Gym Junkie

My eyes fill with tears.

And in that moment, he knows.

He steps back from me, flinching like I’ve just stabbed him. “I handed you my fucking heart on a platter in Hawaii,” he whispers.

“Brock...”

“So” He frowns. “I was the pitstop all along. You were always going back to him?”

“Brock,” I whisper, and I try to grab his arm and he hits me away.

“Is this what you did to Simon? Promise him your undying love and then throw it in his face?”

“That is not fair!” I cry. “He is sick.”

“I know!” he yells. “But you need to work out what the fuck you’re doing and what your fucking role here is.”

I stare at him through my tears.

“Do you want to be his girlfriend… or mine?”

“I love you,” I whisper as the tears roll down my face.

“That’s not what I asked, Tully.”

I drop my head and stare at the carpet. I can’t leave Simon. I just can’t do this. “I need to do what’s right,” I murmur sadly.

“And staying with him is what’s right?”

“Yes.”

I look up, and his eyes search mine, the room falling deathly silent.

He screws up his face as he loses control, turns to the wall and punches it hard, making a hole in the plaster. I jump back in a complete fright.

“Brock!” I gasp.

He turns and storms out, not saying a word, just slamming the door behind him.

I stare at it, my vision blurred. The lump in my throat constricts and I sob loudly.

“Brock,” I whisper into the silence. “Don’t go.”

Chapter 21

“So, the results are good?” Simon asks the doctor.

The doctor smiles with pride. “Yes, the results are great. The levels are on their way back up.”

I let out a sigh of relief and squeeze Simon’s hand in mine.

“You have a long fight ahead of you, young man. But I’m confident we can get you over this crisis,” the doctor tells him.

I smile and Simon’s parents hug each other in relief.

I look between the doctor and Simon. “When do you think he will be able to transfer back to Australia?” I ask. I’m so grateful for the medical treatment he’s had here in London, but Australia has cutting edge medical technology and we really want to get him home.

“I’d say he’ll be fit to travel in around three or four weeks.”

My heart drops. Four more weeks. That’s a long time. My mind instantly goes to Brock and the fight we had this morning. I exhale heavily. I want to be here with Simon. I couldn’t go home at this point.

God, this is a fucking mess.

The doctor fills out the charts and talks to the nurses. I hug Simon’s parents, and then him. “This is great news, Si,” I whisper as I hold his forehead to mine. “You’re going to be okay.”

He smiles and lies back, his eyes never leaving mine. My phone rings, and I scramble to pick it up. It might be Brock. I frown when I see the name Meredith lighting up the screen. I answer immediately.

“Meredith?”

“Oh, hi, Tull,” she says without a care in the world. “What’s up? Why did you call me so many times?”

I roll my eyes. Damn Meredith. I cover the phone with my hand. “I’ve just got to take this,” I whisper before I dart out into the hall. “What the hell, Meredith?” I whisper angrily. “Where the hell have you been?”

“My gran got sick, so we took a road trip to Queensland.”

“Oh.” My face falls. “Is she okay?”

“No, she’s not. She’s dead now. Buried in the ground,” she replies flatly. “Worms in her head. Wolf pack meeting tonight?” she asks, as if this is the only thing that matters.

I close my eyes as I try to get my head around the worms in the head comment. “I’m in London, Meredith.” I pause. “Simon is really sick, so I came to see him.”

“Oh, okay. Fly home now so we can have our meeting tonight.”

I sigh. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Tell him you’re busy.”

I smile to myself. If only things were as black and white as Meredith sees them, life would be a lot easier.

“Meredith, Brock has been looking for you. He was worried that everything wasn’t okay.”

“No. I’m fine.”

I stay silent. I’m not sure if I should mention anything about Peachy Sue until the boys are physically with her. I bite my bottom lip as I listen. She’s seems fine. Maybe this is all a crazy mix up?

“So, when are you coming home?” she asks.

I glance up the hall towards the room. “I’m not sure,” I sigh sadly. “Simon needs me.”

“Oh.” She thinks for a moment. “I thought you broke up with him?”

“I did.” I pause. “It’s complicated.”

“Are you having a threesome with him and Brock now?”

“No, Meredith, for God’s sake, I’m not,” I snap angrily. For fuck’s sake, she’s annoying sometimes.

“Is Callie going out with Brock now?” she asks.