It’s like this is how it always should have been.
“Get your hand off my ass, Elliot!” Lucy shouts, making us all chuckle.
“Not me,” he says, lifting his hands.
The flash goes off, and the girls all complain. An array of complaints ranging from their eyes being closed, and they weren’t ready. We try five more times before me, and the guys get fed up.
We leave it to the professionals and head for the beach.
* * *
Nina
We siton the smooth sand watching Lance, Elliot, Charlie, and Mase play a variation of volleyball in the sea. I didn’t know what to expect when it came to a holiday away with them all, but this wasn’t it. It’s chilled and relaxing, and I’m having the most amazing time.
“Mase told me he wants to marry me,” I tell the girls.
“What?!” Lucy stammers.
All three of them whip their heads to me, completely speechless. “I told him that I thought you and Elliot would get it on, and he said that if nothing happens between the two of you by next year, then I had to marry him.”
“Wow. Hit us with it bareback and no lube,” Megan exclaims.
I giggle as I lean back on my elbows. They are all still watching me with a surprised look on their face. “I told him no.”
“You did?” Scarlet says, sounding dejected.
“I’m not ready for marriage. I’m twenty-eight years old. I pictured myself being a lot older before all that, if at all.”
“You haven’t been together long, babe. Just think, this time next year you might feel completely different.” Lucy shrugs. “It might be exactly what you want.”
“Am I a bitch for telling him no?”
“Yes,” Megan says at the same time Lucy and Scar say, “No.”
“Helpful, girls, thanks.”
“Sorry,” Lucy mutters. “I think it’s lovely that Mason is already so sure. He’s a smart bloke.” She gives me a wink.
“Hmm, maybe.” I hum, silence falling over us as we lie back and watch the guys in the water.
“What’s it been like at the house, Scar? You doing okay?” Megan asks.
She shrugs, not giving us her eyes and focusing on the horizon. “It’s fine.” She pauses. “It’s a big old house for just me.”
“I can imagine,” I muse, hating the idea of her out at the house on her own.
“I won’t ever leave, though. It’s home, you know.”
“I get it,” Lucy tells her. “Mum and Dad could easily go out and buy a bigger, better house, but it’shome. It’s where they brought us up, and it’s what they’ve made it now.”
The way she says ‘us’ makes my chest warm.
“Yeah, exactly that.” Scarlet smiles sadly, burying her feet deeper into the sand.
“Right, who’s coming for a dip?” Megan jumps up, clearly trying to lighten the mood. Scarlet is rarely anything other than happy and excitable. It’s hard to see her anything less than her vibrant self.
“Heck, yes!” she says, pulling her lavender hair up into a bun as she stands, then jogs off with Megan to the sea.
