The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(48)

If anyone knows anything about time and healing, it’s him. I nod and head back to my office.

Maybe things need to slow down a little.





The rain lashes down on my windshield as I pull in through the gates at my home. I wait out the heavy shower from the warm confinements of my car, my eyes falling over the double-fronted house I’ve spent the past sixteen years of my life in.

When Mason and I left home for university, we bought this place together. It was more for him than me at the time. A place he could escape to. He would have lived anywhere at the time, so long as it was away from the estate. I never thought I’d end up holding on to the house for as long as I have, and truth be told, I’ve grown quite fond of it.

I ended up buying Mason out when he purchased his penthouse apartment.

I wonder if he always knew he’d end up back at Lowerwick. I sure as shit never thought I’d see the day. But when he bought the penthouse, did he know he would end up going home?

Nina changed him.

Fuck, Nina changed all of us.

I pull my phone from the centre console and consider turning it on because that’s where I’m fucking at… ten thirty on a Wednesday night, and I’m only now getting in from a two and a half-hour gym session, all so I don’t come home and call her.

When did I become so dependent on hearing from her every day?

When did I become such a simp?

It’s been what? A week since she left.

I used to see Luce a couple times a week at most. We’d all go out for dinner or go for drinks, and then we’d pick a place and finish off the night. There were occasions where I’d call after work to see if Meg was in, the idea Luce would be on her own messing with me too hard to ignore.

Maybe Miller was always the barrier between us. Although, I’m not sure I really believe that. There were plenty of times we could have pushed the boundaries. It just never happened.

Fuck, she’s in my head.

I pull open my door with a grunt and climb out, jogging up my steps and slipping my key into the lock. Inside, I shake off the rain that has my hair sticking to my forehead and pull my T-shirt from over my head, leaving it soaking wet on the tiles.

A calm comes over me as I settle on the spot, my eyes absorbing the main entrance of the house.

Silence.

I’ve always liked it—maybe never really noticed it. But today, when Mason told me I should take a step back, give Luce a chance to find her feet, I didn’t want to come home.

I wanted the noise. The thoughts in my mind that have been running without a care this past week. Not these fucked-up, heavy dwellings taking root.

Nobody teaches you how to deal with those.

My feet carry me to the kitchen, but I don’t turn on the lights, moving around the island with ease to my fridge. I grab a bottle of water, unscrewing the cap and downing half the contents.

I pull my phone from my gym shorts and finally turn it on. It chimes like a fucking bell tower as message after message comes through at once.

Princess: Bruhhhhh! Freezing my peachy little ass off over here today Princess: I just got asked if I know the queen

Princess: I was awkward and weird and said “yes but I’ve never met her.” They looked at me as if I was stupid af Princess: I’ll be home by 5

I have messages from the guys and one from Nina, asking me if I can pick Ellis up from nursery on Friday.

Ever since my conversation with Mason this morning, I’ve been thinking about everything that’s happened since the night in the restaurant. The way Lucy and I speak every day. Me sending her flowers. The balls. The texts. The filthy fucking words I’ve spoken to her. I know she’s been walking in the evenings, but her exploring the city seems like an afterthought while I sleep. She isn’t even making friends at her new job like we expected her to.

I can’t be the reason she doesn’t find her feet in the city.

I won’t have it.

Once I’ve finished my water, I take a shower and shoot her a quick text before I go to bed.

I feel angry. Pissed at myself and the world; because I want her pointless as shit texts. They’re all I found myself looking forward to these last few days, and it feels wrong to shut her down.

Elliot: Just got in. Will call tomorrow x

But I need to give her the best shot at finding her dream in New York.

I need that a whole lot more than any need I could have for her.





Lucy





My phone chimes midmeeting, and I cringe internally, trying to not make it obvious that it came from my cardigan pocket. Thankfully, Monica seems to miss it, and I slowly sneak my phone out and look at the screen.

Maxwell: Can you meet me here tomorrow? 7:30.

He’s attached a location on the text for a bar named Ginny’s.

Crap. I forgot about meeting him.

I’ve been glued to my phone all morning, waiting on any sign of life from Elliot after his text yesterday.

I side-eye Tanner, who is sitting on my right, and smile when he frowns incredulously at me.

So dramatic.

This entire week I’ve gone out of my way to get them on my side, but they’ve made it impossible. Which in turn, makes it impossible for me to do my job properly. Every night I walk out the doors and tell myself tomorrow will be better, but it’s hard to keep a positive head and vibe when they refuse to work with me. Everything I need has to be delivered via Bella or Jenna, and I know it’s wearing thin on both of them. Bella told me Lessy was set to get the designer role I’m now occupying, and I get it. They’re pissed for her. But I only want to be a part of their team. This is my dream job too, and I worked my ass off to be here.