Chapter 20
TWENTY
Nina
After two nights away with minimal sleep, I barely managed to make it to four o’clock before I passed out on Mason’s sofa. My sofa. Yeah, that does not sound right. Not yet.
Arching my back, I stretch out my muscles on a long yawn. I have no idea how long I’ve been sleeping, but I already know I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.
Paris has zapped me of all my energy. We didn’t stop from the moment we touched down to the moment we took off again. I’m definitely booking a girls’ trip after the showcase; some R and R will be just what I need.
I can feel my body telling me to slow down, but I only have two weeks until the showcase, and I can’t stop now. It’s everything we have worked for this year.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy.
My phone starts to vibrate under my head, and I pull it out from under me. I have three missed calls from Megan and two texts. It must have been what woke me. I slide my thumb across the screen and open the messages.
Lucy
Nina what time does Erin get in? Meg can’t get hold of you.
Megan
Bitch where are you?
Holy shit! I completely forgot about Erin. I check the time and jump up from the sofa. It’s six thirty. I’ve napped for hours. I look around the penthouse, wondering where Mason could be.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I hotfoot it through the bedroom, searching for him. I pull the shirt I’m wearing over my head and start to change into my jeans and white tee.
How could I forget Erin flying in?
God, I am a hot mess at the minute.
I find Mason in his office, and I’m slightly out of breath as I push through the door. I pause on the threshold.
“Angel,” he murmurs, not looking up from his computer.
“I forgot my friend is flying in today, I slept all afternoon and she’s probably already here, and I didn’t ring her, I said I would. I’m going to go home and meet her with the girls. I completely forgot.”
Mase looks up at me, a deep frown in place. “Slow down. I can take you home. I just need to finish this. You’ll be back home later?” he questions, and I can sense his unease.
“Yeah, I’ll be home later.” I bite the inside of my cheek, loving how that sounds. “I can get an Uber, though. You look busy.”
“Do you drive?” he asks.
“Uh, I have a licence. I haven’t driven in years.”
“Take the Bentley.”
“No.”
“Why?” he snaps back.
“I will crash your car, Mase.”
“No, you won’t. It’s an automatic. You can’t go wrong.” He stands, rounding the desk and walking me out to the foyer.
We’ve spent the time he could have driven me, teaching me all the different controls. I try to take it all in, but it’s a lot. “Maybe you should drive me. I don’t feel comfortable driving myself.”
“I will if you want me to, but you literally cannot fuck this up. I trust you.”
I stare up at him from the driver’s seat. I know he’s busy.
I huff, straightening in the seat. “Fine, I will drive.”
“Good girl.” He bends down, taking my lips in a soft kiss. “Text me when you get there, okay?”
I did it. I drove for the first time in over five years. My legs are shaky when I step out of the Bentley. I parked around the corner of my building, not trusting myself on the busy street that would have been closer but so much harder to park on.
I text Luce and Megs, to let them know I’m home, then call Erin.
“Hello.” she answers.
“Erin, hey! Where are you? You must have landed?”
“Only just, I was delayed. I’m now on my way to the hotel.”
“Come over. Megan and Luce are coming to mine, and we planned to get dinner together.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m shattered, Nina.”
Me too, I roll my eyes. “I did not just turn down hot sex for you to wig out on me. You know where I live still.”
She giggles down the phone. “Yes, okay. Give me an hour. I need to freshen up.”
I’m just finishing clearing the draining board when Luce and Megan come laughing through the door. I smile over at them, excited to catch them up on the last couple days.
“Girls, it’s a Sunday!” I eye the four bottles of wine they carry between them.
“One each.” Luce shrugs.
“I’m driving, save them for tomorrow.” I roll my eyes as Megan approaches me, pulling me into a hug. Lucy joins a few seconds later, and I frown into their shoulders as they sandwich me in.
“What is going on?”
“We,” Lucy looks to Megan, “had the most incredible evening Saturday night. Like out of this world.”
“Luce pulled.” Megan nods enthusiastically.
“You did?” I laugh. It sounds like we’re back in school.
Lucy flushes red, and I become desperate for details. “Just a kiss?” I question, knowing she isn’t one for a one-night stand.
“Nope, she brought him here,” Megan offers.
My mouth drops open as Luce scoots around the sofa with a bottle of red. “Luce?”
“I was going to tell you.”
“Tell me now,” I interrupt.
“So Scarlet came out with us. She met us at Groulx for food and was going to go home straight after because of her dad, but then Vinny texted and said he was fine for a few more hours and not to rush home. So we went out.”
“Scarlet was steaming. She’s a crazy chick,” Megan adds.
“And the guy?” I ask.
“Was just a guy.”
“Bullshit.” There’s a knock at the door, and I squint my eyes at Lucy, wondering what is up with her.
Pulling open my apartment door, I’m met with the effortless beauty that is Erin O’Connor.
“Erin, it’s so good to see you!” I smile as I pull her into a hug, her fiery red hair getting stuck on my gloss.
“It’s great to see you too, sweetie. You’re looking great,” she tells me, her eyes scanning me from top to toe.
“Come in. The girls are here.”
“Hey!” they both sing, standing to hug her.
“How was the flight?” Luce asks.
“Long, it never gets any easier.”
“Damn, you look good,” Megan tells her.
She’s right. Erin is looking good; everything about her screams health and wealth.
“Yeah, I’ve been working on me lately.” She smooths her hair, giving us a small smile.
“It shows,” I tell her, checking out the designer bag dangling on her arm.
“So, how long are you here for?” Luce asks, looking at Erin from the other side of the coffee table.
We decided to order in Chinese. The girls couldn’t stay long with Lucy having an early start in the morning, and I want to get back to Mason’s so I can sleep. Even after my nap I am knackered.
“Two weeks,” says Erin, sucking in a noodle.
“Your mum?” I ask, “How is she? Is someone with her, or is she okay on her own now?” I give her a sad smile.
She drops her fork and I regret my question immediately.
I’ve made her uncomfortable. I know how much she’s struggled with her mother’s health—I shouldn’t have brought it up.
“Uh, yeah, she is doing better, actually.”
“That’s good. Do you think you could come home soon?” I ask.
“No,” she looks into her container. “I think I want to stay in Australia now.”
I frown as I watch her, but she doesn’t meet my eyes.
Why do I feel like she’s lying?
“I don’t blame you. Aus looks good on you,” Megan says, clinking her glass with Erin’s.
“Thanks,” she smiles. “Hey, you!” she perks up as she turns to look at me, changing the subject and the atmosphere instantly. “Are you going to tell me about this hot sex you’re missing out on tonight?”
“Oh, you have no idea,” Lucy waves her fork in the air, her eyes closed and a dreamy look on her face. “He is fit!”
“Nuh-uh, you can go first today.” I eye Lucy.
“Oh, fuck off already. It was just sex!”
“In my apartment! And it’s never just sex with you.”
“This time it was. I don’t even know his name.”
“You slut!” I shout, my mouth dropping wide as the girls all fall into a fit of giggles.
The girls have not long left, but Erin’s still here. She’s stood at my sink washing the few dishes we used, even though I told her she didn’t have to.
“Thank you for this evening. It’s been just what I needed,” she tells me, smiling back over her shoulder.
“Of course, it’s good to have you home. Where are you staying anyway?”
“The Hilton.”
Shit. That’s expensive. “Perfect, it’ll be nice to have another female around the studio for a change, that’s for sure.” I force a smile.
“I bet. How old are the boys again?”
“Too young for you!” I laugh, and she shakes her head, tutting. “Erin, I’m sorry for bringing up your mum before, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Don’t be silly, it’s fine.”
“I know, but I don’t believe you. I think you were lying earlier.”
“What?” She freezes, her hands pausing on the glass she’s washing.
“You don’t want to live in Australia permanently, do you? If you could come home you would, right?”
She drops the glass onto the drainer and turns to me, a sad smile on her face. “In a heartbeat.” She looks to the ground, rolling her lips as if she wants to say more. “Sorry, Nina, I better go. I need to get some sleep before tomorrow, I have so much to get sorted over the next couple weeks.”
“It must be so hard, but it will get better, I’m sure. You managed to take this trip. You will make it back here, one day.” I squeeze her arm as she reaches for her fur coat.
“Yeah, maybe.” Her lips thin into a tight-lipped grimace. She walks to the door but pauses when she gets to it.
Her throat works on a swallow as her eyes find mine. “Sorry, Nina. I hope you don’t think I’m being rude.” And then she leaves.
Her obvious discomfort leaves me feeling awful. I wish I’d kept my mouth shut, but I could tell she wasn’t being honest, and I was right–she doesn’t want to live in Australia. I think it’s amazing that she has given up so much to help her mum.
I finish washing up the dishes, then send Mase a message telling him I’m on my way home.
The Bentley is a welcome distraction from the worry for Erin, and instead of overthinking all the things I wish I didn’t say to her, I’m forced to concentrate on the beasty machine that is Mason’s car.
Mason’s very expensive car.
The drive home is plain sailing, and I even put the radio on for the last five minutes of my drive as my confidence starts to grow. It really is an easy car to drive.