As soon as she is out of sight, my body sags as the strength it took to stand up to her leaves me. Tommy wraps me up in his arms, burying my face into his chest.
“It’s okay, I’m here. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” He says calmly.
“Yeah, I could use a lie down, that was one hell of a night.” My head whips up as Max interrupts. I had completely forgotten that the rest of them were still here. I hadn’t even glanced at them as we entered the room.
All the girls have tears in their eyes as they study me. Fallon in particular is in a right mess.
“Maymay… I didn’t know,” She gasps on a sob. “I’m so sorry. I knew it wasn’t great, but I didn’t realise how bad it was at home, or how much you needed Tommy. I am so, so sorry.” Tears trickling down her cheeks hot and heavy now.
“You didn’t know because I didn’t tell you. Honestly, I never even told Tommy, he just figured it out for himself,” I say as my own tearsbrim my waterline. I try to give her a smile so she knows I don’t think bad of her, but I can’t even fake an expression right now.
“Come on, the cars outside,” Max says as he grabs onto Lucy and Fallon, directing them to the exit.
“Gracie,” I say, turning to look at her. She looks so unwell, her usual perfect look is dishevelled and she has heavy bags sitting under her eyes. “I’m so sorry, this is all my fault.”
We step towards each other at the same time with open arms. I hold onto her tight, relieved to know that she is okay and doesn’t seem to hate me.
She leans back to look at me, wiping the fallen tears from under my eyes. “Maya, I could never blame you for this, it is completely out of your control. Don’t ever think that, please.” She gives my arms a gentle squeeze. “They are going to get him, they have to.” I don’t know if she actually believes that or just willing it to happen.
The drive back to Tommy’s house is quiet, nothing at all like when we were last in this car. My eyes are so heavy, it’s been well over twenty-four hours since I last slept.
As if reading my mind, Tommy turns to me taking in my tired expression. “When we get back, I think we all need to sleep this nightmare away.” He shifts around to look at the others. “Takeaway and shit films tonight?”
“Hell yes. Is it possible to be hungover when we haven’t even slept yet?” Blair dead pans before stifling a yawn. Everyone in this car looks like they’re ready to sleep for a week.
“I feel the same, it was such a good night before dick head had to come and rain on our parade,” Lucy sulks.
“It really was! One good thing came out of the night, Fallon got to see doctor love,” Gracie sings the last part, making us all laugh. So, I wasn’t the only one to notice.
“Shut up. There is nothing going on between me and Dr Smyth.” Fallon’s face turns beetroot red as she defends herself.
“We never said there was, but you just did,” Blair adds, snickering. She must think we’re blind to believe that.
God the love I feel for this lot makes my heart want to burst out of my chest. I’m over tired and over emotional too, which isn’t helping the soppy feelings but it’s true. I love them all so much.
