“Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, ladies.”
My jaw plummets to the ground as Oscar walks out like the fucking cat who’s got the cream.
“Lunch was especially good today.” Nellie smiles like she has no idea that I feel as discombobulated as she looks right now.
I cup a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming or crying or… something as I nod slowly.
*
The door tomy flat creaks on its hinges as my anger sends it flying into the wall. “You wanker! I can’t believe what a complete fuckwit you are!”
Oscar eyes me over the top of his reading spectacles, wetting his thumb then turning the page to his book. “I had a lovely day, Ruby. Thanks for asking. How was yours?”
“You bellend, I’m not playing this game.”
“Can’t say I’ve ever heard you speak to me like this. What happened to respecting your elders?”
“You have to be worthy of my respect. What you did to Nellie isnotworthy of my respect.”
He shrugs, returning his attention to his book. “I didn’t hear her complain.”
Every cell in my body grasps for a breath, a shred of control, a way to calm down. This is not good for me. This is exactly why I had to leave London. “You need to go. I can’t have you here. You told me to choose myself and it wouldn’t be selfish. I’m asking you to leave… for me.”
“Don’t you want to know what Nellie said to me in the loo?”
My stomach clenches as my nose wrinkles. “No.”
He frowns. “Not about that. She said Harold cheated on her once and it ruined everything.”
I grunt, taking a few steps toward my bedroom before stopping again. “Once? She said he cheated on her once?”
“Now, that’s my girl. What does that tell you?”
I turn. “That’s what happened. She caught him cheating on her, but…” I shake my head. “That doesn’t drive the average person to completely lose it. There has to be more.”
“Well, I’m happy to help get more out of her if you need me to.”
“Go away. You can’t stay here,” I call before shutting my bedroom door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
My name is Scarlet Stone, and I know the difference between right and wrong. I just haven’t mastered the art of giving a shit about it.
Idream ofTheo again. I wake up in a sweat again. And… with my hand in my knickers. This is not a life.
To my surprise, the man who refuses to follow instructions is gone. I tear the sticky note off the fridge.
Ruby,
I’m off doing some sightseeing. I’ll be back—when I’m back. Then we can talk about our living arrangements after you’ve had time to reconsider.
~Oscar
“Please be sightseeing in Alaska,” I mumble to myself as I throw the note in the bin.
After a quick shower, I juice, pack my rucksack, and bike to the Moores’. There aren’t enough miles between my flat and their mansion to work out the right thing to say to Nellie when I see her.
Oscar.
