“I don’t necessarily need it,” I remark. “It’s some extra money, but I have savings, and my shoots are skyrocketing. I have three next week alone.”
“Then you need to decide if this girl is worth it. If she is, step away from the show, let them sign on someone new, someone else, and you focus on your relationship. If you don’t, you could lose her for good, mate.”
“When did you get so fucking wise?” I chuckle, looking over at Simon, who has grown up over the years we haven’t seen each other.
Simon shakes his head. “When I met Bridget, and those little ones came along,” he explains. “I didn’t think I’d be great at being a dad.” There’s a faraway look in his eyes, and I’m sure there are memories of his past that linger. “But they taught me how to love unconditionally, and also, they showed me just how important family is. If you find something good in your life, don’t let it go.”
“God, you sound just like my ma,” I jest. “She used to say the exact same thing.” I swig my beer, the bubbles bursting on my tongue as I watch the kids squealing as they play. “It must be nice not having a care in the world. No fucking responsibilities, no heartache,” I mumble, but I can feel Simon’s stare on me.
“You’re strong,” he insists. “You’ve been through some shit that will always be with you, so have I, but we make it out the other side, mate.” He’s right. “So, tell me about this girl that’s got your boxers in a knot.”
“Fuck off.” Swinging my eyes toward his, I see him chuckle. Arsehole. “She’s perfect, Si,” I describe. “Everything about her is ace.”
There’s an expression on his face I haven’t seen before. It makes me think about him as a big brother, stern, and commanding. “Then go to her. Make sure she knows you mean business. But if you don’t want to, you have to let her go and move on.”
“I can’t move on. We’ve only been seeing each other for about a month. A few weeks at best, and yet, she’s the only thing I think about when I wake up, and the only person who plays in my fucking wet dreams at night.”
“Mate, way too much information for me. I can’t be dealing knowing you’re fantasizing about her in my guest bedroom.”
“You’ve seen worse,” I throw back, knowing my best friend has walked in on me fucking one of the college girls on our couch while we were away at school. He came home early and found her riding me into euphoria. Arsehole threw a pillow at us, scaring the girl off and leaving me with a raging stiffy.
“Yeah, that was then. Now, I don’t need to know about your activities outside of drinking a lager with me,” he counters, causing us both to laugh out loud. I needed this. Simon has always been one to help me screw my head on right, and this time it’s no different.
I’ll stay for another couple of days, give Violet some time on her own, but in the meanwhile, I’ll be canceling my contract, and they can find themselves a new bachelor because this one has just retired.
28
Violet
My sister’s apartment is modern, expensive. An immaculate two-bedroom place furnished in the highest quality. The Italian marble tiles shine so brightly I can just about see my reflection in them.
“I didn’t think you’d come all this way just to see me,” she greets with a smile, but her voice is devoid of emotion, betraying the friendliness she’s portraying.
I turn to her, leaning against the heavy granite countertop, which cuts the kitchen off from the living area. “I needed to talk to you, to sort out some of the past that has been plaguing me.”
Victoria rolls her eyes, a smile dancing on her lips. “Look, if you’re here to talk about the prom mishap, it was all in the name of fun. A practical joke. Now that we’re both adults, I thought you’d have gotten over it.”
“No, Vickie, that’s not something you get over. You insulted me my whole life. You ensured I felt like trash each time I stood beside you.” My voice cracks with emotion, and I silently chastise myself for being so broken and weak around my sister.
She pins me with a shocked stare. I don’t think she was expecting me to speak out about it. Especially now that she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t seem upset about our conversation.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel like that, Vi,” she states, settling on one of the stools at the counter. “I struggled so much. I was angry with you for so long because you had it so easy.”
“Easy?” I grit out as rage burns through my veins. “What do you mean, easy?” She stares at me for a long while, but she doesn’t answer me. I fist my hands, trying to keep calm because I’m slowly losing my cool, which I didn’t want to do.