A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) - Barbara Elsborg Page 0,98
he grabbed his crutch and moved into the hall before he answered.
“Hi, just give me a minute.” He made his way to the main room and sat on the couch. “Hi, mum.”
“You’re on speaker. Your dad is listening too. Oh my God, Tay. How could you think we wouldn’t find out?”
His heart jolted. “Find out what?”
“What happened at Covent Garden,” she said. “It’s all over the news. Ink was like a…ninja. Are they the ones who wield the sticks? Is he okay? You didn’t tell us he’d been stabbed. Were you stabbed? Do we need to fly back?”
Tay reeled under the questions, but realised Ink’s biggest secret was safe. “No, you do not need to fly back. I wasn’t stabbed. Ink got me out of the way. He saved my life. He stood between me and the guy with the knife and if it hadn’t been for Ink, a lot more people would have been injured. It was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.”
His mother gave a muffled sob.
His father exhaled. “How badly was Ink hurt?”
“He was stabbed in the back twice. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d worry. He lost a lot of blood, but he’s going to be fine.”
Tay wasn’t going to give away Ink’s secret. Maybe no one would find out. A plan was forming in his mind.
“If he’s been injured, who’s going to help you?” his mum asked. “Should we call Helper again?”
“No,” Tay said quickly. “I’m feeling much better. Only using one crutch now. I’ve made a few decisions. I’m not going to stay in London.”
“Good,” his parents said at the same time.
“I can stay at the house, right? I have a key. Is the alarm code the same?”
“Yes,” his father said.
“Ask your sisters to get food in,” his mum said. “When you do think you’ll go home?”
“I’m not sure. I have stuff to sort out here.”
“When Ink comes out of hospital, will you call us so we can speak to him?” his mum asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you taking Ink north with you?” she whispered.
“Yes. And Dog.”
She laughed. “Keep us up to date with what’s going on.”
“I will and one thing… No matter what you hear, you’re not to come home early.” Should he have said that much?
“What does that mean?” His father’s voice was sharp.
“It means exactly what I said. Unless I specifically ask you to come back, please, please don’t.”
“What are you not telling us?” His mum sounded worried.
“Nothing that I can share.” And I wish I’d fucking not said anything because they aren’t going to leave this alone.
His father hmmed. “Does it have something to do with Ink?”
“No. All to do with me. Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad. It’s good.” Shit. Shut up! “It’ll wait until you’re back.”
“Is it… Is it about you being gay?” his mum asked quietly.
Tay almost dropped the phone. His mouth opened and nothing came out.
“You do know we’re fine with it?” his father said.
“How did you know?” Tay finally managed.
His mum gave a little chuckle. “Because of how you loved Jonty. We saw the way you looked at him. As if he’d hung the sun in the sky. I heard what you said about how bad Brad Greene was for him and I heard what you didn’t say. No girl lasted with you. You were always kind and polite to them, but your face never lit up like it did for Jonty.”
“Tay, you are an amazing son.” His dad cleared his throat. “You fought your way back to life and we are so proud of you. All we want is for you to be happy. That’s all we want for all our children.”
His mum let out a shaky sob. “I wish I was there to hug you.”
Tay almost said he wished she was there too. “I’m sorry this is happening over the phone. I would have told you. I don’t think I’d figured everything out before, but I have now.”
“Does that have anything to do with Ink?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t want him to break your heart.” His mum took a deep breath. “I doubt you’ve done that criminal record check. You should. He’s hiding something. I don’t want you to get hurt, Tay.”
“He saved my life. I know what he’s hiding because he told me. I have to go now to let Dog out.”
Dog looked up at him from his sunlit bed and then lowered his head again.