Page 66 of Only Ever Yours
“Girlfriend? Jase, why didn’t you tell me?” She rushed over and hugged me. “I need to know everything.”
A wry smile crossed my face. “You might need something a bit stronger than peppermint tea for that.”
“I thought there might be a reason for you turning up here unannounced for the first time in ages.” Mum rubbed my shoulder, then let go, resuming her tea duties. “Let’s get the tea, and we can talk.”
Fifteen minutes later, I’d spilt my guts about everything, minus one significant detail. I hadn’t mentioned Hollis by name. After I’d finished, Mum sat in silence for a few moments, reflecting on what I’d told her.
“Getting arrested isn’t you, Jase. You’ve never been in trouble before. Well, at least, not serious trouble like that,” she said at last. “I can see how you would think your girlfriend has made a deal with her ex in order for you to be released. Maybe there wasn’t enough evidence.”
“Glad to hear you’ve got confidence in me.” I shook my head, placing my cup and saucer on the table in front of me. “And by the way, I won’t be drinking this shit any time soon.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me? But tell me, who is this woman you’re so worked up over? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this before.” She shook her head and smiled. “You’re clearly in love with her, whoever she is.”
I couldn’t deny that. I had it bad for Hollis; she was my everything. Even after all that had gone down in the last couple of days, I still wanted her, needed her,loved her.
“You already know who she is.” I got up and helpedmyself to a glass of water to rid my mouth of the taste of warm peppermint.
Mum’s brows knitted together. “I do? Did you get back together with one of your exes?”
“Nope. It’s Hollis.”
She leaned forward, eyes wide. “As in Finn Sutton’s younger sister?”
“You know many other people named Hollis?”
Her mouth flapped, no actual words coming out. “Since when? And what does Finn think about it?”
The corners of my mouth twitched as I thought back to Barney and Lenora’s wedding and how Finn had found out about the two of us, thanks to Felicity. “Let’s just say it was a bit of a shock at first, but Finn knows I would never do anything to hurt Hollis. Not least because I know he’d hurt me.” A small laugh escaped me, briefly lightening my mood.
“I don’t know Hollis as well as I know Finn, but from what I do know, she’s a smart cookie. She’s not going to be sucked in again by this Gil character if she’d already walked away from him once.”
And that’s why I loved my mum. She had a knack for making everything right, even without doing anything. I had to wait until I’d spoken to Hollis to make sure what she had suggested was true. I picked up my phone and looked at the screen. There was one notification there.
Hollis. Missed call.
My heart pounded in my chest as I immediately tried to call her back.
Not for the first time, all I got was her messaging service.
I still had to wait for the real answers.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hollis
“How do you feel?” Ella asked as I dropped down into the seat opposite her, having spent the best part of an hour at a table over the other side of the bar.
I had asked her to come with me to London, as I intended to meet Gil in a public place where there werewitnesses, in case anything happened. And I knew I’d definitely need a shoulder to lean on once our discussion was over.
Reaching for the glass of water on the table, I greedily gulped it down, wishing it was wine instead. “He’s gone, and it’s over. He dropped all the charges, and Jase has been released.” I let out a thready sigh.
Ella reached across and covered my hand with hers. “Thank God.”
“There was a moment when I thought he wasn’t going to agree to it. When I told him I could go to the police and tell them all about his borderline stalking and coercive behaviour, he changed his mind.”
“Funny that.” Ella rolled her eyes. “And Jase is definitely in the clear—no repercussions?”
I nodded, relief washing over me. Taking a mercy dash from Maplebrook to London had been an impulsive decision, but I knew I had to do it. I couldn’t risk Jase’s future even though what he’d done to Gil had been horrible. To an extent, my devious ex deserved everything he got. The time I’d spent with Gil had been worth it to make sure the man I loved stayed free.
