Michael’s voice is getting increasingly louder as the lift ascends, and increasingly angrier again. James plays with his hands, grinding his teeth because he doesn’t want to hear it. It’s cutting him like a knife, deep, right to the bone. It hurts to hear Michael spit his failures back in his face like this.
“Tell me what you told her! Did you tell her how you got off to my voice this morning on the phone whilst she was in the other room? Did you tell her how we fucked last night before you got home? Did you?”
“Shut your fucking mouth!” James shouts, and finally breaks. He can’t stop the tears and his cheeks are damp before he’s even realized he’s crying, bright, baby blue eyes staring desperately up at Michael, like an injured animal. His voice cracks and his hands are trembling as he looks him right in the eyes, breathing erratically. “I didn’t tell her any of that! I didn’t even tell her about you! I told her it was some stupid fucking unimportant woman I was sleeping with, some stupid woman I chose to ruin my life for! How could I tell her it was you? I…”
He sucks in a sharp breath, body shuddering slightly as he bites back a sob to speak. Michael’s face is distraught, his mouth hanging open slightly, throat dry as he regrets his words.
“I didn’t want to ruin yours too,” James gives up the fight as he stammers the words, a dry sob racking his body. He drops his eyes to the floor, twisting his fingers together so hard it hurts.