Page 16 of North (The Moral Compass 2)

“What? And if you say you’re using the lube, it’s a hard… yes.” She laughs again.

“Kara, I’m serious. I want to go away with you this weekend, but no practical jokes. I want to relax without worrying about what I’m going to be facing next. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been fun, but I need a break, Princess. I’m fucking tired of looking over my shoulder every two minutes.”

Her pretty face falls from smiling to a frown.

“Okay,” is all she says, and she walks out of the room.

What did I just do? I feel like I’ve broken her. She looked like I’d said something awful to her. I just want to relax with her and hold her and not worry I’m going to wake up with parcel tape in my hair. It’s not too much to ask, is it?

Chapter 14

Kara

Ithoughtweweregoing to be driving up to the Lake District until a familiar sound rumbles outside. I look out of the patio doors to see a helicopter land in the large garden area.

Panic and fear explode inside me.

“North, North!” I scream. “There’s a fucking helicopter! Someone help, there’s a fucking helicopter landing in the garden! Some fucker help me, please!” I scream louder till my voice breaks. I turn to run and slam straight into a hard, solid chest. Panic rises again. I kick and punch as the arms wrap around my body. The scent of his body overtakes me as I realise it’s North.

“I. Can’t. Breathe—” I gasp. “I can’t bre—”

No words will come. He holds me tight to his chest.

“I’m such a stupid fucker, Kara. I should have thought about this and asked you first. I am so sorry, Princess.”

“You. Absolute. Fucking. Dickhead!” Sutton shouts at North and starts hitting him on his back. West comes in, shouting something.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just didn’t think. I know I should have, but I didn’t. I just wanted to get there quicker than sitting in the car for five hours. I wouldn’t hurt you, Kara, not for all the money in the world. You have to believe me,” North begs.

“Kara, I want you to listen to me carefully,” West says. “I need you to count with me. One... Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven… Eight… Nine… Ten…”

Then, he repeats it, and I feel myself slowly calming down and able to breathe again.

I look up at North, worry, fear, and remorse all over his normally happy face. Tears spring to my eyes. I know he didn’t mean to terrify me. Someone must have told the helicopter pilot to go because it disappears as quickly as it landed. I feel my heartbeat slowing down. I want to punch North in the fucking face, but his eyes are filled with emotion and regret. I just want him to hold me and never let me go.

“Ooof,” Sutton growls.

My head flies up from North’s chest. “What’s up? Is it the babies?” I snivel.

“Yeah, one of the little blighters didn’t like North’s stunt and just gave me a good kick in the ribs,” she said, taking a seat on one of the nearby chairs. West immediately puts his hands on her tummy, waiting patiently for it to happen again.

“Hey, you two, come and feel this. It’s the most amazing thing ever.” West waves his arms to us, and we both walk over and put our hands on Sutton’s huge bump. It was the most bizarre feeling ever. These little people are all moving around inside my best friend’s belly. I have to admit, it’s one hell of a distraction.

North pulls me into the living room. “I understand if you want me to cancel the hotel. I don’t want to stress you out any more than I have. I know you’ve been worried about it since I asked you,” he mumbles.

“I want to go, but can we just drive or get the train? I need to get out of here and get some real air and see different scenery. And no stunts,” I promise him.

As North estimated, it takes us five hours to get into the Lake District. What we didn’t anticipate was how bloody busy it would be. We were stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour just to get a mile down the road to our hotel.

“When I park this fucking car up, it’s not moving till we are going home,” he huffs. I understand why he’s grumpy; six hours behind the wheel is shit. I’ve been crying that I need to pee for the last half hour. I very nearly had to go in a coffee cup from the service station but, eventually, the traffic moved, and we arrived at our hotel, a beautiful white spa hotel set back off the road with big, beautiful balconies looking out over the lake.

The hotel lobby is beautiful with marble pillars, expensive furniture, and beautiful portrait paintings hanging on the walls. It’s a mix of old-fashioned and modern at the same time. It’s stunning.

The receptionist is way too friendly when we get to the desk.

“North McGarry? Is it really you?” She gushes, and he nods sheepishly. “Oh. My. God. I was expecting West when the room was booked for two people. I heard he’d settled down. Who’s this, then?” she asks, leaning over the desk, looking me up and down. Today has been filled with meltdowns, long journeys, traffic jams, and nearly pissing myself. It is safe to say I look like shit.

“This is my girlfriend, Kara, Holly. Is the room ready?” North says with no pleasantries. He looks pissed off, and his eyes are boring holes in hers. I’m not stupid. I can see there is history here, and there are definitely some feelings of jealousy from the other side of the reception desk.

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