Page 159 of The Jealous Girl

Death.

Ben had done all that for me.

‘Well, anyway,’ Janine said briskly, waving her hand as though wafting away Ben’s existence. ‘Let’s get your things. It’s a long drive back to Birmingham.’

‘Birmingham?’ I questioned.

‘Of course. We’re taking you home,’ Janine said. ‘Where you should have been from the start. None of this would have happened if you’d just stayed where you belonged. This just proves how much you need us to keep you out of trouble.’

I glared at her. ‘You do realise that none of this was my fault, don’t you?’ I demanded.

‘Kirsty, be sensible⁠—’

‘No,’ I said, cutting through her. ‘You always tell me to be sensible. To be careful. To know my limits. My flaws. But not for one second have you ever told me that you believed in me. That I was clever. Capable. Good enough.’

I inhaled sharply.

‘I didn’t cause any of this. But I dealt with it. Without you.’

‘Janine and I are just looking out for you—’ Dad started.

‘No, you’re not.’

I could finally see it clearly.

‘You never have,’ I said flatly.

Ben was right. About them. About me.

‘I deserved better than the way Mum abandoned me. And I deserved better than the way both of you did too.’

I shook my head.

‘I won’t let you make me doubt myself any more.’

55

NOW

Late August

Sunday

‘That was impressive.’

I swung round at the sound of Ben’s voice behind me. ‘You heard all that?’

‘Enough to be proud of you for standing up for yourself,’ he said with a smile.

I shook my head. ‘No, tackling a guy with a shotgun was impressive.’

‘I just did what anyone would have done in that situation.’

I glanced back over my shoulder as Dad and Janine disappeared down the corridor. ‘Not everyone,’ I replied heavily.

Ben cleared his throat and lifted his phone. ‘Mum just texted, she’s in the car park. I told her not to come in.’

‘Aren’t they keeping you in hospital?’