Page 11 of Only Ever You

“Damn it, Pippa. Talk to me.”

Tears well in my eyes again, but I have nothing to say to Lucas.

“I know you love Deacon. He’s been my best friend since you were little. But he’s made his choice, and I made mine. I’m sorry you got stuck in the middle.”

I clamp my lips together. No. He doesn’t get my words. I’m not even going to acknowledge him. It’s not just Deacon and his father whose hearts are broken.

The rest of the ride home is silent.

I might not ever speak with Lucas again.

Chapter Four

Deacon

Twelve years later

Another day, another invitation.

This time, it’s my old high school having a reunion. As if I’d ever set foot in Gisborne ever again.

She lives there.

While she might be my biological mother, she’s also the woman who broke my dad. He was never the same after we left. He worked himself into the ground at the power plant until he died six years ago.

I’m just glad he saw the fruits of my labour—mine and a group of uni friends who made an alcohol-free beer that went viral and became a multi-million-dollar company.

“Simone,” I call out.

Simone, my PA, appears in the doorway. She places her hands on her hips and gives me a bored look as if she knows exactly what I’m about to say.

I hold up the invitation. “Could you please write them back again and tell them I’m not interested in this stupid reunion?”

She shakes her head.

We’ve been working together for two years, and why she’s still here, I’ll never know. I can be a perfectionist, and I’ve got no patience for things that waste my time—like this. She’s got her eyes on the big prize—becoming the CEO’s PA instead of the lowly CTO. But Garrett’s already started advertising for an external candidate, and I’m far too selfish to suggest the woman I’m dependent on to him.

“Why don’t you write to them? They’re clearly not taking the polite brush-off very well.”

I snort. “I’m not sure why they’re so focused on me giving any kind of speech. I sucked at that kind of thing when I was at school.”

A smile sweeps her lips, before she laughs. “You’re so eloquent. I have no idea why they’d want you either.”

“It’s a mystery.” I drop the letter to the desk and hold up my palms.

Simone rolls her eyes and stalks across the room. “Give it to me. I’ll write a reply in Deacon speak.”

“Deacon speak?” I side-eye her, and she laughs again.

“The only question really is how many ways I can find to say, ‘Fuck off’?”

I chuckle. “You know me so well.”

With another eye-roll, she picks up the piece of paper and turns to leave. “Just remember your board meeting starts in about ten minutes.”

Saluting her, I rise from my seat. “I suppose I should go and get a coffee before I head in there.”

“Good luck.”

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