The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(22)

She wiggles her hips, and I chuckle.

“My biggest fear?” I think about it, although I already know. I just don’t know if I want to tell her. “I’m afraid I will die suddenly, and you’ll say something sappy at my funeral and embarrass me.”

“Ohhh, that’s a good one.” She grins as she sits up and stares at me with an amused look on her face. It’s warm and wholesome and should be on a wall someplace. “It will ground me for sure.”

“I don’t know what you want me to tell you,” I sober.

“It’s fine.” She waves me off, letting me avoid her question with my shit banter. “I should go home. I really do need to book a flight. And pack!”

I pull her back to me as she goes to stand. “Why tomorrow?”

“If I don’t go then, then I won’t go at all.”

“You don’t want a party? A night with the girls? Where are you going to live?”

“I’ll find somewhere. I have savings for now, and I can stay in a hotel until then. And I’d love a night with the girls, but it will make me sad. I just need to leave.”

I nod and give her a tight smile. “Good. This is good.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

She smiles. “Sorry I turned up here unannounced.”

“You don’t ever have to apologise. And, Luce, I am sorry about Harriet. You didn’t need to see that.”

“Don’t be!” She rolls her lips as if she has more to say, but she isn’t sure. She’s never been closed off with me, so I’d hate for her to be now.

“And I agree that we should forget about Saturday. I’m not even a little bit sorry.” I bite my lip at the same time I break a smile. “But it wasn’t a good time, so I am sorry if it was confusing for you.”

“You don’t need to apologise.” She stands and smiles down at me. I’m glad we talked, especially with her leaving so soon. “Who was that woman anyway?”

“No one important.”

“No one important.” She rolls her eyes.

“Don’t do that.”

“What?!” She smirks, being all playful.

“Your jealousy is hot as fuck, you know.”

“I’m not jealous!” She’s still smirking.

“If you say so.”

“It’s fun to mess with you,” she informs me. “You’re single, Ell. You can bone whoever you want.”

“I know I can.”

“Harry-art seems like a dream too, so I totally get it.”

“Harriet,” I correct, steepling my fingers and bringing them to my lips.

“Same thing. Why are they always so posh? I’m genuinely curious.”

“What, you decided to go to New York, and it automatically brings out sassy ass Luce?”

“I’m no longer in crisis, so yes, I feel much better. And If I were wrong, you’d defend your poor penis.”

“You are dismissed.”

“Okay. Bye. See you on the other side, mother—”

I’m on my feet before she can pull open the door. My hand wraps around her waist from behind, and I pull her up and off her feet. She squeals, and I quickly dip my head to her neck, swathed by her hair.

“Can I take you to the airport? Please?” I ask, squeezing her.

“Okay. If you must!”

I let her free and drop her to her feet, pulling open the door and slapping her ass as I send her on her way.





Lucy





Not only did Mum and Dad take the day off work to come to the airport with me, but Megan, Nina, Scarlet, the kids, Mason, Charlie and of course, Elliot are all here to see me off. It’s not what I wanted, and I would have preferred to have left quietly, but I am glad they came.

The only issue is, I’m now a snivelling, snotty mess as I walk towards the escalators and my gate.

I know this is a big deal, and I understand why my parents and friends wanted to be here. But I was doing great. I was pretending it was nothing and that it wasn’t a big deal. As I packed, called the bank, even when I called and told Almendo I was coming out as soon as today. I was on autopilot and doing it with ease—not an easy feat for me.

Megan invited Nina and Scarlet over last night, and we had takeout and wine. One final girls’ night for a little while. To be honest, we’ve been slack over the past twelve months, everything with Scar and getting her back to work, Nina and her studio, the kids. Megan is the only one who seems to live a relatively uneventful life, and she seems the most grounded out of the lot of us. Our time together as a foursome seems to be getting stretched thinner and thinner, and it’s to be expected with how our lives are changing.

This is just another change, and it won’t be forever.

“How are you feeling?” Megan asks, bumping my shoulder.

Nina looks up at me as we walk together in a line, Scar on the other side of Nina. “Shitting it,” I tell them all.

“Remember what we said last night,” Nina reassures me. “You only have to give it a shot, and if you hate it, you can come home. Did you take the tablets?”

“No, I was worried about being too out of it boarding the plane. I will take them when I get to my seat.”