“You shouldn’t be left to deal with everything alone, Scarlet. Have you thought about renting the house out like he suggested?” Lucy asks.
“I could never.” She shakes her head vehemently.
When Scarlet decided to return to studying, Mason thought it would be a good idea to propose renting out the estate. I get the logic. She travels daily to the hospital, and she’s alone in the house at night, but I know without having to even ask her that she could never leave. He knows that too.
“I know, but with your studying do you think you can balance it all right now. What if you just offered a twelve-month tenancy?”
“I know it’s not my place,” I chime in, “but I wouldn’t be comfortable with it either. I take Ellis out there as much as possible, and maybe it’s selfish for me to want you to stay but I would hate to see someone else live there.”
Scarlet smiles gratefully up at me, and I know she will appreciate me siding with her on this. “I couldn’t do it anyway; I love it too much.”
“Does it not get lonely?” Megan asks.
I watch as Scarlet swallows thickly, her throat bobbing. “Not really.”
“You are badass, lady.”
“We should come out, have a girls’ night there,” Lucy suggests.
“I was actually thinking of a party.” Scarlet sits up on thesofa a little. “Or like a memorial ball.” She shrugs.
“Fuck yes! Yes! We can go dress shopping!” Megan bounces in her seat excitedly. “Sorry, that was insensitive, the memorial part is super sweet too!” she adds. “Luce, can you get Jean to sort us dresses?”
I roll my eyes at Megan as Lucy and her buzz between themselves. I turn to Scarlet. “This sounds incredible, Scar. Do you need a hand planning?”
“I was banking on it if I’m honest. It was something I thought about a few months back but I wasn’t sure, but I hoped you girls would help me.”
“Of course.” I grin. “Have you thought much into it since?”
“Not really, but maybe Mum and Dad’s wedding anniversary would work date-wise? It’s only next month but I have contacts.”
I beam at her. “That sounds perfect.”
“And you’ll be safe from running into my asshole brother, so that’s one bonus. There’s no way he’d come.” She swigs her wine, hiding her face in the glass.
To think Mason and Scarlet have always been so close and now they’re barely speaking irks me. They should be helping each other, not avoiding contact. Mason is a big boy; he needs to be better and be there for his sister.
Oh, that asshole will be going to the ball alright. With fucking bells on.
I’m annoyed at myself. For the longest time, I knew I didn’t need Mason. I didn’t want to see him, I had our son, and livedalone as a single mother. But now I stand here with butterflies in my stomach waiting for him to arrive for his five fifteen PT session. How the times have changed.
He became the light in my dark heart for the longest time, but it burned too bright for too long and eventually he burnt me. Now he is starting to glow again, but it’s not the same light as before. It’s like a dull, yellow, annoying gleam that I can block out with the squint of an eye.
Five fifteen on the dot, he bounces up over the steps, ready to work out. He looks delicious this evening, but so does chocolate cake and too much of that causes diabetes. I wonder what too much Mason Lowell would cause… I go with severe vomiting and diarrhoea; it will help me get through the next hour.
He saunters over, drawing the eyes of nearly everyone in the gym.
“Hey.” He smiles, and I roll my eyes, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
“Hi,” I say sweetly.
I’m aware he hasn’t done anything wrong and already my attitude stinks, but I told Logan I didn’t want to PT him and yet here we are.
He frowns at my tone. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect. Are you ready for your session?”
He licks at his lips, studying my face. Is he nervous? “Sure, can we start with?—”
