Chapter 21: Apple

Ellery's POV

Tristan was waiting at a table by the window of a café near the river.

He had nothing in front of him. No flowers, no envelope, not even a cup.

He started to stand when I came in, and then he sat back down.

"Thank you for coming," he said.

"I said tomorrow. It's tomorrow."

I took the chair across from him and put my bag on my knees.

Piers was at the counter, ten feet behind me, reading a menu he did not need.

I had told him he did not have to stay.

He had said he would be buying tea.

"I'll go first, if that's all right," Tristan said.

"I've practiced it, and it comes out wrong every time."

"Then say it wrong."

He took a breath.

"I'm sorry I made you carry a crate of wine for a man who was betting on you."

"I'm sorry I let my friends choose your birthday present."

"I'm sorry I put a plastic necklace on you and watched you say thank you."

"I'm sorry I had a spare heater in my own flat and let you freeze in yours."

His voice shook, and he did not stop.

"I'm sorry you had to call me from an emergency room."

"And that when you did, I told a nurse you were faking."

"I hung up on a woman who was holding your hand."

I did not look away from him.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me," he said.

"Good," I said. "I'm not going to."

"I know."

"I want you to hear it, so you don't walk out of here hoping."

"I'm not hoping." He tried to smile and it did not work. "I'm just listening."

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