amazing clothes, and a gorgeous house and… I just went about it wrong.”

“There isn’t even a word to describe how awful you were.”

She nodded. “I know. But before I lost my mind, we were friends. And we had the best times. I’ve never had a friend like you before. I want another chance. That’s why I…” she paused, her cheeks colouring.

“Why you what?”

She sighed. “The day I saw all of you outside Freya’s apartment… I followed you.” I opened my mouth to speak but she rushed on. “I wasn’t stalking you or anything. I just hoped I could find a second to talk to you face to face. Everyone was there, and I freaked out, and… Bree, don’t you even miss me a little bit?”

I missed her before. Right after it all happened. Even after she hurt me by using my past to taunt me. I got over it. I got over the way she treated me, and no. I didn’t miss her anymore. Not really.

“I’m giving you three seconds to get off my property.”

I started at the sound of Jude’s voice. Ha. Perhaps Taylor had hypnotised me. I hadn’t heard the gate open, but Jude strode towards us with annoyance written over his face.

“I-”

“Yeah, I don’t care.” Jude cut her off. “Get out of here, and leave my wife alone.”

Jude nudged past her and gently moved me out of the way before slamming the door in her face.

“Jesus, Bree. I thought you were finished with her.”

A look of impatience was on his face again, like I was a bad kid and he was my parent.

“I didn’t invite her.”

“You were talking to her.”

“Yeah. Because the only way she’ll leave me alone is if I listen to what she has to say.”

Jude shook his head. “You’re too soft on her. She doesn’t deserve to have you as a friend. You need to stay away from her.”

He was telling me who I could talk to now? Even though I’d already told him I’d made my decision?

My frustration from the last few weeks bubbled up inside me again, more furious than before.

“Aren’t you even going to ask about my day? Remember? I worked today. My first day, and all you can do is tell me I can’t talk to Taylor?”

“You said you didn’t want to talk to her.”