Chapter Twenty-One
Lucy
The next few weeks pass by in a blur. Whilst everyone else is scurrying around after Maya and Fallon, Max and I have stayed by Tommy’s side.
I have never seen a man so broken. He barely eats, barely sleeps, and it’s even an effort to get him to wash.
I thought I had seen heartbreak before, but it was nothing compared to his.
Maya still hasn’t recovered her memories, and Fallon…
I don’t know how she will get through losing Harry.
Poor, sweet Harry. After what felt like years of him chasing after her, she finally gave in to him.
All for him to be ripped away in a matter of seconds by some bastard in a speeding car.
They still have no clue who caused it, only that it was intentional, and no accident at all.
As if she hasn’t already been through enough in her life, now she has the grief of her boyfriend and the grief of no best friend to confide in.
Don’t get me wrong, she still has so many people around her, but nothing compares to having your best friend there.
And right now, Maya doesn’t even know who she is.
On top of all of that, I’m running worryingly low on money.
I never intended to be back here for this long.
My plan originally was to come home and have a well-deserved break before getting back at it.
I couldn’t leave now. Could I? What else could I do if I stayed here?
I have never done anything other than dance, and around here in the Midlands, there isn’t much opportunity for that.
The last thing I want to do is tell Max and Tommy. I know for a fact how rich they both are, but with whatever is going on with me and Max, it feels kind of wrong to ask for help. Even though nothing is happening at all.
I have never wanted someone as much as I have wanted him, and he knows it.
He drives me insane at every opportunity with the heated looks he gives me from across a room, or the graze of his fingers down my spine as he passes me.
But that is as far as anything has gone since the night of the accident.
In all honesty, it feels like old times. How we used to be before feelings got in the middle of it all. I know that’s all changed now our feelings are known, and they are way too strong to avoid anymore. Even if we don’t have the opportunity to do anything about it.
My phone vibrates on the table next to Tommy, and he glances at it before passing it over to me.
Sara – BABES! Please tell me when you’re free to visit me. I am missing my soul sister. The show is only on for a few more weeks.
Guilt washes over me. I can’t leave Tommy right now, but I also can’t keep neglecting my best friend. I am so mentally drained that even choosing what to make for dinner has become a chore.
“You should go.” Tommy’s deep voice shocks me out of my thoughts.
“Go?” I ask, frowning at him.
“Go to London to see Sara. Go and watch her new show and have a break.” He says as he studies me.
Sara has made her West End debut as a dancer in the Moulin Rouge. It has always been on our bucket list to play one of the dancers in that show. I also got asked by my agent to apply, but so much has happened recently that I didn’t read the email until it was too late.
“It’s okay. I’ll go another time.”
“No. It’s not okay. If you don’t go now, you will never get the chance to see her in it.” He shakes his head but continues. “I know why you’re hesitating, and you don’t need to. I’m fine. It’s not like Max will be far now that he has his own place upstairs.”
Max finally got his own place a few weeks ago.
Although he still hasn’t officially moved into it, he won’t let any of us visit.
Apparently, it smells like an old lady's fart and needs renovating.
Or so he says. Between babysitting Tommy, doing up his new place, and the extra workload he has taken on for him, there is literally no spare time between the two of us.
Never mind alone time.
“Are you sure? I feel so guilty…”
“Lucy, you are a grown woman. You don’t need permission. Also, if you haven’t noticed already, I am a grown ass man. I can take care of myself. Just bloody go and have some fun. Let your hair down for once.” He smiles at me with his big, kind eyes.
I study him for a moment, needing to know he will be okay without me here.
But he’s too busy scrolling through his phone.
I don’t know when I decided to take on this mothering role, but Liz has been here to mother him more than anyone could need.
Yet, I can’t shake this worry of leaving.
Maybe it isn’t him I’m truly worried about, and it’s more to do with who else I will be leaving behind.
The selfish part of me is dying to go, to run out of this apartment and just go wild. To go and get dressed up, slap some makeup on, and watch my bestie shine brightly on that stage like I know she will.
Fuck it, I’m going.
“Okay. But only if you’re sure that you’re sure,” I smile brightly.
“Oh, will you just piss off and leave already. Your train leaves in two hours, and I am just booking your hotel.” He grins but doesn’t look up as he keeps playing on his phone.
“You’ve booked it for me?” I gasp. What the fuck. “I will send you the mon…”
He hushes me loudly. “I don’t want your money. I am paying it for my own benefit. You’re driving me insane. I need a break too, you know.” He rolls his eyes as he jokes. “All done. So, you'd better hurry. I will drop you off at the station soon.”
“Oh my god. I don’t know what to say!” I run over and drag him into the world's tightest hug.
“Thank you, will do.” He beams, and for the first time in a long time, it seems genuine.
“Thank you,” I say, giving him one last squeeze before running out of the room and calling behind me. “What the hell do I wear!”
“Hi, I have a room booked under Thomas Jackson,” I tell the receptionist at the swanky looking hotel in Covent Garden. There is no way in hell I could have afforded a place like this. Or even a place this central.
He is a beautiful younger man. I’d guess him to be in his early twenties.
His dark skin and even darker hair make him look royal in the red wine suit he’s wearing.
As beautiful as he is, he most definitely takes better care of himself than I do.
But when he opens his mouth to speak, it confirms that he one hundred percent would prefer my brother over me. Gutted.
He takes a moment to study the computer screen before a bright smile takes over his face.
“Ah, yes, Miss Lucy. Your brother called up earlier to make the booking. We made sure to put you in the nicest room we had available at such short notice. I hope it will do. Here is your key. If you have any issues, don’t hesitate to call down. ”
This guy has no clue what kind of place I’m used to sleeping in. God, sleeping on the floor right here in the lobby would be an upgrade to some of the dorm’s dancers' sleep.
Taking the key card, I say a quick thank you and head up to the room.
Even the corridors are nice in here. All golds and beiges, clean but minimal.
I am so ready to flop down onto the bed and sleep right now.
It even feels like a chore to press the button for the lift.
All the excitement of the day has worn me down, and the fact that it's almost midnight.
I haven’t even told Sara I’m coming yet. I decided earlier on the train that I am going to send her a selfie outside the theatre tomorrow before her show starts. Knowing her, she’ll put on the best show of her life for me. Not that she doesn’t always.
After what feels like the longest trek of my life, I make it to my room, but the moment the door swings open, I realise it isn’t a room at all.
“Holy fucking shit!” I shout aloud.
This is a full-on freaking apartment. The room I have walked into is all open plan with white tiled floors, brass fixtures, and cream furniture.
The colour scheme makes it look extra bright and clean.
Set in the middle is a feature wall with a built-in fireplace and TV above it.
One side of the room has a super king-size bed that holds way too many throw pillows, which I have never understood the reason for.
If it's not snuggly, it serves no purpose.
The other is a modern kitchen, with every appliance you could hope for.
I am going to fucking kill him.
Pulling out my phone, I hit call before I think about how late it is.
“Hello?” Tommy's groggy voice mumbles.
“You said you had booked me a hotel! Not a place where Beyonce is probably staying on the floor above!”
“Hang on. You have called me to complain that I have booked a nice hotel for you?” He remarks, sarcasm and tiredness oozing from him.
“Yes, no. I just can’t believe it. This place is unreal!”
“You deserve it. It’s booked for the foreseeable future, so there is no rush to come back. Stay a night, a week, a month. Whatever you want.”
“Oh my god, Tommy. You are the best!” I scream, giddiness now taking over. I’m sure I was half asleep not five minutes earlier.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Now piss off. You’re just as annoying as Max.” He chuckles. “Now, may I go back to sleep? Or is there something else you wanted to bother me with?”
“Nope. You may go.” I laugh. “And Tommy? Thank you. I needed this.”
“I know.”