Page 68 of Grand Love

“Girls, can you lay the table? Lunch is ready in ten,” Maggie calls from the kitchen.

Lucy jumps up from the sofa, moving quicker than she has all morning. I glare at her as she whips past me.

* * *

The table isn’t asbusy as it normally is and that has a lot to do with the fact Vinny isn’t here. I haven’t spoken to him yet and I know I need to, and as much as it upsets me, I know that sometimes I won’t be the one his loyalties lie with.

John sits at the head of the table, with Maggie to his left and Lucy at his right. I sit next to Lucy.

“Good night I gather, girls?” John asks.

“Nina had a great night.” Lucy laughs, shoving a mouthful of cabbage in her mouth.

I glare at the side of her head and will her to stop talking. The Morgans can take the banter. I’ve grown up on it. But I don’t need them knowing what I get up to after dark.

She snickers to herself, and I give her a kick.

“Ow!” she snaps.

“Not nice being the butt of the joke, is it, Nina love.” John smiles warmly over at me, always defending me.

“Dad, please, will you save the butt puns for Tuesdays only!”

“Oh my god, you didn’t.” I choke, trying to swallow around my mouthful of food.

“I did.” She chuckles.

Maggie and John laugh along with us with no clue as to why. Their joy is simple and comes from us. I want that one day.

“Come on, girls, let’s not get nasty.” Maggie smiles, placing her cutlery on her plate. “Elliot left some cake this morning. Who wants some? Freya is an incredible baker.”

“Ell was here this morning?” I frown, looking at Lucy, who takes a large gulp of water.

“He dropped Lucy home.” Maggie stands, patting down her apron before excusing herself from the table.

“Of course he did.” I bring my eyes to Lucy.

“Shut up,” she huffs, shovelling in more food.

“You had a sleepover?” I turn in my seat and make myself comfortable. “You didn’t mention it.”

“Must’ve slipped my mind.” She doesn’t look at me.

“I bet it did. You stayed at his?”

“I think I will retire to the sofa for this conversation,” John says, leaving us at the table alone.

Lucy sits quiet, flipping her fork absentmindedly.

“I have all da—”

“Nothing happened,” she interrupts.

I recoil. “Nothing?”

“Nope, nothing, nada.”

“Why?”

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