Page 291 of The Grand Duel

“Fucking rugby players,” Megan spits as she walks back into the tent. “Have you seen that girl I was with earlier? Effy.”

“I don’t even know who that is, Megs. Have you seen Lis or the kids?”

“Not Lissie, but Nina told me the kids are fine.”

I look around, spotting some of her rugby team back inside the tent, their coach giving a group of them an earful.

Can’t find that fucking Freddie though.

Lissie wouldn’t be with anyone else.

I wipe at my mouth, looking around the tent, wishing I didn’t drink so much tonight.

She wouldn’t be with anyone else, would she?

With little rationale, I cross the tent and walk the path to the house, knowing which room she’s staying in.

I take the stairs two at a time and stride down the west wing with purpose, my heart hammering in my chest.

I knock once and walk into the room Lissie stayed in last night, finding it empty, the lights out.

With my hands on my hips, I huff, knowing I’m being a paranoid ass.

A creaking sound catches my attention from across the landing, the floorboards groaning from inside Ave’s bedroom.

I cross to her door and go to push inside, pausing when Lissie’s voice catches me off guard.

“Sometimes adults do silly things, Ellis. Don’t worry about it, okay. Have you brushed your teeth?”

“He hit him right in the nose,” Ellis tells her. “His nose went like this!”

Lissie laughs, and I close my eyes at the sound of it, my head spinning as I rest it against the door.

“Auntie Lissie?” a girl asks—Willow, I think. “Can you sleep in here with Ellis, Ave, and me? Or get my mummy?”

“Of course I will, Willow. How about we all bundle up in Ave’s nook tonight?”

“Mummy said we wouldn’t be allowed to have sleepovers tonight and not to ask,” Ellis says. “But I can hide really good if she comes in.”

“Come on, you three, it’s super late.”

“I can’t believe I saw a fight.” Ellis continues, and I push against the door, peeking inside. “It was better than on the TV.”

I watch as Lissie helps Ave up onto the bed, the three children all in their pyjamas.

“Shuffle up.” Lissie climbs in, lying atop the covers in her dress.

She settles on the bed and then looks over at the three children, smiling. “You okay over there, Ellis?”

“That…that boy with the funny thing on his face got hit right in his nose, Lissie.”

She chuckles, resting her head back to the pillows. “That funny thing on his face is called a moustache, and yeah, he did.”

“I was a bit scared,” Willow says.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Remember, they have to go through me to get to any of you.”

I leave the door slightly ajar and slide down the wall, sitting outside as I listen to them talk amongst themselves.

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