WHO: Aderyn Ceredig, Josh ItalianLastName [NPC] WHEN: Tuesday afternoon WHERE: A cafe WHAT: Just more psychological abuse WARNINGS: ...psychological abuse...
"I miss Iestyn." Addy said it quietly, almost too quiet to hear over the din of the cafe, but the twist of Josh's lips proved he had heard well enough. She had agreed to come out for a lunch date, and then very nearly been stopped by Tuck and Will, who demanded all kinds of information from her. They only agreed to let her go, because she was going to a public place. Not that she was going to tell Josh that, since he already thought Iestyn was too controlling. If he got all pissy about Tuck and Will too, then where the fuck would she go?!
Not to his house. Not with Evie.
"I'm thinking about unblocking him," she said, her eyes focused firmly on the little pile of napkin she was making in front of her, and not on her boyfriend.
"Babe, you think that's wise?" Josh asked, his voice all gentle and concerned, and Addy felt a little warmer inside. He cared about her so much! "You just took a first step, you wanna go backwards?"
Addy chewed on her lip and then she said, "it's just texts."
"Yeah, but that's how they get you," Josh warned. "You open yourself up, and he guilts you into thinking you're the bad guy here, and you go home to him and he's controlling your life again! It's not normal, babe, being so close to your brother like you are. You know I think family's important! But there's gotta be boundaries, right?"
"N-no, you're right," Addy nodded quietly. "It's just- We've been through so much-" Addy hadn't explained all the details to Josh, but he did know they had been held captive and hurt. She had to explain the scars somehow! "He worries."
"Yeah, but that's his shit," Josh waved his hand around, and he picked up his coffee to take a sip. "Have some of your cake, babe, ya gotta eat!"
Addy poked at her cake with her fork, and she took a tiny bite. She was rewarded with a look of pride from him that a few months ago would have had her slapping him in the face. Now, she only felt pleased for having pleased him. "I don't want to cut myself off from him entirely. I love him."
"Of course ya do," Josh said, reaching out to pat her hand. "'Cause you're the sweetest! But he's gonna use that to manipulate you. Look, I would never say cut him off entirely! Family's blood and blood's the most important thing. But aint no other adults I know sleeping in the same bed with their brothers. Aint none of them need to know where the other one is at all hours of the day and night, and aint none of their brothers trying to tell them how to act and what to do. It's weird, Addy. You been through shit, but you gonna start gettin' away from that trauma somehow, right?"
Addy wasn't so sure. Yeah, he had a point that maybe other adults weren't as close with their siblings, but Iestyn wasn't just her brother, he was her best friend. And they had been through hell together. ...then again, Iestyn was going to get married. He was going to go off with Henry and make a happy little family with him, and then where would Addy be? She would have no one if she didn't have Josh. The thought terrified her. In fact the only reason she had gotten back in touch with Josh in the first place was because of Iestyn's plans to propose. "Maybe..."
"Babe, I didn't have to get back together with you," Josh said, his voice taking on a slight edge that chilled Addy's blood. "You put me through some bullshit and you know it. But I took you back because I care about you and I can help you. Let me help you."
Addy swallowed roughly and then she nodded. "O-okay. What should I do?" Anything to keep him happy. Anything to keep him. Anything to not be left alone when Iestyn moved on.
"Let's write your brother a message together, yeah? And whatever he says back, you let me read it. We'll reply together. Don't talk to him without me seeing it okay? I won't let him fuck your life up, you got it?"
With a frown, Addy nodded and she pulled out her phone.