Chapter 17 #2
Thomas checked around them, but he had a habit of drawing stares wherever he went. Scott could feel the prickle on the back of his neck, though, knew he was being watched. He marched over to Thomas and snatched the drawing from his hand.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Thomas frowned when Scott scrunched the face up and shoved it into his pocket as he moved to the passenger side. He dragged his gaze from Scott and checked his tyres.
“I don’t get it. I haven’t parked badly. They’re within the lines –”
“Probably some kid messing about.”
Thomas scanned the car park one last time before unlocking the doors.
Once inside, Thomas twisted in his seat to look at Scott. “You okay? You’re looking a little pale…more pale than usual.”
“Just a bit breathless.” Scott pulled his seatbelt across his lap and fastened it in the clip. “Think yesterday might have caught up with me.”
Thomas nodded and put the car into drive. Scott kept darting looks in the mirror to see if they were being followed.
“Why ￡100,000?” Thomas asked.
Scott hummed. “What?”
“￡100,000. Why did you need that much?”
“Because that’s how much I owe.”
Thomas’s nostrils flared. “But why?”
Scott thought about lying, but then slouched in defeat.
“The Priory.”
“The…Priory.” Thomas blinked. “The rehab clinic? Isn’t that where all the rich celebrities go when they need to get clean?”
Scott swallowed the lump in his throat. “If you pay enough, it’s residential, but it’s expensive. Two months is ￡100,000. But we’d tried everything else, and when we went there and met some of the nurses, therapists and psychologists…it really did feel like our last chance.”
“Your sister… She was an addict.”
Scott hadn’t told Thomas much about Megan, but he’d hinted.
“Yes. I wanted to get her in as soon as possible and thought I could blackmail one of my clients. I set my phone up in our hotel room, recorded us while we… You can probably guess what we were doing…”
Thomas nodded.
“He reported me to the police; I got arrested, charged. I knew I was looking at time, and I knew Megan wouldn’t survive without me. I asked for the money from someone else, he paid The Priory directly, Megan went to rehab, I went to Brixton, and three years later, I need to pay back my debt.”
“It worked?” Thomas asked. “The rehab?”
Scott curled his toes in his trainers and kept his voice level. “Megan isn’t taking drugs anymore if that’s what you mean.”
Thomas squeezed his knee. “I was thinking. What if I pay this guy –”
“No.”
“Scott.”
“I don’t want your money, Thomas. I’ve…I’ve got a plan, and I’m sticking to it. Please let me do this alone; it’s my mess, not yours.”
“But –”
“No, Thomas.” Scott stroked Thomas’s hand still on his knee. “These are badass by the way.”
Thomas snorted, flicking his gaze down to his nails. “I’m terrified I’m going to break one.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my grumpy ex-cellmate?”
Thomas released Scott’s knee. “We need to get back. Jay gave me explicit instructions to let the banana and chocolate chip crumble thaw on the side, not whack it in the microwave on defrost.”
Scott gasped. “Banana and chocolate crumble?” He rubbed his hands together. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”
The next morning, Scott stepped into the kitchen and caught Carly and Jay admiring Thomas’s nails as he showed them off with a big grin on his face. His grin faded when he spotted Scott in the doorway.
“Don’t stop on my account…”
Thomas rolled his eye, then got out the cereal boxes for breakfast.
“You finally met Susan,” Carly said.
Scott frowned. “How did you…oh, the group chat.”
“The group chat,” Jay agreed.
“I didn’t meet her. I think she flew over me in a rage.”
Carly looked at him. “And how is your rear end?”
“My what?”
“Your arse,” Thomas said. “The balloons.”
“Oh…” Scott laughed awkwardly. “Of course you know about that too. It’s fine, thanks for asking.”
“I brought some nappy cream with me in case,” Janice said.
“Nappy cream…”
“I used to smother it all over my kids’ arses when they were little.”
Thomas wrinkled his brow. “Not what I want to be hearing at the table.”
“Thank you,” Scott said. “But that won’t be necessary.”
Jay turned away from the stove. “And what about your short trip into insanity?”
Scott froze and shot a questioning look Thomas’s way.
Thomas smirked. “He’s talking about you with the balloons. Janice told them all about it.”
“Oh, right… I’m feeling much better now.”
“And how would you rate the crumble last night?” Jay asked.
“A solid eight out of ten.”
Janice sucked in a breath through her teeth. Thomas froze.
“Eight,” Jay said, bracing his hands on the counter. “You gave my crumble an eight.”
Scott furrowed his brow. “Eight is good –”
“Good!” Jay’s eyes were wide and manic. “Hold me back, Carly. I think I might swing for him.”
“What?” Scott looked to Thomas.
Thomas sighed. “It was a solid ten out of ten.”
“I know it was,” Jay said, shrugging off Carly’s hands. “Some people have no taste.”
Scott shook his head. “I think I’ve had enough crazy for one morning.”