“I’m so sorry, Ryley.”
“Did you know?” I asked, pulling away from him and frowning, praying he’d answer in the negative.
“Shit, no, of course not. I’ve never trusted him though. I told you he wasn’t good enough for you. He’s a boy. You were going to marry a boy, and you… you need a man.”
“I don’t need anyone.” I gritted my teeth and yanked my face free of his clutches. “Leave me alone, all of you. I’m done with all of your shit.”
I saw Daisy coming towards me, with Lisa and Maddie in tow. But what really surprised me was seeing Chloe with them too. She had her arm linked through Daisy’s and looked ready to release hell.
“What’s going on, chick?” Daisy held her hand out to me, her face awash with genuine concern.
“Can we leave? I need to get out of here.”
“Sure. What’s happened though? Has Liam upset you? He’s an asshole, we all know that, but you can’t let him spoil your night. There’s puddles outside that are deeper and more meaningful than he is.”
“Please… just get me out of here. I’ll talk to you outside.”
“Look after her and wait there,” Cillian said to the others, but I wasn’t about to wait around for whatever or rather whoever Cillian was about to call on. It was embarrassing enough knowing my boyfriend had to look elsewhere to get his kicks, without the almighty Jackson Caine being in on the joke that was my love life.
“Let’s just go.” I strode forward with purpose. I needed to get some fresh air. How was I ever going to face Justin again after what I’d seen? What was I going to tell everyone? I felt so ashamed.
I stumbled out of the club onto the pavement and held on to the wall of the building. Bile rose up in my throat as I desperately tried to put the vile images I’d just seen out of my mind. It was no use, they were playing on a loop in my brain, like some fucked up, hellish porn film.
“I hate Liam fucking Grant. What’s he done now?” Lisa rolled her eyes.
“He’s shown me what a lying, cheating scumbag my ex-fiancé is.”
“What?” Daisy almost choked as she questioned me.
“He has videos, Dee. Disgusting, dirty videos of Justin with other girls. God, I’m so stupid.”
“Don’t you dare say that!” Daisy looked livid. “You are not stupid. What a fucking twat. How could he?”
“I don’t know?” I cried, wishing this whole nightmare would end. My chest felt like it could cave in at any minute.
“Who’s Justin?” I’d forgotten Chloe was there.
“Justin is… or rather was, her fiancé. He’s really special, if you know what I mean. He’s like a slinky; totally pointless, but you can’t help smiling when you see him tumbling down the stairs.”
Any other time I’d have called Lisa out on her description of him, but right then, I couldn’t give two shits.
“But I thought you were with Jackson?” Chloe scrunched her forehead in confusion.
“That’s different, it’s… oh fuck. My life is just one big fuck up.”
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on here,” Chloe said. “To be honest, I’m totally confused. But you seem like a good person that’s having a really shitty time, and I know better than most what that feels like. If you need anything, anything at all, I’ll help you.” Chloe took my clutch from me and opened it, pulling out my phone and then smiled.
“You really need to get a lock on your phone screen, Ryley, but here… I’ve put my number into your contacts. Ring me if you need anything, okay?” She handed my bag back to me and glanced around, looking nervous. “I’d better head back in. I know Jackson will be having kittens knowing we’re all out here on the street, and I know Luca wouldn’t appreciate me lurking on street corners at two a.m.”
She flung her arms around me and gave me a warm hug.
“What the fuck is going on?” Jackson’s deep voice boomed from the club entrance. He wasn’t happy at all. In fact, he looked murderous.
“Chill out, Jackson,” Chloe said. “I’m going back in to the safety of your club. No need to bother Luca about any of this, is there?”
Jackson nodded, and Dennis appeared from behind him to walk her back in.
“What’s going on, Ryley?” His voice was softer now. It was obvious Cillian had filled him in on what he already knew. I wasn’t in the mood to pad the story out though.