Chapter Sixteen
Fallon
“Who’s died?” I ask groggily down the phone, my eyes still half closed.
I haven’t even looked at the caller ID. Who the hell would call me when it's barely even light outside?
“Good morning to you, too,” Tommy’s perky voice says from down the line.
“Morning? This is still the middle of the night for me. What time is it?”
“5 am,” he says dismissively. “I’m going to need you to pack a bag. Or maybe a case. We’re going to the villa first thing tomorrow morning.”
I sit bolt upright in bed. Surely, I didn’t hear what I think I did?
“The villa? As in Menorca? Tomorrow? Are you high?” I ask, genuinely concerned. My eldest brother Tommy may be many things, but spontaneous isn’t one of them.
“He’s back, Fal, and I don’t know what elseto do. He tried to hack into my security system. I spoke with the new security guys, and they all agreed. I’ve just booked the jet for us all,” he rushes out.
What the fuck. Maya's ex? Again? This fucking guy.
“How did she handle that? Do you need me today?” I ask. Although the worry of leaving the salon, again, is making me feel physically sick, I would drop everything to be there for her.
“She doesn’t know, and I'm going to keep it that way for now.”
“You can't lie to her, Tommy.”
“I’m not. I’m just going to wait until she's far enough away that she won't need to worry. Can you make it to the airport, or do you need me to send a car? Will you call Blair and Gracie, too?”
“Tommy, we can't all go. We’re struggling to keep the salon open as it is, and if we leave again, I don’t know how…” I don’t get to finish the sentence as he shouts my name down the phone.
“You're struggling, and you didn’t think to ring me? What do you need?” He barks at me. Big brother mode is coming into full effect.
“We will work it out. We just need to work more days,” I say in a low tone. Hoping to calm him down a little.
“It’s because Maya isn’t there, isn’t it?” He says, a little calmer now.
“I don’t want to worry her with all of this.Honestly, we’ll be fine, but leaving for a holiday might be the final nail in the coffin,” I admit.
“You know I’m rich, right? Like so rich, I have too much money to even know what to do with it. I’ll sort the salon bills. If anything, it’s for me, more than you. I know she will be happier with you there, and also, after the last incident, I’d feel safer knowing you girls are here with me too.”
“I can’t…” I try again, but he interrupts me. Again.
“You can, and you will. It’s what family is for. Now, stop arguing and be excited. In roughly twenty-four hours, we will be living it up in the sunshine,” I can almost hear the smile in his voice.
“Okay. Okay. Fine. But you forced us into it, and you know that I would have said yes eventually. Salon or no salon.”
“I know. That’s why you’re my favourite sibling,” he chuckles.
“Liar. I heard you say the same thing to Lucy the other month,” I laugh back.
“It changes every day, depending on which one of you pisses me off the most. Which is usually Max,” he chuckles.
“So, tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ll send you over all of the details in the next hour or so. Will you let the girls know?”
“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll sort it.”
