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She yelps and wallops me. “No tickling, house rules.” She smiles, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
I notice Jonno watching us, watching her, nodding at me as he comes over, bringing some pots. “We’re going to get going. Kell, can you drop us off on your way back to your hotel?”
She turns and asks, “Are you at The Elizabeth?”
I nod, smiling. “Home from home. But it’s been great to beat this lot at cards tonight. Thanks for letting us all come over, Kitten. I know your brothers are a lot.”
“Cheeky git,” Jonno snickers. “Night, baby sis, speak later.” He kisses her on the head and moves to grab his stuff. They all come over one by one and kiss her before heading towards the doors.
“Will Tommy lock up after us, Evie?” I’m biting at my lip I’m so fucking worried about her here.
“Yeah. And we have security on at night as well. Stop worrying, Kellen. Jonno’s set it all up.”
I follow her brothers, but slow my steps, ensuring I’m the last to leave. “I’ve enjoyed tonight. Thanks for letting me stay. I appreciate it.” I move in for a hug and kiss on the cheek. As she goes to move out of my embrace, I can’t help but brush her hair off her face. It's an intimate gesture, and she tips her head down slightly, a bit embarrassed. I look into her eyes and say gently, “Thanks, Evie.” She smiles benignly and moves away again.
I don’t want to go. My fucking chest hurts, my heart trying to claw its way through my ribcage and stay here with her. I feel like Kenny looked earlier, but I force myself to move and hop into the car with her brothers, grateful Mick’s behind the wheel.
She waves us off and goes back inside.
“Nice try, Kell,” Jonno jumps in right away.
“Fuck off, Jonno. I tried nothing.”
“Yeah right,” says Jude. “You are about as subtle as a brick, man.”
“Fuck you as well, Jude. What are you on about?”
“You’re three for three, Kell. Even I could see it,” Jackson’s laughing at me now.
“Fucking dishwasher,” laughs Jonno. They all start pissing themselves with laughter.
“God loves a tryer,” says Jude, and they all start again.
“Fuckers,” I snarl at them. They keep it up all the way home, not even stopping when I shove them out of the car onto the pavement. Slamming the door on them, I shout out the window, “You’re a bunch of twats.”
“Takes one to know one,” Jackson splutters out. They all laugh and wave at me. Even Mick is laughing as I glare at him.
“What? Not you as well?”
“I’m not laughing, honest,” he chuckles.
“Wankers,” I grumble good naturedly. “They are the biggest bunch of wankers I know.”
“Good night, then?” Mick asks.
I think before I say, “Really good. And no drugs or fucking. Who knew!” I set my head onto the back rest and smile up at the moon as I say, “She’s gonna fucking kill me.” We smile at each other through the mirror, as I shake my head.
Chapter
Forty-Two
EVIE
I lay in bed, the sun already up and morning light streaming through the blinds. Muffled sounds of activity on the river and building site carry in as I mull over the previous night. I’m not sure if I’ve let myself down by having them all here so quickly. Are they going to revert to type and we all fall back to our positions pre-château? Pre-resignations?
The uncertainty sends my stomach into a flutter. That’s not what I want. I have to make sure I assert myself with them all. I’m not going back to that.
Reflecting over all that’s happened, I can see it was a whole host of things, not just one, that caused the issues. Things creep in, and you just go along with them. Before you know it, you’re doing things and acting in ways if asked twelve months prior, you would have said no way I’m doing that. But you are. And the creep just keeps coming.
