“Oh, I love this.” Lucy grins. “I feel proud of you both already. Tell me more.”
“I’m not going to see Joey for a while.”
She rolls her lips, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I actually think that’s a good idea. He’s been at the centre of some of your arguments with Mason these last couple months.”
“I know. And it was my choice, but I worry so much about him, girls.”
“Because of his brother?” Lucy asks.
I nod. “He isn’t okay. It scares me to think he’s in that apartment on hisown at the best of times but now that this has happened it scares me. I found him in the bath on Sunday. He was asleep, and I had to wake him.”
“He’ll be okay, babe,” Lucy tells me, placing a hand on mine.
“I hope so.”
“I know this is hurting you, Nina,” Megan says, sipping her coffee, “but I think this will be a good thing. You and Mason made big steps this past month. You have a chance to get your family back here.”
“I know.”
“And maybe it will mean Joey makes new friendships. He seems stuck on you.”
“I think Joey cares. Maybe too much at times but he isn’t a bad person.”
“So you and Mason are okay?”
“Yes, but he wants to take things slow.” I smile down at my lap. “We’re going to date.”
“Slow?” Megan laughs. “Mate, you can’t fuck him yesterday then be like... Oh, we’re taking it slow today.”
The girls all chuckle in agreement with her.
“You know what I mean. I already know he won’t last five minutes.” I laugh. “We’re just not going as fast as last time.”
“Definitely… like condoms this time, right?” Scarlet jokes and I chuck a salt packet at her head. “But, Nina, if you want me to, I can check in on Joey? Maybe send over some bereavement leaflets or something? Just to check in so you don’t have to stress.”
“You’d do that?” I ask.
“Of course! I get what it’s like to lose someone you love. Maybe it will be good coming from me?”
“If you could, that would be amazing, Scarlet. Thank you.”
I relax in my seat and look over at Lucy who is watching me in thought. She gives me a soft wink and smile.It’s going to be okay.For the first time in a long time, things seem to be falling into place.
Mase
After the day I’ve had, I almost forgo my evening workout. But knowing Nina is working, and after her leaving me before the sun was even up, I drag myself up the steps of L&M at ten past five for my evening PT session. She’s working with a client when I reach the top step, so I go to the treadmill and start with a jog. I watch her as she helps the lady with her weights, taking off the larger one and dropping down a size. She’s reassuring her; I can tell by the way she’s looking at her.
Sometimes I wonder how she is as caring and selfless as she is. It pisses me off and makes me love her all in one big eye roll. The way she has to be there for her friends, up and leaving if one of them needs her. Like Joey yesterday. Or the way she used to help her mother, when she spent her life never helping herself. Another thing I need to fix.
Nina has the same support from her friends that she gives out, but she doesn’t have the family. After my weekend withScarlet, it makes me angry that she hasn’t ever had what I have. All because of her parents.
“Hey, you!” Nina bounces up next to me, a smile playing on her sexy lips. “You look wrecked.” She frowns, placing her hands on her hips.
I shake my head, smiling down at her. “I have this wench that kept me up all Saturday night.”
“Hmm, is she hot?” She waggles her brows at me.
“She’s alright.” A bright smile spreads across her face, making my heart somersault in my chest. “Are you okay now, after this morning?”
