Page 132 of There's No Us Without You
“Morning,” I say, smiling as I watch my friend dance around the tables.
Her eyes widen, and she drops a handful of knives on the table next to her when she sees me. “Oh my god.” Her arms out, she races towards me. “I don’t know what you did, but thank you.”
Our bodies collide when Stella slams into me and wraps her arms around my neck, squeezing my upper body so tight, I struggle to breathe.
“What are you talking about?” I say between each strained breath. “I haven’t done anything.”
At least not anything that would benefit her.
When I’m finally released from Stella’s death hug, she steps back, keeping her hands on my shoulders. “Tony gave us all a pay rise. Said we should thank you for it.”
I frown. “He did?”
What on earth is going on? None of this makes any sense—Tony wanting to talk to me, him giving out pay rises like he’s handing candy to kids on Halloween.
With narrowed eyes, Stella puts her hands on her hips. “Why does it feel like you have no idea what I’m talking about?”
“Because I don’t.”
If this is some sort of manipulation ploy Tony is using to get me back, then he can shove it right up his arse. Nothing will ever make me forgive him for what he did, or for what I saw. I’m going to be permanently scarred from that experience. No child should ever have to witness one of their parentals on their knees with someone else’s junk in their mouth.
It was bad enough I copped an eyeful of Kent fuckingher. Now I have to suffer with both images imbedded in my brain for the rest of my life.
“That’s... weird.” Stella tilts her head as she taps a finger to her pink lips. “But anyway, I don’t care what made him do it, justthat he did. I definitely need the money. My mum is struggling with the extra shifts she’s taking on at the hospital, so if I can help her, it takes the pressure off, you know.” She gives me a small smile.
The sadness on Stella’s face has my heart constricting. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to struggle to look after yourself and your children. I barely know how to look after myself, let alone adding someone else into the mix.
I take her hand, giving it a light squeeze. “I’m here if you need anything, you know that, right?”
She nods. “I know.”
“So, how’s things with Carter?” I raise an eyebrow, the question an attempt to change the subject.
Stella’s face almost splits in half when she smiles, and her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink that actually suits her.
When I get embarrassed, I’m like a bright, glowing beetroot from top to bottom.
Nudging her with my hip, I lean closer. “I take your silence and that smile on your face as good, then?”
“I’m not one to kiss and tell,” Stella says, scrunching her nose. “And, I have to finish setting up—wait, why are you here? I thought today was your day off?”
I glance towards the hallway where Tony’s office is situated. “Meeting with Tony.”
She has no idea I quit yesterday, or why. I figured I’d explain it at some stage—after all, we are getting closer as friends—but when I ran out of here, my heart shattered, tears streaming down my face, the only place I wanted to be was at home. Didn’t matter that I had destroyed—or thought I’d destroyed—my relationship with the boys. I needed to be somewhere I felt safe.
I’ll always run there, to them, no matter what.
“Right,” Stella says as she picks up the handful of knives again. “Well, have fun with that. He’s kind of... sad. It’s so unlike him.”
Sad?
It is unlike him to show any emotion other than anger.
Or pervertedness. If that’s even a thing.
With a quick hug, I thank Stella and head for the office.
The door is open, so I step inside to find Tony seated in his chair, a pile of paperwork in front of him. He’s frowning and rubbing his forehead, totally unaware of my presence.
