I tip my chin up at him as he fights to find his words, willing him on.
“I haven’t really ever found my footing anywhere I’ve worked in the past. The last place I worked I was treated pretty terribly actually and didn’t feel like I could show up and just be me. You and the guys haven’t ever made me feel that way. I mean, you can be an asshole, but you’re an asshole to everyone, and I feel like I can tell you when you are. We have this love hate thing nailed down by now.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “I suppose we do.”
He smiles. “I appreciate you too. For just letting me be.”
“Wouldn’t want you any other way, George.”
I nod my head at him when I catch his eyes shining and focus back on my screen.
“How was Ellis today?” He walks to my desk, picking up the photo of me andEllis from the day he was born.
“Fussy. He has teeth coming.”
“You don’t normally come in on the days you have him. Is everything okay?”
Nothing is okay. “Yes, George. Thank you.” I tear my eyes from the screen and look at him, noticing he’s reined in his emotions. “Did you need anything else?”
“No. Sorry, I’m lingering.” He places the frame back on my desk and slips out of the office.
I reach for the photo George had just been holding.
Ellis is wrapped up in his blanket, holding tightly onto my finger. Nina took the photo; she took so many photos. They’re all I have of her from the past year.
Pulling out my phone, I scroll back to the day he was born. Torturing myself as I look through the images of the three of us.
It’s late when I finally leave the office, and instead of going home, I opt to go to the twenty-four-hour gym that’s down the street from The Montwell. When Ellis isn’t with me, I try to spend as little time as possible at the penthouse. I prefer it that way.
I’m just pulling into the gym’s car park when Scarlet’s name lights up my screen.
“Hey, Scar.”
“Hi,” she says, sounding sad.
“What’s up?” I frown.
“Dad’s headstone,” she sniffs into the phone.
“Scar.”
“They called, said that the soil is settled enough. We can have it put on now.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. It’s been over twelve months and we’ve been putting it off due to the soil and the insane amount of rain we’ve been having. I never remember waiting so long for my mother’s headstone to be placed, but time flies when you’re a kid. “That’s good,” I tell her.
“Yeah… God, this place is lonely sometimes.” She laughs, but I can tell she is crying.
“Do you want to come to mine tonight? You could come for the weekend?”
“I can’t, I’ve had a bottle of wine already.” She sniffs, but there’s still light in her voice. “Could you come here?”
I scrub my hand over my face, gritting my teeth. “Scar, I…”
“I know, you can’t.”
“I want to.” I do.
“One day,” she deadpans. “I need to go, Mase. Speak to you soon, okay?”
