Page 53 of Grand Love

“I know,” I snap, cutting him off.

“I know you know.” He smiles, flashing me his teeth.

“You’re an idiot.” I lean into him as he throws his arm around my shoulders and chuckles. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Ell. What do you do when you want something you can’t have?” Because as much as I miss Mason, I know we aren’t going to be together again. Too much has happened. It would take a lifetime to repair the mess we made.

“Honestly? I go out and get laid.”

Rolling my eyes, I push out from under him and jog up the steps to the front door. “How come you came here anyway?”

“Mase was worried.”

I tut, fighting another eye roll.

“Luce is going to bring Ellis out here. Thought you might want to stay now you’ve come out.”

I nod. “Yeah, I will stay. Thank you,” I tell him sincerely.

“You just have to wait, Pix.”

My brows furrow as I turn to face him. “Huh?”

“One day you’ll have the answers you’re looking for. You just have to trust me when I tell you nothing’s going on, okay?”

* * *

Ellis is slumpedin my arms as I carry him through the house and up the stairs to his cot. I stand and watch him as he nestles around in his sleeping bag for nearly twenty minutes before I leave him to sleep. I’d never take him back. I’d never wish for a different life. The fact I threw that in Mason’s face tonight disgusts me.

As much as Elliot’s reassurance should put me at ease, I can’t seem to stop my mind from reeling. Mason once paid Cara off to keep a secret, and now he is paying for this woman’s hotel stays? I don’t understand what they expect me to think. Maybe Elliot is right and it’s time we sat down and talked about it.

Lucy is standing waiting at the bottom of the stairs when I reach the landing. I look down at her as she looks up at me with a judgemental stare.

“What’s that look?” I ask.

“We need a chat,” she tells me.

I join her at the bottom and sit on the step.

“Where’s your head at, Nina? Concerning Mason?” She gets straight to it, choosing to remain standing.

“I thought I made a mistake, leaving him.” My gaze lifts to look at her, my eyes prickling. “I started to believe he might not have done it. I thought maybe I got it wrong.”

Lucy drops down beside me, smoothing her hand over my back.

“He had a room booked, and they used it. I was cleaning opposite and saw her going inside. It was that day I told you.”

Lucy recoils, frowning. “What?”

“Then today I saw him at the hotel, and I thought he was meeting her again. I made a complete fool of myself. And then I ran.”

“Oh, babe.” She hugs me closer, resting her head on mine.

“I love him, Luce. I love him so much and I don’t know how to stop.”

“You want it to stop? Because love doesn’t come around often, Nina, sometimes you have to be willing to swallow your pride.”

Leaning back, I take in a deep breath and close my eyes, knowing there isn’t a quick fix tonight. “I need wine and a job.”

“Well, I can help with the wine.” She stands and grabs my hands, pulling me up. “And there’s no rush to find a job.”

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