The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(20)

Elliot is a good guy. My friends adore him. I adore him. But he isn’t the man I should be crossing that line with. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun—so much fun, but now I’m left feeling off with a need to figure out if he feels an ounce of the confusion I do.

The way he touched me lit a fire in my gut that didn’t fully fade when he let me go.

“Stop bouncing your knee.” Nina eyes me in the elevator mirror, her face assessing and full of questions. “What is it? It’s not just New York. Something’s up with you.”

I don’t snap back at her like I want to. I should say something witty and shut her up before I blabber my mouth and tell her everything I’m standing here thinking about. My silence has her going deeper.

“Is it what happened with Elliot?”

There it is. She always knows. It’s the bittersweet side of having someone so paralleled to your life that they know your shit before you do. She doesn’t know what I’m thinking, but she knows who I am and how I will be feeling.

“I need to talk to him.” I pull my lip between my teeth and look across at her. “Clear the air before I leave.”

Nina nods, her eyes dropping before covering her concern that momentarily flashes on her face. “You guys have been playing this game for years. He probably shouldn’t have done what he did, but you didn’t stop him either.” She shrugs unapologetically.

“That’s not at all helpful.”

She makes a face and gives me an innocent shrug as the elevator doors slide open. The reception area is empty when we arrive, and we quickly make our way to Mason’s office.

I look down the hall before we slip in through the door and wonder if Elliot is in.

“Look who’s here!” I turn at Mason’s enthusiastic voice.

Waverly sits on the sofa, nestled in his suit-clad lap as she watches the TV. It’s mounted on the only solid wall. The rest is glass and looks out across the city.

“Hey, Ave,” Nina coos, walking around the office and crouching down in front of them. “You feeling poorly?”

Waverly frowns and turns into Mason’s jacket, holding on tight with her tiny fist. “This is going to be fun.” I chuckle. “Ave, do you want to come with us and get Ellis? I’m coming too!”

She gives me a death stare, and Nina sighs.

Waverly has a favourite, and that’s Mase.

“I’m going to pop down and see Ell quick. I’ll let you tackle little miss.” I give her a wink and back out of the room.

Elliot’s office is at the other end of the floor. It’s out of the way of everyone else and is an exact mirror of Mason’s—although it’s much less clinical. I spent a lot of time coming and going with Ellis when he was a baby, so I usually feel comfortable being in the space. Only today, as I stroll down the corridor, I feel different because now I have a heavy ache in my stomach from the weekend’s antics. I wish I’d called him over the weekend or at least sent him a text. He’s so calm and cool he’d have come over and spent the day and probably put me at ease about the whole thing.

But I wasn’t in the right frame of mind on Sunday, and he would’ve been in my head about New York, which leaves three whole days between Saturday and now.

My palms are sweaty, and my steps are clunky and harsh. I feel like a ball of energy that can’t calm.

Calm down, Luce.

It’s Elliot. He’s my friend. He’ll say something stupid, I’ll laugh, and we can go back to being normal again.

I puff out a breath and knock once, then walk in.

I find him sitting at his desk. He looks perfect as always.

And so does the brunette who’s half-dressed and sliding back into her tights at his side.





7





Elliot





There are moments in my life where my choices—not many—have gutted me. I pride myself on owning everything I do. No excuses.

“Luce, it’s not what you think.”

My heart sank when I heard her knock. I knew it was Lucy before she opened the door, doe eyed and looking lost. She catches herself fast, and then I watch in anticipation as her shoulders draw back, and she looks me dead in the eye.

I swallow, my jaw clenching as her judgement paints everything her eyes cast over.

“Sorry. I should’ve waited outside when I knocked.” She turns to leave, and I quickly stand, panic kicking me in my gut and setting me in motion.

She knows me. Knows what I’m like. “It’s fine,” I tell her. “Harriet’s leaving now.”

Lucy flicks her eyes to Harriet, who is slipping on her shoes. She gives Lucy a once-over, then twists her lips up as if she knows something she doesn’t.

“How convenient.” Harriet laughs.

“Hurry up,” I mutter impatiently. She knows how unprofessional this looks.

She sighs as she grabs her bag and coat, then gives me a seductive wink as she shoulders past Lucy. I catch the look on Lucy’s face, and it makes my heart drop to my ass.

“Sometimes, I think I know who you are.” My jaw stiffens. “Like… you go from this incredible….” She shakes her head and laughs. “Jesus Christ, Ell.”

I roll my lips and rub my hands together, not understanding her at all. “What?”