It’s as blunt as he possibly could have put it but James doesn’t care. Michael doesn’t need the truth sugar coating.
“What?” Michael’s head snaps up and James can hear the utter shock and a hint of betrayal in his voice. Michael’s doing up his trousers again faster than James could have stopped him, not that he would. He’s struck by anger again, his own arousal dying fast. “You told her?”
“You,” James snaps, turning to face the older man and pushing a finger against his chest accusingly. “Why the hell did you call me? Why did you have to do that? You’ve fucking ruined everything!”
James’ tone is furious but his eyes betray him, damp with tears, his heart clenching as he fails to suppress the pain he’s feeling over everything that’s happened. It hasn’t even hit him properly, and he’s already ready to cry; James knows the weight of what he’s done will drown him soon. Anne would leave him. He’ll lose his life, his family; Michael won’t want to put up with his trauma and his temper and he’ll walk too. James bites down hard on his lip, forcing himself to look angrier to hide his forthcoming flood of tears.
“Me? Pffft!” Michael rolls his eyes, clenching his jaw slightly. “I’m sorry I called, are you sorry you didn’t hang up? Are you? Why the hell did you tell her?”
They’re butting heads, and hard. James knows they have the same sense of humour, the same love for pranks and alcohol and classical music, bad karaoke, nice suits, and bad sweaters… but he never knew they had the same temper. A lump forms in his throat. “Because she’s my wife. And she asked.” He says weakly, knowing it’s a poor excuse. He knows he’s made all the wrong decisions, but it’s too late now.
Michael’s hard expression doesn’t soften and James’ chest hurts suddenly, and he takes a deep breath, trying to ease the unexpected pain. His anger cripples away and he has to turn back to face the door again, because he doesn’t want Michael to see his anguish. He opens his mouth a couple of times, trying to find something else to say, almost frozen in wait for Michael’s response but it doesn’t come.