Free Of Stars & Lies by R. M. Grace Page B

a deflated expression. “So why didn't you talk about it?”
    “ It's nothing to do with you! I'm the one shoving the damn things down my fucking throat day in day out. I'm the one who doesn't work.”
    “ Nothing to do with me? Nice to know I'm so unimportant in your life.”
    Love grabs his arm at the elbow and pulls him back as he heads for the door. “Where do you think you're going?”
    “ Away from you!”
    “ No, you can't leave.” Love tugs Cade's arm harder, fingers digging into his skin enough to bruise. He hisses and tries to wriggle free, but Love holds tight.
    “ You're hurting me, let go.”
    “ I'm not letting you go so you can leave.”
    “ I need some air, get off!”
    When Love still refuses, Cade has no choice but to fight his way free. The suffocating air sucking into his lungs from the lies and the thickness of the room becomes too much. He shoves Love's shoulder, but he holds on with a hurtful grimace.
    “ I said let me go!”
    He barges into Love's shoulder this time and Love loses his grip. “Go then, get out! Leave me the fuck alone.”
    Cade doesn't collect any bits he keeps there. Instead, he storms out the door before Love can grab him again.
    He leaves Love standing there beside the chaos, alone. All he can hear is the silence of the building and the loneliness settling in his brain.

 
     
    Fifteen
     
     
          “ I've got a viewing for a flat across the road in half an hour. I thought I'd pop by.” Matt takes one glance at Love and his smile sinks. Over his shoulder, furniture sprawls about the floor in a mess. “What's happened? Are you okay?”
    “ This is a bad time.” Love tries to close the door, but Matt snakes his way through, mindless of the excuse.
    “ I was just cleaning.”
    “ Cleaning? Looks like you've accomplished the opposite,” Matt remarks.
    “ Well, you know what people say, 'you've got to make a mess to get things tidy'.”
    “ Who says that?”
    He pushes the door closed and rakes his fingers through his hair with a tremor. “I don't know, just people.”
    Matt ventures into the open living space and glances around at the mess. Paper work covers the floor, and the desk is on its side. The drawers lie over the floor where he has thrown them. Book spines are now creased from where they haven fallen. The shelving is empty of DVDs because they lie in a heap before them.
    The kitchen is in the same sorry state. Appliances are in chaos across the counter tops. The toaster hangs against a cupboard by the wire. The kettle hangs from the socket and lies on the tiles where it leaks water. The fruit bowl lies upside down, spilling bruised apples into the corners and under the table.
    Through the open bedroom door, Matt can see that room is no different either.
    “ This isn't spring cleaning, mate. What's happened?”
    Love shrugs and slides across the wall.
    “ Have you been drinking?”
    “ No. Maybe a little, so what? What's it got to do with you?”
    “ I'm your mate, remember? I care.”
    Love gestures with a wave of his hand that he couldn't care less before he stumbles toward the window. “Yeah well, he doesn't.”
    “ Who?”
    “ Cade, he's left me. I let go, and he fell. I should have been honest. Why do I fuck everything up?”
    He flinches as a hand rubs against his shoulder. “I'm sorry, but do you think drinking is the answer? You should be on your meds.”
    “ You're sorry?” He doesn't mean the words to come out so harsh, but doesn't care enough to apologise.
    “ You've been through so much and given up more.”
    “ And lost everything.”
    Matt backs away, knowing Love well enough to avoid him while in this mood. Yet, to leave will only cause more problems in the long run. So, he pulls his shoes off and places them on the mat. He discards his jacket on the back of the sofa and kneels to sort the mess straight.
    “ What are you doing? You've got an appointment, go to it. I don't need any help, I haven't drunk that much.”
    “