by Annie Dyer
Incapable of surviving unsupervised.
The person who was incapable of surviving unsupervised was, in this case, my cousin. Shay Green, doctor extraordinaire, had an arm around a blonde woman on his right and a brunette on his left. He was unshaven and looked at the point of exhaustion where delirium had set in.
I frowned.
Shay’s grin grew wider.
I shook my head.
He shook his back.
All of a sudden, the lengthy pile of time recording on my desk looked appealing.
“Joseph, have you met Larissa?” Shay tilted his head toward the blond. “And Shelly,” he tilted his head toward the brunette and squeezed her. Larissa took this as a hint, giggled and stepped out of his relaxed hold.
She was the nurse I remembered meeting a month or so ago, only she hadn’t been with Shay at the time. She’d been climbing all over another doctor, an orthopaedic surgeon or something to do with bones.
Larissa had been very interested in one of his bones.
I took a big lungful of breath and caught the whiff of familiar perfume. Cassie’s. The scent of it made my stomach do an impression of a washing machine and for a moment I felt lightheaded.
“Definitely Larissa.” I gave her grin that I hoped wasn’t too flirty. “You got a tab open?”
I really hoped Shay had left his credit card behind the bar. His days off between his long, lengthy, inhuman shifts at the hospital tended to be complete blow-outs – lengthy drinking sessions, followed by some form of escapade that ended in him having either a marathon fucking session in my living room or being collected at stupid o’clock two days later from the floor of someone’s apartment, not smelling entirely fresh.
I got that his job was busy and stressful, and he dealt with some fucking shitty situations where kids were sick, but my eardrums would never recover from some of the noises I’d heard when my living room had turned into his boudoir of badness.
That was Shay’s name for it.
Boudoir of badness.
He made me seem entirely normal.
“Of course. Go treat yourself, cuz.”
I felt Larissa’s hand on my back. Caught another mouthful of her perfume. Thought of Cassie. Tried not to look for her or find what she was doing, because she wasn’t there.
“You mind getting me a drink while you’re there?” Larissa gave me a tired smile.
She was pretty, somewhere in her late twenties with highlighted blonde hair and make-up that wasn’t overdone. I’d dated a couple of models and a couple of women who were wannabe ‘it’ girls, desperate to make their name in the gossip mags and social media, and I knew I preferred the underdone look.
Four months ago, Larissa would probably have gone home with me, maybe for a couple of nights until I found a way to let her down easy or she got bored of waiting for me to be serious.
“Sure. Looks like Shay’s paying. What do you want?” I knew it would be prosecco or a cocktail, probably a Porn Star Martini.
I was right. She almost blushed when she asked for the martini and let out a slight giggle. It should’ve been cute.
“I’ll bring it over.” I stepped away from her hand on my back and headed to the bar. A couple of the fee earners from Callaghan Green were there, bottles of beer in their hands, empty shot glasses next to them. “Out for the night?” I nodded at the glasses.
Vinny, who worked in the employment law department, grinned. “Booked the day off tomorrow. Three-day weekend.” He glanced over to where Larissa waited. “That your date?”
“No. She works with my cousin.” An iota of relief settled my stomach. I was pretty sure Larissa was looking to get lucky and burn some tension off tonight. Vinny would be decent enough to help her.
He didn’t take his eyes off her arse. “She single?”
“I’d assume so, but couldn’t swear to it. She’s drinking Porn Stars.” I’d save Shay a few quid and be a good cousin.
He rubbed his hands together. “One Porn Star coming up.”
I looked at his colleague, Lucas, and shook my head. Neither of us had a clue how to take that.
“You know I really love you, don’t you?”
There were times when I understood how it felt to be one of my older brothers dealing with my post-Cassie-meltdown phase. Most of those times had ended in one of them dragging me through the doors of their houses, my mood anywhere between euphoric and the sewer of a meltdown, leaving me in the recovery position and removing my phone so I couldn’t drunk dial anyone, including Cassie.
Shay’s feet stumbled over an invisible obstacle. I tightened my core muscles and stopped us both going arse over tit.
“Could’ve got a taxi though.” Shay tried to slap my back but stumbled again.
“I value my Uber rating.” There was no way a taxi driver would let Shay in his cab. I wasn’t about to allow him in my house, mainly because it was too far to walk to, and Maxwell’s was much closer. Plus, he had six bedrooms.
Shay mumbled something that was incoherent which meant I didn’t need to bother to respond; that suited me perfectly. I was tired and kept thinking about an advice I had to draft in the morning that was going to be technical to say the least; not leaving Shay to sleep in a gutter was definitely something I wanted a medal for later.
Worse, Shay would wake tomorrow with no hangover, not even a small drummer boy would be pounding his head, yet I’d be like a half-alive Zombie at work, despite having had only three beers.
Max and Victoria’s house was a tall four storey Victorian building set back from the road with a long front garden which was dotted with old trees and shrubs. An old fashioned street lamp lit the drive, throwing mine and Shay’s shadows so we looked like two monsters on the stone.
“This isn’t where we live.” Shay slurred and stumbled again.
If he fell, I was more than happy to leave him there, given we were on Max’s property. I might even get him a blanket.
I didn’t bother responding. Before we could reach the door, it was opening, my brother standing there wearing just sweatpants, his hands in his pockets and his face looking grim.
“You really need to trim that beard.” It was rather bush-like.
Max glowered and looked from me to Shay and back again. He pulled his hands out and crossed his arms. “Take it he’s got a few days off work.”
I nodded, although it wasn’t a question. “He either needs to crash here or can you give us a lift home.”
Victoria appeared behind him, her hair messy and a robe tied round her. I figured I’d caught them in the middle of Vic trying to find Max’s tiny penis. Usually, I’d make a comment about magnifying glasses, but I really didn’t want to try and get Shay home by myself.
“I can get myself home.”
Shay’s words were just about understandable – rather slurred and there was definitely drool.
“And for tonight, home is on the couch.” Victoria pulled Max out of the way. “With a bucket. And water. Lots of water.”
I pushed Shay up the steps and into the house, gripping onto both his arms to steer him. As soon as I was in, Max took one side of him and we half carried him into Victoria’s snug, her reading room, where there was an old chesterfield sofa that I knew from experience was decent to sleep on. Not that I’d always been in the state that Shay was when I’d collapsed on it.
I’d lived with Max and Vic for a couple of months when they’d first moved in. It was a big house, and while I’d known my family wasn’t impressed that I moved my backside in there when Max had just bought it, there was enough space to hide away from them. After I’d moved out, I’d found myself there some evenings, to watch a film with Vic or sports with Max, or sometimes just to be in a place where I felt comfortable in my own skin.
“Don’t need water. Another whisky?” Shay looked at me pleadingly. If we’d been at my apartment, I’d happily pour him a couple of fingers, knowing that we had separate bathrooms and he could clean up after himself in the morning, but
here it was Max’s call.
“Up to you, big bro.” I glanced at Max.
He shook his head. “I thought you were a mess when you were drunk.”
Were. He said were.
“Reformed character.”
Max didn’t say anything, not to me. He turned to Victoria, her hand on her bump, the one they were both so proud of. “I think I’m going to need a whisky.”
“Have one then.” She frowned.
My eyes went from her to him and I frowned. “He’s asking you for permission?”
Victoria laughed. “He feels bad that I can’t drink, so he’s trying to not drink either.” She shrugged, her dark hair glossy and trailing down her back. “I keep telling him that it doesn’t bother me.”
“It bothers me. You’re the one doing all the hard work. All I had to do was…” he glared at me.
I tilted my head at the ceiling.
Victoria grabbed one of the many throws she had lingering around the room. “Enjoy yourself?”
“That’s one way to put it.” Max stretched, edging towards the door.
Shay was starting to fall asleep, gentle snorting noises being farted by his mouth. If Max and Vic weren’t there, I’d film him and post it on social media later, because even though I was trying to turn over a new leaf, I was still a shit when it came to my cousin.
“Are you staying over?” Victoria put a hand on my arm. “Your room’s ready.”
I needed to move away from her touch.
It scorched me, like it did every so often, catching me unawares like a flash of lightning without the humidity.
It wasn’t that I wanted Victoria. I hadn’t ever coveted the love of my brother’s life, but I had wanted what he had with her, what I’d known he could have with her. She was beautiful and smart and ambitious, independent without being aloof, and when I saw my brother melt just by looking at her, I wanted to know how that felt.
“My room?”
She smiled. If she’d asked me for a kidney right then I’d have offered to get a scalpel.
“The baby’s only going to use one room, Seph, and Max figured you’d be back at some point.” She touched her stomach again. “Will Shay be okay?”
“Yep.”
His mouth was slightly open, just wide enough that I could’ve stuck something in there, which I was tempted to do. I knew had Victoria not been there, Max would’ve definitely done it. A chilli, maybe.
I glanced at Victoria and knew I didn’t want to stay the night. Shay didn’t need a babysitter now he had somewhere that wasn’t the gutter to sleep. He’d be up at seven, fresh as a dewy daisy and ready to go for a run.
“I’ll head home.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. “I need to get stuff sorted for tomorrow.” I didn’t, and if Max thought about it, he’d either know I was lying, or he’d assume I’d forgotten to do something.
He pushed his hand through his hair again and frowned, eyeing me in a way I hadn’t seen for a while. I was close to all my brothers; we all got along, and I couldn’t remember when we’d last properly fallen out, but I’d always had a different relationship with Maxwell. We’d never been friends, not in the way Callum and I were, or even me and Jackson. The age difference was almost a generation and when Max had been at university, I’d only just started high school. He’d been some kind of hero, Thor mixed with Clarke Kent. When I’d been about thirteen all I’d wanted to be was him.
“You want a lift?” Max didn’t argue with me about staying.
He was probably worried that if I stayed I wouldn’t leave again.
“I’ll walk it. It’s not raining for once.”
Shay snorted and turned over, now sound asleep.
“Been a while since you’ve been in that state.” Max rubbed his beard. “You passed on your mantle?”
I knew my smile was grim. “Seems that way. When’s the new partner starting?” I had no idea why that had occurred to me. She’d been due to start two weeks ago, but there had been some delay which had left me short-staffed. My department was now one of the busiest in the company and new files were coming in at a rate that meant my sleep was a precious commodity. We’d taken on a couple of trainees and three fee earners, solicitors who were a few years experienced but not partner level. But they all needed more supervision, and given my caseload was heavier than a weight training elephant, we’d decided to bring in a salaried partner.
I hadn’t met her. Max and Jackson had done the interviews when I’d been in court in Manchester, which had pissed me off as I’d wanted to have some say in who I ended up working closely with.
“Monday.” Max gave a slight nod. “She’s had to sort some family stuff out this week.”
I shrugged. I’d read her application and heard my brothers wasting words about what an asset she’d be to the commercial litigation department, but I hadn’t paid too much attention, knowing that if I started to analyse her strengths and weaknesses, I’d end up worrying about how good she’d actually be and what additional work she was going to create for me.
“She’ll be good, Seph. She was a partner for Eversley Harrop and she won on the James-Higford case last year.”
I stifled a yawn and didn’t say anything. I’d heard all this before. She was leaving another top law firm to come to us, after a win that had been huge – a really technical case that had made the gazette and altered precedent.
“I’m sure she will. I just hope she’s ready to get stuck in – we were instructed by Cabotts today. It’s going to be a big one.” That was probably an understatement. Cabotts were a huge company involved in the export and import of goods, and my initial understanding of what they were claiming was that it was complex and involved a lot of cash. Even if I hadn’t decided to immerse myself in work for the next few months, the chances of having any form of social life during this were going to be pretty much zero, unless my new colleague was that good.
“She will be. You sure you don’t want a lift?”
I shook my head. The fresh air would do me good.
Probably.
Chapter Two
Seph
“One very hot, double shot coffee with extra frothed milk.”
The mug it was presented in was different to what every other customer in the café had. It was taller with a smiling dog face on one side and a slogan that told me not to have a ‘ruff day’ on it.
This was my morning routine. Wake up, head to the gym where I’d train for an hour, head to Amelie’s café for breakfast and then walk into the office, all before eight am and usually before seven-thirty.
That routine was going to have to change.
“Happy Friday, Sugar.” Amelie sat down opposite me, her hair the most normal colour I’d ever seen it.
Usually it was blonde with purple or pink woven through it, but today it was all blonde, the colour of summer fields. She’d been our neighbour when we were growing up, the same age as Jackson, or just a bit younger and I’d crushed on her hard when I was nine and thought she was a princess.
If she’d known about my crush, she’d never said, but as I’d gotten older, I’d known about hers and that wasn’t something I was going to share with anyone.
“Happy Friday. How’re the plans going?” I tried to stick some enthusiasm in my tone.
“Good. A few more weeks and I’ll be there permanently. By the sea.”
She looked blissed out already.
“I’ll come visit as soon as I can.” Anglesey wasn’t that far, just a few hours’ drive, and if I took a Friday or a Monday off it would give me a decent break. Amelie was leaving her café-bistro to be run by a manager she’d appointed and taking over a pub in a small seaside village.
Hence my routine would have to change.
“I know you will, Sugar. I’m hoping to see most of you over summer. Just because I’m leaving London doesn’t mean I’m leaving you.” She smiled brilliantly, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
I knew Amelie had been in love with Maxwell for years. W
hen I was about fifteen and I’d figured she wasn’t ever going to be interested in me, but I still liked to look. That's how I saw her watching Max, and noticed how she didn’t take her eyes away but then dodged his gaze if he looked at her.
I asked him once if he was going to ask Amelie out and he’d laughed, embarrassed, telling me that she was a friend and that it was possible for a male and female to be just that.
I’d never been sure he was right.
She’d never looked at him like he was a friend and when he’d started dating Victoria, I’d seen her face, the understanding that Max had met someone who was it for him. And it wasn’t her.
“I wish you weren’t going.”
She shrugged. “I need a change, Seph. I want a different pace and different scenery, and I always fancied living by the sea. You’ll still get your coffee from here. Daniel’s going to do a fab job.”
I picked up the coffee and sipped at it, the heat numbing my mouth. “It just won’t the same without you here.”
This time her smile was sweeter. “You know, change is good for you sometimes.”
“You and the whole of my family like telling me that.” It was true; I was reminded at least weekly that change was as good as a rest or something equally turgid. It wasn’t that I didn’t like change, I didn’t tend to analyse how I reacted when things went a bit different. But in the last year or so, there had been a lot of change, most of it good, some of it excellent. Just everything seemed to have changed but me.
Amelie retied her hair and glanced at the door to the café as it opened, a woman entering with dark red hair that fell almost to the small of her back. She was striking rather than pretty, with a face and a figure that most men would have trouble forgetting.
“I’d best serve some customers and help with that queue.” Amelie got up to her feet and patted my shoulder, just like she’d been doing since I was about six.
I stared at my phone, an email notification flashing up on the screen, and tried not to stare at the redhead. I didn’t have time to focus on anything but work: I needed to prove that I was more than the youngest brother who relied on his siblings to sort his life out.