Page 84 of Love Thief

I spot both James and Bucky surrounded by women. They’ve been watching for us, in a move I would never in a million years have done. With genuine smiles for the hordes, they disentangle themselves and walk over to us. James’s face changes to one of total concern when he clocks his mother. Jonno is heading for us with the same look, and, yep, all of them coming at us, Jude and Bucky as well.

“What’s up, Mum? Where did you all go? Are you alright? You look a bit pasty.” James looks like he might start flapping.

“Yeah, I just need food, I think,” she reassures him before hugging him and then Bucky, who is staring at her, biting his lip, clearly worried.

Xan reaches out, grips Bucky's shoulder and tells him how great he was before leaning in to whisper something in his ear. The boy nods, looking a bit better.

I pull James and Bucky in for a hug and see a few phones being pulled out—nothing is sacred, nothing private. But this is the life I chose, and so it seems have my sons. And this is the price we pay for doing it well.

“What’s going on, fuckheads?” Jonno asks before pinning us each with a stare and pointing an accusing finger at us. “You better take good care of my sister. No, better yet, come home, Evie. This lot are useless.” Pulling her out of my hands, he tells her, “Let’s go get some food, I’m starving,” before he and Tommy lead her away from us.

“James, Bucky, I’m going, so you’re safe,” she laughs at them over her shoulder.

Even I don’t want to see what my sons are up to, so Xan, Jude, and I all move as one to follow them.

“Bye, Dad,” they both shout.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” I yell back.

“We wouldn’t dare, we’d get arrested,” Bucky says, and I grin at him as I pull Xander with me.

We get home to Devon the day after James’s performance and spend a restful few days. The following week, we go back into the studio at Farm Cottage, and Evie goes up to London with Jonno to work. I want her to get a check-up, and she says she’s got medical stuff to do with the shot so she had an appointment anyway. There’s been no other issues, so I feel happy staying put.

Probably best that Evie’s not here, too. Becky has yet again hung on with Levi, and Gabe is back with Texas, the other members of the toxic trio, Grace and Lauren, having gone back to work until the summer break.

I’m hoping Gabe doesn’t fetch them back, but I’m not going to hold my breath. He’s getting out of control again. More drugs, more drink, more everything. Tim’s been trying to talk to him, but he seems hell bent on his actions. Plus, Levi is definitely not just with Becky, and I wonder how that will play out now that Texas is back.

Xan has been going up to London to go out with Jonno, so on occasion I’ve found myself with Marshall on my own. I do not fare well. The man has hollow legs and a tolerance for his family whiskey that makes me believe they fed it to him in bottles as a baby.

Jake, who seems to spend a bit of time at Cornhill, has rescued me a few times. I can’t decide if it's whiskey, me, or Molly Dickson that’s fetching him over on a regular basis, but either way, I’m grateful.

Two weeks pass after Evie leaves for London, and between jerking off daily, and phone sex on a night, I can just about cope. But I need her here. I also just fucking miss her. If she’s not turned back up by next week, I’m going to fucking go get her.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

EVIE

Ifeel like I’m recharging my batteries. I’m at home alone, only Tommy and I, spending time on my building site and loving it. I get a bit of stick from my guys about my Vegas wedding, to a ‘rockstar’ no less. I argue the definition of rock star as the band is hardly heavy rock type music, but we generally agree it’s a bit of a universal term for a superstar of the music world, especially as he’s in a band and is hardly a ‘popstar.’

My team is pretty fab. My head man has kept the schedule on track and another building is due to be ready. It’s mixed commercial and residential, as we’ve planned for the site to have people living and working here. This building is particularly lovely. The entire ground floor is eateries and bistro bars, with areas for eating in a courtyard setting that has a retractable roof. The next floor up houses a gym and leisure complex, while residential covers the next three floors. I’ve even soundproofed all the residences so no one is disturbed by the noise filtering from below.

Each apartment caters to the nuances of the building—it was a loading and holding bay, so lifts and pulleys are still visible, as well as shelving, and cupboard areas. We’ve kept nearly every bit of the built-in brick and stone and used it in the designs. It’s all coming together and, by no small effort by my team, on time.

I tell them my schedule, a bit of here, there and everywhere, but I’ve decided that I’ll take my laptop and work during the day. Day drinking and shopping are not for me. I may as well have meetings, or help Jude out with some finance stuff, if I’m really bored.

Not to disrespect anyone else, but waiting for the guys to come back from places is definitely not floating my boat. Performance days and nights I can cope with, anything else, no.

I meet one of my favourite clients who, like me, is totally into buildings with personality, at the building in the west end. I told her it was so full of personality and swagger I didn’t know if she could cope with it. After setting foot inside it, she, however, feels it’s the one for her, and we spend a happy couple of hours oohing and ahhing over features.

I ring Jude after the meeting, telling him to sort out all the paperwork as she’s hooked. “Even the building seems pleased,” I tell him. I think I’m as excited as she is.

“You’re as crazy as they are,” he chuckles. ”Do you want to meet for coffee? I’m around.” He seems hopeful, and I tell him to meet me after my appointment, but when I tell him where I’m going, he says he’ll meet me there.

I set my medical appointment a few days in to give me time to sort out the sites and reorientate myself in London. Now, I sit and wait for my doctor, stripped off with a gown on as I foolishly wore a dress. I totally forgot she likes to do a full health check up. They’ve taken blood, done my blood pressure—as I told her about my fainting spell—checked my breasts, and discussed periods—irregular at the minute, but small spotting. I had all the dates on an app. I had the readings from my fainting spell as well, as she’s very thorough and I knew she would want them. BMI done, height, weight. I just really wanted the shot done and go, but they need to double check everything before they act.

I sit for ages before Dr. Theodore finally comes in. “Evie, can I just check your period dates again please? I pass over my phone and she studies the app, passes it over to her assistant, then looks at me and says, “I can’t do the shot today, as?—”

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