‘Can’t even buy anything without her wanting one in her size.’ Chloe rolls her eyes exasperatedly, but the smirk on her scarlet lips says she loves it really.
Bella, Blake and Jayden Junior run around the suite wreaking havoc. ‘Careful.’ Visions of my glass Byredo perfume bottle smashing into a trillion pieces spring to mind.
Ryan turns his attention to me. ‘Looking good, pipsqueak. Hard to believe you’re all grown up.’ He presses a kiss to my temple before wolf-whistling at his wife.
Yuck.
‘I grew up six years ago. It’s just none of you got the memo.’ I down the remainder of my champagne and force a smile onto my face.
Jayden greets Chloe like they’ve been separated for a month, not an hour. We’ll be lucky if he lets her out of this room the way he’s sucking her face off.
I clear my throat loudly. ‘Right, let’s get this show on the road then, shall we?’
It might not be the graduation I hoped for, but it’s still a rite of passage. I worked damn hard for this. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Paparazzi swarm the street outside the entrance of the Caledonian. Ryan’s increased the security detail. Fourteen guards flank us as we get into the waiting limo to make the short journey to the Royal College of Surgeons.
Cameras flash from every direction. My sisters continue their conversation, holding their children by the hand, not one of them fazed by the circus surrounding us. Uneasiness eats me alive.
My mind strays to Lily-May. How is it possible to miss her when I only knew her so briefly?
I take a deep breath, gazing through the tinted windows at the sea of faces on the street outside.
Twin pools of bright blue pop from amidst the screaming crowd. I jolt forwards, craning my neck to get a better look, every fibre in my body fizzing to life.
The car moves forwards and I lose my line of sight.
Either the glass of champagne is hitting me hard, or Archie Mason was in the crowd outside the Caledonian, waiting to catch a glimpse of me.
34
ARCHIE
Iwas too late. The street was too busy. I’m so accustomed to being in the inner circle, I underestimated the crowds that had gathered to see the Sextons and how long it takes to navigate through them.
My assertive elbows part the crowd like Moses parting the Red Sea. ‘Quick, let’s get up to the Royal College, although it’s probably mobbed up there too,’ I yell.
‘Would you not just phone her?’ Roger suggests, readjusting the tie Andie insisted he wear.
‘It doesn’t quite deliver the same gesture, does it? Me coming all the way here to beg her to take me back, only to call her on the phone? It’s going to take more than a quick, “I’m sorry”, to undo all the hurt I caused.’
I shoot Lily-May a wink as we half-walk, half-jog up Lothian Road with Roger puffing every step of the way. A taxi pulls to a stop alongside us to let out a couple of Japanese tourists, and I grab the door before it closes.
‘You free?’ I pant.
The driver scoffs. ‘No. It’ll cost ya.’
‘I’ll pay double. Just take us to the Royal College of Surgeons ASAP, please.’ I usher my family into the back of the taxi before hopping into the front next to the driver. ‘I’ll need you to let me out first and keep this lot with you for a few minutes, if that’s okay?’
‘Nae bother once the metre is running.’ The driver chomps on a piece of gum hard. ‘Double, you say?’
‘Yep.’
‘Nicolson Street, aye?’ he confirms.
‘That’s the one.’ I toss a hundred quid onto his lap, and he grins.
Traffic moves ridiculously slowly. My biggest fear is they’ll close the doors and I won’t get to see Victoria graduate. Celebrating her success is something I’m determined to do, not just today, but every day. If she’ll have me.
