Page 140 of Grand Love

“I’ve been the most dramatic best friend in history this past year!” We both laugh and I take her hand. “Promise me you won’t settle. You deserve more, so much more, Luce.”

“I promise.” Her face lights up, that angelic, alluring smile that she wears so well taking over her face. “I need to get Ellis to Vinny, then we need to get dressed and you still need your hair doing!” she tells me.

“I will go find Vinny. You take a minute,” I tell her, leaving her on the balcony and wandering down to the kitchen where I find Vinny, and Scarlet stood around the biggest block of cheese I’ve ever seen.

* * *

Mase

Every summerfrom the time my mother became sick to the day I left Lowerwick for college, was spent on the Montgomery’s estate. It wasn’t something that was discussed; it was just the place we went when our fathers had to work.

It took years of my own ignorance, or maybe my immaturity, before I realised that my father wasn’t the man he once was. He was an alcoholic, one who managed to hide it from everyone he loved—until he didn’t.

The Montgomery Estate holds better, maybe even longer-lasting memories than Lowerwick ever will. It’s a home, with love and laughter and life.

Lowerwick Estate is nothing more than bricks and mortar, filled with half arse promises that were made by two people who lie six feet beneath it. Lifting the glass of amber liquid to my lips I empty the tumbler in one mouthful, welcoming the burn as it runs down my throat.

Elliot watches me over the brim of his glass, giving me a nod before lowering his eyes to check his cards.

We are lounging around a table in one of the many sitting rooms. Lance, Charlie, Elliot and George—because apparently George gets invited to family parties now too.

I give Elliot a nod, tossing an ace down which George instantly straightens on the table.

“I’m out,” Lance huffs, throwing down his cards.

“Me too.”

“George, you were out three hands ago. You don’t have to call it every round,” Lance snaps. He’s been even more of an asshole than normal recently.

“This is taking forever! What time is the ball? Those girls will have you strung up if you’re late, you know. That lilac haired beauty who was here earlier, God, she could organise unholy nuns! She told me to make sure we were on time. I don’t want to be the one she comes for.”

“You won’t be.” Lance rolls his eyes. “Charlie, call it.”

Charlie is just as quiet as me this evening and I know he’s stuck in his own head. I just don’t know why. Reaching forward, he slides in three-quarters of his chips—around twenty grand—into the middle of the table.

Elliot matches him, and I follow.

Elliot sits forward, rubbing his hands together. “I’m feeling lucky tonight, assholes!”

“That’s what I said,” George remarks, shaking his head at me with a smile that I don’t return. “Is everything okay, Mason?” he calls me out.

The boys all look at me, none of them having bothered to ask the question. They aren’t fucking idiots, that’s why. They know better than to ask.

Was everything okay? No. No, it fucking wasn’t. But I sure as shit wasn’t about to get into it with him.

“Everything is dandy, Georgey.” I pat him on the shoulder. “All in.” I push my chips into the middle of the table, not looking at anyone else.

“Shut up you, dick. You haven’t even looked at your cards.” Elliot finishes dealing then grins as he checks his. “You know what, all fucking in.”

“Fuck’s sake,” Charlie mutters, throwing down his cards.

Elliot looks like the cat that got the cream while Charlie glares at me.

I couldn’t give a shit.

I can’t focus on a fucking game right now.

* * *

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