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“Look,” starts Jackson, “we’ve all been shit when it comes to Evie. We’ve clearly taken her for granted. She asked us if we wanted to go in with those buildings, said they were talking dirty to her, if I remember. We all laughed at her, laughed her off, too busy for her. Jonno, she couldn’t move without you following her. Couldn’t fetch anyone home because we were like bouncers on the door. She is a thirty-six-year-old woman, she has a grown son, no wonder she wants a life of her own. We need to decide what we’re going to do so she doesn’t fuck us off totally and not speak to us. Because I don’t know about you lot, but I want to speak to her. I love my sister and I want her in my life. I don’t want a Christmas and birthday relationship with her. If any of you do, that’s fine, but it’s not where I’m going with her.”
“We may not be the ones to decide,” I tell him. “You lot may be ok, but I think I’m cooked. So are you, Xan.”
“She hasn’t told me to ‘fuck off’, yet,” he scoffs. “I’m still texting her pictures, and I’m carrying on, regardless.”
Jonno says, “She told Mum and Dad she needs some time to sort herself out and she’ll contact us when she’s ready. I know she’s still working up at Cornhill. Mum said it's glorious. Marshall’s manning the grill, Jackson, so you may have been replaced.”
“Fucking Marshall. No one takes my grilling position. I’m going to call him.”
“Why’d she pick Marshall?” Xander asks curiously.
Jonno answers him. “He’s had her back since the age of three. Never let her down, ever. Always on her side. Even if he didn’t agree with her. But he never wavered. You would go to someone like that, always puts her first.”
I blow out a breath. “My only hope is James and Bucky,” I tell them. “She’ll have to speak to me because of them. Bucky is bound to do something crazy. It’s going to kill me, but I'll have to wait it out.”
“Why are you bothering, Kellen?” Jude presses. “You don’t want her. Well, not just her. You’ve made that very clear. Just let her go. Let her get on with her life. It’ll be hard enough for her to have to see all your shit all over the papers every week.”
“Jude, you fucked up. Don’t put your shit on me. Don’t you think I don’t fucking know how things are. She’s gone, I know. I get it. Moving on to the next lucky bastard, probably some hot farmer type.”
“For someone who’s not bothered, you’re very well informed,” Jonno says sarcastically.
“Never said I wasn’t bothered, Jonno. Just said she isn’t.”
My sons turn up on Sunday night as predicted. They hardly speak two words to any of us, and never look us in the eye. James can’t get away fast enough.
“What a fucking mess,” Xander exclaims, blowing out a breath when we’re alone. “Marcus, what are you going to do? You usually have a plan.”
“I’m all out, Xan. She pulled the trigger and we’re all bleeding out on the ground, my friend. I’ll be lucky if I get out of this with my sons talking to me. I’m sure she’s said something about the party night, or they’ve put two and two together and come up with five. She may have been pissed with the Greystones a bit, but I’m sure that party tipped her over the edge. The aftermath, how we treated her.”
“I fucking told you, Marcus. You are so thick sometimes.”
James walks back into the room. “Can I speak to my Dad, Xan, please.” Oh no, he’s using that voice.
“Yeah, sure, sunshine.” He gives his shoulder a squeeze and looks at me in a panic as he leaves the room.
“What’s up James?” I give him a confident smile, even though I don’t really feel it.
“How long are you staying here?” he demands bluntly.
“Errrrr.” I’m taken aback. Definitely not what I expected him to ask.
“It's just that your summer tour in the UK doesn’t start until the beginning of June, so I thought you would be going back to LA.” He’s staring at me while he’s talking, but his face is a mask.
“Do you want me to go?” I smile, thinking of course he’ll say no.
“Yes. It’s hard enough for Mum to sort out all this shit with her brothers. You being in this house causes her more issues. And even if you don’t head back to the States, you all need to leave this house, anyway.”
“Right. Is it ok for me to stay tonight then? I’ll get out of your hair tomorrow.” Again he goes for the jugular.
“Tomorrow’s fine. She’s not up in London ‘til mid-week. Bucky and I may move into her apartment there, at the building sites. I’ll decide when I see it on Wednesday. But you shouldn’t be here. I’ll see you around and about in London. You’re only passing through mostly, so it’s not much of an issue is it?”
I’m being dismissed, disregarded and side-lined. No fucking chance! Not without a fight. If he wants me gone, he’s going to tell me why.
I look at him steadily. “Bit harsh, James,” I state.
“Is it?” He shrugs his shoulders at me. Jesus he’s just like her.
“Well at least tell me why you’re getting rid of me.”
