***
“Are you mad? Tomorrow?” I looked at Lawson like he’d lost his marbles.
I actually think he has this time.
“I know it’s short notice, but-”
I interrupted him with a very un-ladylike snort. “Short notice? That would have been a week ago Law.”
“I know. I know. But just listen. One of my guys from work has a place near there that we should be able to use, and then we would just have to pack up and go first thing.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. This was not exactly my brother’s usual style. He tended to be a planner. Making sure that all the details were in place before he ripped in and got stuck into something. It was what made him so great at his job – he saw the big picture and planned for every detail.
“Okay. I’ll go along with this… if you tell me why you really want to go in such a hurry.”
“I’ve been wanting to go for weeks. Then Ells said she’s always wanted to go-”
“Ahhh there it is.” I interrupted him again.
He looked confused. “What?”
“This is all for her isn’t it?” I grinned at him. “You’ve got it bad. Not that I blame you, the woman is a goddess, and you haven’t even tried her homemade pancakes yet, they are amaz-”
“Quinn. Focus. We are… we’re just friends. It’ll be fun. Please?”
I shook my head at his blatant lie. “Whatever helps you sleep at night buddy. I’m not buying it, but yeah I’ll go. And I’ll sneak around and pack her bag and shit so you can swoop in and surprise her.” I winked at him. “Just one condition.”
“Name it.”
“I’m bringing a plus one.”
***
We’d been at the bar for another hour or so when Lawson excused himself to make a call. He came back with a giant smile plastered on his face, which I took to mean we could use the house he was hoping for.
I had whispered the details to Colt while El and Lawson were having yet another flirty debate. Colt hadn’t even hesitated when I’d asked him to come. All that was left was to get Reeve in on the plan. Whether or not he wanted to come, I still needed him to get El out of the apartment for half an hour so I could get my sneak on.
I sent him a text.
“Surprise snowboarding trip tomorrow courtesy of my brother. Wanna come? Need you to get El out of our place for half an hour so I can pack for her. Help me?!”
His reply came quickly.
“Done. And shit yes I’ll come. Can I bring Lisa?”
I smiled thinking about Reeve and Lisa, she seemed to be a really sweet girl and they were good together.
God it’ll be like a bloody triple date.
“Definitely. Colt is coming too. Does she need me to sweet talk her out of any shifts?”
“Na she’s got the weekend off. Save the sweet talk for the bedroom.”
Smart prick.
I smirked.
Well maybe I will.
“I’m anything but sweet in the bedroom.”
I laughed at his reply.
“Jesus Quinn. You know I can’t un-see shit like that right? I’ll text her now.”
I grinned as I chucked my phone back in my bag and waited for Reeve’s plan to be put into action.
***
“That’s weird. Reeve just text to see if I can come up to his place when we get home. Something about my divorce.” She chewed on her bottom lip as she typed out her reply.
Lawson looked at her with a worried expression before I caught his eye and winked at him. He looked from me to El and back again and laughed lightly as he shook his head. “Well I hope it’s all good Ells.”
***
After Reeve’s text message, El had asked if we could leave sooner rather than later – I felt a little guilty for making her worry, but I knew she’d forgive me.
Maybe Reeve really does need to talk to her about her divorce anyway.
She had gone straight up to his place and I knew I had to work fast. I found a huge suitcase in the hallway cupboard and headed into her closet. I stuffed anything that looked warm in and then looked around for underwear and pyjamas. It was probably a little weird that I took a bit of extra time to pick out some of Ellerslie’s lacy sets, but I decided I didn’t give a fuck. My brother and her weren’t going to be able to carry on like this forever.
Wary of being caught, I wheeled the case into my bedroom and shut the door. Anything she didn’t have we would be able to buy or hire when we got there. I had to admit that this secret, short notice business was actually pretty damn exciting. I hoped that El wouldn’t mind having her weekend taken over, although I had a feeling that as long as Lawson was there, she wouldn’t be complaining about anything at all.
25. Ellerslie
“Are you kidding me?” I screamed and threw myself into my brother’s arms. “Are you for real Reeve? This better not be a joke.”
Reeve grinned down at me and swung me around in a circle. “No joke honey. It’s over. He signed it. You can really move on now.”
“But how… he was so set on the money…”
“I went to L.A.”
I gasped. “What? When?”
“I decided the best way to sort out an intimidating little prick was to intimidate him right back. He wasn’t happy, but let’s just say I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”
“It is wrong that I hope you roughed him up a bit?” I squeezed him tight before shaking my head in disbelief. “Eeeeek. I can’t believe you pulled this off so quickly. Well I can – I mean you’re an amazing lawyer, but I’m still shocked.” I smiled at him and gripped his biceps. “Thank you so much for this, you have no idea what a weight off my shoulders this is.”
Sadness filled his eyes. “I do know El. I’ve never seen you so down on yourself. I’m just glad to see that spark back in your eyes.” He picked me up and swung me around again as I dissolved into a fit of giggles. It felt amazing to be so free. To be able to act like Reeve and I were just kids again for a minute. When we were younger he would always pick me up and swing me around like I weighed nothing.
I have the best big brother in the world.
“We need to celebrate, I’m gonna treat you tomorrow and you’re not going to fight me on it.” I insisted.
Reeve slung his arm over my shoulders as he walked me back to the elevator. “Sure thing. Now get some rest, who knows what tomorrow might bring.”
He had a mischievous gleam in his eyes, but for once I was content not interrogating him for details on what he meant. I was on cloud nine that I could finally put Baxter Dent and our disaster of a marriage behind me.
Forever.
***
“You aren’t going to believe it!” I yelled out in the direction of the kitchen where I could hear Quinn.
She looked up from the leftovers she was demolishing with a guilty look on her face. “What? Did he say something?”
She is such a weirdo sometimes.
I stopped and looked her over quizzically before remembering my news. I jumped up and down on the spot. “Baxter signed. I’m divorced!”
The fork Quinn was eating with dropped to the counter with a loud clatter. “Holy. Fucking. Shit.” She launched herself at me and enveloped me in a bear hug. “He really did it. Holy shit. How?”
I wiped away the few stray tears that had formed in the corners of my eyes. “I’m not 100% sure… I’m not sure I want to know. But he went to L.A. and came back with it signed, so I don’t really give two hoots how it got done.”
“I’m so happy for you El. I mean… it’s a shitty situation. But it’s behind you now. That bastard is never going to stand between you and happiness again.” Quinn pulled back and wiped away a tear I’d missed. “You are happy right?”
I nodded my head. “It’s just a lot. You know? The last few months have been hard.” I snorted. “Shit who am I kidding – it’s been hell. If it weren’t for you and my family I think I would have drowned. Thank you for keeping my head above wa
ter Q.”
Quinn pulled me in for another hug. “Always.” She whispered.
We both pulled away and laughed.
“God Q, when you get married, make sure he’s the right one. It hurts too damn much when you find out too late that he’s not.”
Quinn just gave me a small smile and nodded her head. “I’m so sorry El.”
I quickly shook my head. “Don’t be. I’m not. Not anymore. I’m just glad I know now.”
Quinn started jumping up and down and I burst out laughing as I joined her. “Holy shit I got my girl back.”
I threw my head back and laughed even louder.
God I love this girl.
***
I pulled the hair band from my loose bun and let my mass of curls fall freely around my shoulders. I rested my head back on my pillow and pulled the covers over myself. The best bit about the cold in Boston was getting snuggled into bed under my warm covers. It was almost as good as having a warm body to cuddle up next to.
Almost, but not quite… not his body anyway.
Dammit, there my thoughts were – right back to Lawson. I had managed to stop myself from texting him the minute I found out that Baxter had signed the divorce papers, but now, a couple of hours and a few red wines later, my resolve was crumbling.
“I talked to Reeve…”
I had barely put my phone down on the bed when I heard it vibrate with a text message. The thought that he might have been waiting to hear from me made my stomach do little flips.
“Jesus woman, leave a guy hanging?”
A giggle escaped my lips as I typed out my reply.
“I’m free.”
I was a little worried about what this would mean for me and Lawson. I’d always had the fact that I was still married to hide behind. It was pretty bloody obvious that there was something more on the cards for us, we had never actually said the words to one another, but somehow, I think we both just knew.
My phone vibrated again.
“Rudimental – Free.”
Holy shit.
My heart thumped in my chest.
He gets it.
“Quuuuiinnnn!” I bellowed down the hall.
I heard Quinn running down the hallway before flying through my door.
Oops.
“What? What the hell happened?”
I held up my phone to show her the text from Lawson and watched as a smile spread across her face.
“How does he know?” I was feeling a little bewildered.
Quinn sat down next to me on my bed and shook her head. “I don’t think he does know El.”
“What? But…what? I’m a little confused here. You didn’t tell him about our thing?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what to tell you babe. Lawson has always been into music. And movies. He has a way with words that takes my breath away. I guess it’s just him. Ya know?” I knew exactly what Quinn meant – it didn’t matter that she was making absolutely no sense. I just understood her.
Like he understands me.
“Wow.” I breathed.
“Wow.” Quinn repeated.
I fell back down against my pillows and stared at the ceiling. “Quinn… I’m just...”
I’m getting lost in him.
“I know El, I know.” She replied as she squeezed my hand.
And she did know.
Because she understands me too.
***
I lay staring at the screen of my phone for a long time after Quinn left my room. I couldn’t believe that Lawson – without even knowing it, had communicated with me the best way I knew how. It was ironic really, that he had got there effortlessly, whereas Baxter hadn’t even wanted to try. I knew he was probably sleeping by now but I decided to text him back anyway.
“Everything has changed and yet, I am more me than I’ve ever been – Iain Thomas”
I jumped when my phone vibrated on my nightstand.
“You’re the only you I know, beautiful.”
I released the breath I hadn’t even realised I was holding and drifted off to sleep, allowing myself for a minute to believe that maybe, just maybe, I might be worthy of a man like Lawson Pierce.
26. Lawson
It was way too bloody early to be up on a Saturday morning, but I had a surprise to pull off. I had planned it that we would take my truck – the boot space was huge, I had a storage system on the roof racks and it had 7 seats, so it would save us taking two vehicles. I had no idea what story Quinn was going to spin Ellerslie, but I knew I could rely on my sister. I was picking Quinn, Ells, Reeve and Lisa up at their building. Colt was already with me since he lived close by.
“Thanks again for letting me tag along this weekend man, it’s gonna be a good time.”
I glanced over at Colt. He was a good guy, young as shit, but a good guy. “No worries, do you board?”
“Na not really, I’ve been one time, but I was pretty shit.”
I chuckled. “Well I hope you’re ready to get an ass whooping down the slopes, I don’t know what Quinn’s told you, but she is an amazing skier.”
His face paled slightly. “Shit. I didn’t ask about that. I’m gonna get my ass handed to me.”
I laughed at his worried expression and he eventually joined in.
“Screw it, I don’t even care. I know she’s your sister, but I’d take a beating any day of the week from that woman.”
I held up my hands, willing him to stop talking about my sister. “I’m staying out of it. But if it comes to placing bets, I’m betting on her.”
***
We pulled up outside their building at 5 o’clock in the morning. It was still dark and fucking freezing outside. I sent Quinn a message to let her know we’d arrived.
“Q, we’re here.”
“Drive under, code is 4582.”
I pulled in the underground entrance and punched in the code. Reeve and Lisa were already waiting for us when we pulled to a stop and we jumped out to help them load up all of their bags
“Holy shit you’ve got a lot of stuff.” Colt huffed as he lifted a bag into the boot.
“It’s Quinn and Ellerslie’s stuff too, we grabbed it on the way down so El wouldn’t see.”
“Where are they?” I asked Reeve.
He looked at his watch. “Q should have woken El by now.”
“What is she telling her?”
Reeve laughed. “Bugger if I know, but it better be good, El won’t be happy about getting up this early.”
I laughed too, I had never spent the night with El, but she’d told me on more than one occasion that anything before 6.30am wasn’t considered morning. I checked my phone and found a text from Q.
“She’s up. Fucking grumpy, but up – I told her there’s an emergency at the office and to meet me at the car.”
I showed Reeve the text at the same time as the elevator doors opened and Quinn stepped out. “Holy shit you owe me Law, I’m not at all a morning person, but that bitch could have done with an extra hour or two in bed. She should be down any minute.” The grin on her face showed that she wouldn’t hold it against her for long.
“Go get in the truck if you want. I can wait for Ells.”
“Oh I bet you can.” Quinn smirked. She patted me on the shoulder on the way past. “Just friends huh?” She taunted as she rolled her eyes at me.
Hell no. Not when I’m finished.
Quinn gave Colt a quick peck on the cheek and they all climbed into my truck. I decided to blow my cover a little early as I typed out a message to Ellerslie.
“Spend more time doing things that make you forget about the time – Charlotte Eriksson.”
The doors to the elevator opened, revealing Ellerslie staring down at her phone, her head cocked to the side and her brow furrowed in confusion.
I chuckled and her head snapped up. “What’s the matter pretty girl?”
“What… what are you doing here? Where’s Quinn?” She stumbled slightly as she moved towards me, her ey
es never once leaving my face. She was absolutely stunning. She had applied a tiny bit of makeup and thrown her hair up in a loose ponytail. Her tight jeans and long sleeve t-shirt fit her curvy body like a glove.
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