The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(104)

“I slept with him,” I admit, staring at the ground. “I slept with him whilst I had this thing with Maxwell, and he came home. I told Elliot to get in my wardrobe. I hid him.”

The girls stand quiet. All but Nina, she sits with her hand rubbing small circles on my back.

“You put Elliot Montgomery in a wardrobe?” Megan questions in utter disbelief. “Have you lost your damn mind?”

“Megan,” Nina scolds.

“What? I’m not being a bitch. But Maxwell is… he’s….”

I look up at her, a frown marring my brow when deep down, I know exactly what she is thinking.

“He’s so different. Like, a little far out compared to us. Maybe it’s because he’s American, but I’ve seen more chemistry between an apple and an orange. It just shocks me. It’s Elliot.” She looks at me and frowns. “He actually stayed in the wardrobe?”

I nod. “He read the situation for what it was.”

“He never would’ve outed you to Maxwell,” Nina murmurs, shaking her head.

“And he won’t now.”

I look up at where Scarlet stands, and she gives me a soft smile. “He wouldn’t. You know that.”

“This is a mess,” I wipe at my face, knowing I need to clean myself up. “I need to go and find him, talk to him.”

I stand and leave the room, checking every room before I go outside. I find him lying out on a sun lounger. His long torso is bare and ripped, with little beads of sweat already coating his tanned skin.

“Please, speak to me, Elliot,” I beg.

He lifts his head, his eyes dropping down my dress. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Then why are you here?”

He sits up, my words hitting all wrong. “Let’s get one thing straight and fast. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Speak. To. You.” His lips form a grim line, and I take a step back. “This is my family. I have every right to be here,” he snaps, staring me dead in the eye. Everything goes quiet, and something passes between us. Anger, hurt, everything we’ve not said.

“I didn’t mean why are you here because you don’t belong or owe me anything, but you told Nina—”

“Uncle Elliot!”

We both look across the terrace to where Ellis climbs the steps.

“That.” He points across the pool. “That is why I’m here. Don’t twist it up in your head into something it isn’t. We’re done.”

He stands from the lounger and meets Ellis in the middle of the patio.

I spot Maxwell striding up the steps behind them, and in a moment of panic, I rush inside. I’m met with the brick wall that is Mason Lowell, though.

“Where are you going?” Mason asks, his hands righting me and setting me on my feet.

“Elliot’s here.”

“So?”

“So! Mason, I can’t do this with them.”

His eyes watch me accusingly before flicking over my shoulder. “You don’t get a choice.” He looks back at me. “This is hard for him. Being here with you and that prick.”

“I told Nina I wouldn’t come. I would never have willingly put us in this situation!”

“Well, now it’s happening, and it’s on you. You can’t run away and hide, Luce. You fucked up.” He nods his head in the direction of the terrace.

I spot Ellis, Elliot, and Charlie standing by the pool and Maxwell sat off to the side still trying to get Wi-Fi on his phone.

“Fucking go over there and fix this mess.”

“Who do I go to?” I ask.

Mason frowns down at me, his face screwed up in wonder. “Who do you go to… I’d probably go with your boyfriend if I was you.”

He sniggers and walks past me, joining Elliot and Charlie. I swallow and look to the sky, hoping I’ll find something written in it that will help me through the next few minutes.

As I turn around to walk over to Maxwell, he stands and looks over at Elliot and the guys. I know he’s about to introduce himself. I can see it in his stance, the way he holds himself as he takes steps towards them.

“Max!” I smile, grinding my teeth as I quickly walk to him. I reach him as he reaches the guys.

“Hey,” he says, throwing his arm over my shoulder. He turns his head and nods at Elliot.

“Maxwell, this is Elliot Montgomery.” I wring my hands together, my chest burning. “My friend from back home.”

“Good to meet you,” Maxwell says, and just as his hand lifts toward Elliot, there’s an almighty scream ringing out, making us all freeze.

It comes from the lodge, and Mason moves first, then Elliot, followed by Charlie.

I walk after them into the lodge and find Nina, Scarlet, and Megan standing in the living area.

“What is it?” Mason snaps.

I’m pretty sure if he was a dog, his hackles would be up.

Nina looks at Megan and then at Scarlet with wide eyes. She goes to open her mouth when Megan blurts, “There was a lizard.”

At the same time as Scarlet says. “I stubbed my toe.”

They look at each other, and I frown.

“I stubbed my toe. Looking at the lizard. I ran from it fast.” Scarlet is the smartest of us all; the fact those words have just left her mouth leaves me in utter disbelief.