So we were heading out for a meal at a restaurant that Simone had recommended, with a private room organised with Simone’s help plus a few additional entertainment features that we knew Claire would hate, but we’d all enjoy seeing her hate them. Then we were heading off to a club where we’d meet the men, who’d spent the day at a rugby game, then were going for a curry. It wasn’t flash and it certainly wouldn’t appear in a celebrity magazine, but it was us.
“Fair enough,” Payton said. “But what’s Killian going to say when he sees your three wardrobes emptied up here?”
“Four wardrobes, Payts, four,” I said.
“Bitches,” Claire said. “But he won’t care. He’ll be too interested in what I’ve got on underneath.”
I caught eyes with Payton and neither of us said anything, instead starting to tidy up the pile of clothes because knowing Killian he would admire whatever Claire did or didn’t have on underneath and stand there and watch her tidy up whilst wearing it.
We left the shoes, though. Killian knew exactly what he was getting into when he got back together with my sister, so I had absolutely no sympathy for the fact that she’d turned his safe room into her shoe closet.
“I just want to FaceTime Killian’s parents before we head off so I can see Eliza,” Claire said, finally choosing a pair of stilettos that should’ve been licensed as a weapon.
“Won’t she be asleep?” Payton said.
“That doesn’t matter. She’s too young to have a full blown conversation yet and I want to see her before we go out. It feels like ages since I dropped her off at Nick and Katie’s.” Claire located her iPad next to a pair of Louboutins. Eliza was being looked after by Killian’s parents who were staying at Nick’s, so they could look after all three girls and Queenie.
Payton and I headed downstairs, leaving Claire to coo over her baby. The rest of the house was tidy, with just the odd item of Killian’s clothing hung over the back of a chair here and there.
“Were you going to stay at Eli’s?” Payton said. “Or are you staying at Eli’s because listening to Claire and K busting their booties is something you’ve heard enough of over the last year?”
“Both,” I said. “We said I’d stay.”
“Is this the first time you’ve stayed since…”
Payton was the only one of my siblings who struggled to talk about what had happened.
“Yes. But it’s cool. I’m looking forward to it.” And I was. In the past couple of weeks, we’d been out on dates, some of which had ended at my office. Eli had stayed over at Claire’s with me on a couple of occasions which had felt slightly awkward the following day. I didn’t know how much longer this temporary situation could go on for. The priory was due to complete on Friday, another reason Nick’s parents were staying – so they could help out with the twins during the move. I needed to find somewhere to live, maybe somewhere more permanent, but that meant I’d need time to find the right place, that didn’t need a restoration team.
Payton nodded. “Owen’s staying at mine. Then we’re at his tomorrow. And Monday.”
“Why don’t you just move in?” I said, frowning. Claire’s heels clicked down the stairs.
“Because,” Payton said. “I don’t have a reason not to. He just listens to me moan when I’ve left something I want at mine and we’re at his and smiles, then makes me forget.”
“So he’s waiting for you to bring it up?” Claire said. “Just do it.”
Payton shrugged. “Maybe. Is that our cab?”
The restaurant Simone had picked was one I hadn’t been to before, specialising in oriental food. She’d pre-ordered what we were having and had done something with drinks so that there was a constant parade of cocktails coming out to us, some being sharers in jugs, others being more sophisticated martinis that Victoria was drinking like they were going out of fashion. We were in a large room that was almost a banqueting hall, far bigger than what we needed, but giving us plenty of room for the ‘entertainment’ later.
I felt a cloak of apprehension wrap round me because I couldn’t see the drinks being prepared and I didn’t know if they had been left on a bar and some opportunists could’ve dropped something in one. Hoping no one had clocked that I was still on water, I snuck off to the bathroom with my phone, hearing a roar from Claire who was the the object of a lot of teasing. I also figured that the picture of Killian’s penis that someone had procured – probably from Seph because he really didn’t have any limits – was being passed around. I also knew that there was a game of guess the penis from the picture about to be played which was going to give me nightmares for months, given that some were probably going to be my brothers’.
The toilets were in the basement of the restaurant, which had used to be a bank. The cubicles were actually the old vaults, with heavy doors and enclosed spaces, no gaps at the top so no one could be overheard. It occurred to me that it was actually a really good place to have a quickie and I wondered if Eli could be persuaded to head over here.
I dialled him via the WiFi as there was no reception. It rang for a few seconds before he answered, the noise of several rugby players – drunken rugby players – in the background.
“Sweetheart,” Eli said. “You good? Having a good time?”
I felt myself choke up at the sound of his voice. “It’s good. We’re just starting to play silly hen party games.”
“So why are you calling me from somewhere quiet?” The noise in the background faded and I figured he’d stepped away from everyone to speak to me.
“Because the drinks are cocktails that are being brought out and I can’t see…” I fought to choke back the sobs.
“Ava,” he said. I could hear the drink in his voice and I felt guilty for taking him from his friends when they were celebrating – or commiserating – with Killian. “I know where you are. Your brothers, about to be brother-in-law, half a rugby team, know where you are. No one’s taking you anywhere and if someone slips something in a drink – which they won’t by the way – I know where you are. Text me. Every half an hour or fifteen minutes send me a picture or just a text. But you will be fine.”
I pinched the top of my nose. “I know. I know and I’ve dragged you away.”
