“You knew how much she liked him, and you went behind her back. That was really hurtful. ”
I stared at Glenda, my jaw tight. She was standing in my own kitchen, acting like the victim.
She’d already told everyone I’d made a fool of myself over Fraser, the bloke she’d set me up with. Only he hadn’t shown up. An hour late, no message, nothing. I’d sat there in the Rovers like a plum while my so-called friend swanned off with him.
“This is ridiculous,” I said. “How can you blame me because you made a fool of yourself? You knew he was interested in me. ”
“Oh, don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped.
“I can’t help it if Fraser took a shine to me. Face it—you wouldn’t have stood a chance anyway. What were you going to do, use your womanly wiles to turn him? You knew how much I liked him, and you still did what you did.
That wasn’t just rude, it was nasty. ”
The words stung. It had been a long few months. My relationship with Theo had ended badly—abuse, bullying, all of it—and I’d been trying to hold myself together ever since.
But no one seemed to care about that. They just saw me acting out, drinking too much, sleeping around, pushing everyone away. “If anything, you should be thanking me,” I shot back. “Imagine if you’d cozied up to me in the Rovers and planted your lips on him.
He’d have been mortified, and so would you. I saved you from that embarrassment. ”
Glenda rolled her eyes. “Oh, thank you so much.
What a hero. Save me from myself. Saving this stupid woman, are we? ”
The argument went round and round.
She wanted an apology. I didn’t think I owed her one. We’d been friends for years, but lately it felt like she was more interested in poking her nose into my business than in actually being there for me. She’d even gone to George behind my back, asking people to check up on me.
As if I was some kind of charity case. It was humiliating. “Listen,” I said, trying to calm down. “I’m sorry you’re struggling.
I know you’ve been through a lot with Theo. I get that you’re trying to process it all. ”
“Don’t you dare bring Theo into this,” I snapped back. “Stop interfering.
You’re only doing this because you haven’t got a life of your own. ”
Her face hardened. “Your life is falling apart around your ears, and you’re being absolutely vile to anyone that cares for you. You carry on like this, and you won’t have a friend in the world.
You’ll end up a nasty, lonely, bitter old man. ”
That hit home because I knew she was right. But I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. Not to her.
Not to anyone. A few days later, I ran into Summer in the street. She always had a way of seeing through me. We grabbed a coffee, and she didn’t waste any time.
“You had a bunk-up with some random,” she said bluntly. “It’s not like you two have been dating for years, Todd. But that thing with Theo—you didn’t go through that ordeal alone, you know. Your friends fretted over you.
We worried. And Glenda never gave up on you. Whenever you needed support, she was there. ”
“Yeah, well, I never asked her to be,” I muttered.
Summer sighed. “I can see what you’re doing. You’re trying to numb yourself with drink and sex. ”
“Sounds pretty good to me.
”
“Well, good luck with the whole emotional detachment thing,” she said. “I suppose you think it’ll keep you safe. Actually, all you’re doing is hurting yourself. ”
“Stop with the amateur psychology, Summer.
You haven’t got a clue. ”
She looked at me, and for a moment, her eyes softened. “Being with Theo changed you. I really hope it’s only temporary, because—I want the old Todd back.
”
I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “The irony is, I’m more myself right now than I have been in years. ”
“That’s just not true, is it? ”
I thought about it.
She was right. Before Theo, I’d been a different person—always putting myself first, doing whatever I wanted just for the hell of it. But then I’d grown up. I’d realized there was more to life than just pleasing myself.
And where had that got me? Abused, bullied, beaten up. “Where did being nice get me? ” I asked, my voice quiet.
“Nowhere good. So from now on, I’m going to take whatever I want, to hell with everybody else. ”
Summer shook her head and stood up. “Good luck with that, Todd.
I hope you find what you’re looking for. ”
I watched her walk away, feeling the weight of her disappointment pressing down on me. But I was done caring. Or at least, that’s what I told myself.
I kept busy. There was always something to do, someone to see. My uncle Peter had come back from a job interview in Whitby—some arts gallery thing—and he’d made a right show of himself, or so he said. But then Ruby, the woman who’d interviewed him, called.
He stood there, phone pressed to his ear, his face going from confusion to disbelief. “Wait, you’re serious? ” he said. “You’re offering me the job?
”
He put the phone down, stunned. “I got it. I actually got it. ”
“Of course you did,” I said, grinning.
“You were never going to fail, Peter. ”
It was a small win, but it felt good. Everyone was moving on—Peter with his new job, Leanne getting close with that bloke Idris, even though I couldn’t stand him. Everyone except me.
I was stuck. Later that night, I ended up at the Rovers with my mates. We ordered a bottle of prosecco—or rather, my mate’s girlfriend did. She was gutted because Fraser, the bloke she’d been set up with, had stood her up.
One minute she was all chirpy, the next she was fuming. “Fraser’s over an hour late,” she said bitterly. “So obviously I’ve been set up. ”
“Oh, you’re kidding,” I said, trying to hide my smile.
“Has he not messaged you? ”
“Not a sausage. ”
“Well, you’re a fine figure of a woman, Glenda. It’s his loss.
”
Just then, Fraser walked in. He scanned the room, spotted us, and headed over. Glenda’s face lit up. “Oh, hello!
” she said brightly. “Fraser, so nice to see you. I was just telling these two how you’d stood me up. But here you are.
You must have been caught up somewhere. ”
He looked at her, confused. “Glenda, I’m here to see Todd. We had a date, remember?
”
Her smile froze. She looked at me, then back at him. “No. I—I think you’re mistaken.
Your date was with me. ”
He shook his head. “No, it wasn’t. I was set up with Todd.
We’d been messaging all week. ”
The table went quiet. Glenda’s face turned red, then white. She looked at me, her eyes wide with betrayal.
“You knew,” she whispered. “You knew he was meant to be your date, and you let me sit there like a fool, thinking he was mine. ”
I shrugged, trying to keep my cool. “I didn’t know what to say.
You seemed so excited. And then you went off with him earlier—you didn’t exactly check with me first. ”
She stood up, knocking her chair back. “I can’t believe you.
After everything we’ve been through. You knew how much I liked him. ”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Glenda. You’d only met him once.
You were infatuated with the idea of him. I’m sorry, but he wasn’t interested in you. ”
She looked at me like I’d slapped her. “You’re a piece of work, Todd.
You really are. ”
She stormed out, leaving me standing there with my mates looking at me like I’d just kicked a puppy. But honestly? I was done feeling guilty.
I was done putting everyone else first. That night, I walked home alone. The street was quiet, the lights from the houses casting long shadows. I knew I’d burned bridges.
Glenda wouldn’t be calling me any time soon. Summer had already washed her hands of me. But I didn’t care.
Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
