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"Yes," I said "I do believe they have the sharpest hearing in the world"

"I do believe you knohole lot of crap that no one cares about," Dec said as he returned to the rooreeted hirietting canceled if he doesn’t stop being an irritating d-i-c-k"

"Ah" Ada on Ellie’s other side "Now it feels like Christlared at us both as she set down the last bowl of food and slipped into her seat at the head of the table across from Dad "Both of you zip it and eat"

"She’s the one that started it earlier on," Dec huffed, sitting down next to Braden "She’s been on ot here I don’t understand why she stayed the night when she has her own place And it’s not ot dumped"

I sucked in my breath and everyone with the exception of Braden and Dec tensed Braden’s reaction was to shtly across the back of the head "One, don’t swear in front of the kids Two, she didn’t get duhteen Grow up and stop being a pain in the a-r-s-e to your sister Apologize"

I was too busy avidly staring atto regain control ofafteret

The last feeeks had not been easy, to say the least I’d had to explain to everyone that Marco and I had broken up, but of course I couldn’t explain why I didn’t get into it, and I tried my best to appear as unaffected as possible However, no matter what I said they were all convinced that I was the devastated party in the breakup

"I’m not devastated," I’d lied to theether two months"

Yet the truth was I missed him so much I was in pain All the tis I would wake up alone but I would feel the press of his warainst mine like a phantom in the room I’d remember Marco was out of my life and that warmth would disappear and I was left alone in my flat My flat that had once been home and now just felt e him became too much, I’d reach for the phone, and just as I was about to dial his number, I’d reer together

Of course it s easier that Marco didn’t call or cos he’d left at my place and had Nish return them to him She did it for hi to each other, which made for a very wintry at that Marco had a son He’d asked her to stay quiet on the subject until he had the chance to tellto the news the way I had She was under the impression I was a selfish, coldhearted bitch

Nish and Marco could think what they liked, as long as I had space to lickaround family helped I’d stayed with my parents on Christh until the day after Boxing Day Although Liv, Nate, Jo, Ca Christmas with their own families, my parents’ house still felt full, it still felt war my best to hidea pretty decent job of it until my little brother decided to be a little shit

"Hannah"

I looked up at Dec and saw the reuiltily

"Don’t even worry about it," I replied quietly, and then flashed everyoneLet’s eat the crap out of this turkey"

Thankfully the atreat Christ Mum, Dad, Dec, and I had opened our presents, but Ellie, Adam, Braden, Joss, and the kids had yet to open theirs from us, and we hadn’t opened ours from them After dinner, I hurried upstairs to my old room, where I had a Santa’s sack with all their presents in it I was just going through it toinit was probably Jo or Cole, I answered it without even looking at the screen

"Merry Christht I better call since it seems you’ve lost my number"

Just like that, all my pretense at happy Christmas spirit fled out the nearbyand instantly frosted over in the December air "I didn’t lose your number," I told her flatly "I just don’t want to talk to you"

She gave me a loud, dramatic huff "Because I sent that picture? That was for your own good I was being a friend"

I shookmy look of incredulity in thea bitch because you don’t kno to be anything else You didn’t send that photo because you were looking out for me, you sent that photo because you were pissed off and wanted me to be pissed off too You’re spoiled and you’re spiteful Not to mention inconsiderate I should have broken off our friendship ages ago, as soon as I realized that you aren’t capable of thinking about anyone but yourself Don’t bother callingup before she could respond and instantly deleted her nu else told

"What was that about?"

I spun around "Adaave a nod toward "

Adam scowled at my reply "Did Marco cheat on you?"

"What?" I stared at him in surprise "Why on earth would you think that? No He didn’t cheat on me I told you, I just didn’t want to be with him anyuered sigh, wishing my family didn’t pay such bloody close attention "Look, if he’d done so awful to o and kick his arse But he didn’t I proh "Sometimes I don’t knohat to do with you, Hannah Els is worried"

I opened my mouth to reassure him, but there was a commotion downstairs --

"Ada!"

"I don’t recognize any of these people" I wrapped my arm around Cole’s shoulders and leaned into him as I looked around the roonitive functions appear to be in working order, so it’s not that"

He glanced aton his lips "And you used the phrase ‘cognitive functions’ Okay" He gazed back around the roonize some of these people But le?"

"Aye" I felt his concerned gaze onme to celebrate New Year’s, so I think you already think I am"

"Jesus Christ, leave it to you to be smart when you’re drunk"

"I’m not drunk I’m buzzed" I spotted a bottle of tequila "But I knoay to get drunk"

Following et the salt and the li hello to people

As soon as he was gone, I instantly felt despondent I hated that I felt despondent This was supposed to be a happy tiiven birth to another little boy in the earlyDay She and Adah we’d all already started calling him Bray While William was fair like his mum, Bray was already dark like his dad Only tia over Bray, even the kids Noere just waiting on Jo, as due this week

I tried not to let their pregnancies or the pregnancies that had come before theirs bother me Never would I resent a family member’s or friend’s happiness However, each new baby was a reminder that I would never have one ofa favorite aunt