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I lean in, running the backs of my fingers down her cheek as caramel and waterlily wash over me in delicate waves. Ones I’d happily drown in for her. The touch of her skin against mine brings enough strength to me that I can get out the words I should have told her months ago.
“The truth is, I wish you all the happiness in the world. And I’d do absolutely anything to give it to you.”I kiss her on the forehead, screwing my eyes shut as my chest burns. “Anything, Firefly.”
She reaches for me, but I catch her hand in mine and squeeze it gently, before placing it onto the bed.
“You need to talk with your mum.”
“Ava?” Zena steals her attention, and she looks away from me for the briefest second, disbelief and heartbreak swimming in her eyes.
“Mum?” she sobs.
I turn away before I lose it and punch the wall.
“Look after her,” I say to the nurse, unable to look at anyone else in the room as I stride out.
Chapter 36
Ava
“It was you allalong.” I stare at Mum as tears fall freely down her cheeks. She looks like a stranger to me. She grips my hand tight, like she’s scared if she lets go, I’ll run away.
The nurse eases her away, encouraging her to sit in the chair beside Gramps’ bed as they continue checking me over. I answer their questions, my head heavy, like a fog has filled it. Once they’re happy that my dizzy episode was nothing more than lack of food and all the traveling, they help me sit up, and I eat a sandwich and drink a juice that someone fetches for me.
The entire time Gramps and Mum sit in silence.
The second the door closes behind the nurses, Mum starts spluttering.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I…”
“Shut up!” I snap.
She flicks her gaze to Gramps as if looking for back-up. But he stays silent, his warm fingers wrappingaround my hand in a show of support. He’s always been the one there for me. I squeeze it back gratefully as my chest shakes.
“I thought it was Jet,” I cry. “You let me think it was him!”
“I didn’t know,” Mum sobs. “You never told me that’s why you two fell out. I would have said something if I’d known.”
“Would you?” I pin my gaze on her, ignoring the pang in my heart as I study her, try to work out if I know her at all. Because I don’t understand how she could do this. There’s remorse in her eyes. But I don’t know what the hell to do with it.
“Of course I would!” She sobs louder, pressing a tissue against her eyes and soaking up her smeared mascara. “You said you were thinking about it. I thought you wanted to do it, that you’d be excited once we got started. It’s brought us closer. I’ve loved every minute. We’re going to be working together, filming and—”
“Was it for me, or was it for you? For your career? Because you sure seemed quick to suggest you play the role yourself.”
“I… It wasn’t like that. Mitch sent it. He thought—”
“No one should have thought anything! Except me!” I jab my finger into my chest so hard I might bruise. “Me!” I choke. “That was no one’s call to make but mine.”
It doesn’t matter if it was her idea or Mitch’s. She went along with it. She’s known this whole time.
“He forged my signature.”
Mum gasps, and the way her eyes widen tells me she didn’t know.
“Didn’t you ever wonder how Ophelia got the rights to it?”
“You gave them to her.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t.”
