Page 67 of Grand Love

Nina

Strippingnaked wasn’t my intention and looking back now, I wish the ground would have swallowed me up whole. So much needed to be said to Mason, but in my drunken state, I somehow believed I needed to be bare to say it.

Maggie sets a mug of hot water down in front of me. The only upside to going out last night is the Sunday dinner that Maggie has been prepping all morning. Mason was already gone when I woke up this morning, and he thankfully had already picked Ellis up from Maggie’s before I arrived. It’s his weekend with Mason, and I know that he will want the day with him after missing last night.

“So, tell me about this new job.” Maggie lifts my legs and sits at the other end of the sofa, then places them back down on her lap.

“It’s three days a week to start, which I know is more than I was doing at the hotel, but I can get Mason to help, still.”

“Nina, please. I want to help. Unless you would rather have Mason take the time off. But otherwise, let me help you. Please.”

“I can’t help but feel bad, like I’m putting on you.”

She gives me a look that basically means shut up.

“Are you sure, Mags? Shouldn’t you speak to John first too? It will be later evenings sometimes.”

“Jesus Christ, just let her have the damn kid,” Lucy grumbles from the opposite sofa.

“Lucy Mae Morgan! That is your nephew you are talking about,” Maggie scolds.

“I have a headache, Mum. Don’t pick on me today.”

I shake my head and laugh. Lucy’s definitely feeling it more than me. She managed to get out of bed when I arrived but hasn’t moved from the sofa since.

“Go shower, you smelly child.” Maggie whacks her with a cushion on her way to the kitchen, making her groan.

“I can feel your porny eyes on me,” she says, muffled against the pillow.

“Porny.” I chuckle.

“Yes.” She leans up on her elbows and looks into the kitchen to see if Maggie’s listening. “I feel honoured you’ve managed to keep your clothes on today.”

“Funny.” I give her a death stare. “How did you get home last night anyway?” I change the subject, not needing a reminder of the night before.

Lucy sighs and covers her face with her forearm. “How do you think?”

“A taxi?”

She peeks out under her arm with a frown.

“Well Ell didn’t drive you that’s for sure. He was just as steaming as you. What happened with Miller?”

“He wanted to film us… you know. But he didn’t ask, I caught the light flashing on the sideboard while he was… doing his thing,” she whispers, pointing to her crotch. “You probably would’ve loved it.” She smirks at me.

“Oh, give it up already. I was naked for twenty seconds. Stop being judgy!” I roll my eyes. “What an ass though. What was he thinking?”

“I probably overreacted but it pissed me off, Elliot was raged.”

“You told Ell?”

“I tell him everything.”

“Did anything happen when he brought you home last night?”

“Umm, no.”

“That doesn’t sound all that convincing.”

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