I stiffened. I didn’t like her knowing about my demons. “No big deal. I’m going to get some water and head back to bed.” I glanced at the clock over the television. It was only one thirty. I’d only managed an hour and a half of sleep so far. “I assume you’re staying the night?”

Gemma nodded. “Yeah. I’m knackered. No point driving back to the house just to go crash in bed at home when I can sleep here.”

I only nodded. Gemma crashing at my place was nothing new. “Should I bother telling you that the guest-room is all made up, or are you planning on sleeping on the couch?”

She grinned sheepishly. “I could fib and tell you I’m going to bed, but we both know I’m just going to pass out right here.”

I shook my head. Since Uni, we’d spent too many nights like this. Neither of us wanting to go home or be alone. To the outside world, we were the perfect couple. No one would believe it if they knew the truth behind the veil. That for years I’d been protecting her, pretending to be her boyfriend. Given the day, it was such bullshit. But her family was old gentry. And stupid. If anyone found out she was into girls, she’d lose everything, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Your dad at home?”

She nodded but didn’t meet my gaze. “Yeah, so I figured it best to avoid him as much as possible while he’s here. It’s only for a week, then back to normal.”

Gemma didn’t have to explain avoiding her father to me. The old man traveled on business most of the time and only came home for a week out of the month. While home, he generally made Gemma’s life hell with his bigoted views. No one should have to endure some of the things he said in her presence. “Stay as long as you like.”

“Thanks.” She scratched her nose. “Um, Lex?”

“Yeah, Gem?”

“You’re a really good friend to let me crash and stuff.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. I knew where the meandering path she was taking would lead, and I was in no mood for sharing. “Stop. It’s what you would do for me.”

“Yeah. I suppose. Just, you know, after everything we’ve been through and everything you’ve done for me, you never let me be there for you.”

I forced a casual smile. “That’s because I don’t need anything. When I do, you’ll be the first person I call.” In another life, if things had been different, maybe Gemma and I would have been the perfect couple we portrayed.

“Lex, I notice, you know. The nightmares. The fact that you talk, sometimes shout, in your sleep. I notice.”