Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
My phone binged and my smile stretched my face.
I also called you a smoke show. Trust you to home in on the negative. Also I miss your glasses. Did you get laser eye surgery, Fyfe Moray?
Nope. Contacts. I’m wearing my glasses as we speak.
Well, that’s a relief. For a minute there, I thought my Fyfe had disappeared.
Her Fyfe.
That felt better than it should.
Shoving that thought away, I replied honestly.
You’re one to talk. Today is the first time I saw the real Eils.
What does that mean?
You were you and not the untouchable BAFTA Award-winning Eilidh Adair.
Is that what I am?
Somehow I sensed the melancholy in her reply. I hadn’t meant to upset her.
It’s been a while since we spoke. All I’ve known of you is what I see on TV or on ad campaigns.
Well, I’m still me.
I got that today. It was good to see.
I waited for a response, but a minute passed and nothing. Disappointed, I put my phone down and reached for my e-reader. I hoped I hadn’t offended her.
Then a minute or so later, my phone binged again. I dropped my e-reader in my rush to pick up the mobile.
If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell Lewis or anyone?
Disquiet filled me. I didn’t like the idea of keeping anything from Lewis, especially pertaining to his sister. But once, almost ten years ago, Eilidh had kept a secret for me.
You can tell me anything and I promise not to share it.
I waited impatiently for her response.
I’m lonely
Fuck.
My thumbs hovered over the screen.
I hated the idea of Eilidh out in the world, alone and lonely.
I knew what loneliness felt like. Didn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
Come home, Eils.
She took a few seconds to reply again.
I can’t. I’m under contract to do this film in Romania.
Shit. My thumbs flew over the screen.
Then text me, call me, anytime. I’m here.
I don’t want to bother you.
Eilidh, you’re never bothering me. Promise me you’ll keep in touch.
Okay. I promise.
Three
FYFE
Two years ago
Suffice it to say I’d had my fill of drama, and that was only spectating from the sidelines. The past month I’d watched Lewis and Callie fight and clash, come to a tentative truce, only to discover they were pregnant from their one night together in London. Lewis was handling this news better than I would have. The thought of being responsible for a child filled me with abject terror. I never planned to have kids. But it didn’t surprise me Lewis took it in stride, and though he might not admit it out loud, I think he was ecstatic he and Callie were now tied together for life.
Callie had even agreed to start dating him.
Their drama seemed to be over (other than the infant cooking in Cal’s belly), and I was glad because the whole thing had been a whirlwind of secondhand emotions. Eilidh and I had kept in touch almost every day and had been sharing our commentary over the situation like we were on the TV show Gogglebox.
Now, however, I was hoping for calm.
When I opened my door that morning, I realized fate wasn’t ready for me to have my calm.
Standing outside next to a small Nissan parked on my driveway was the woman I hadn’t seen or heard from in nearly a decade.
“What are you doing here?” I bit out.
My mum blanched, shifting her weight nervously. The past nine years had been kind to her. Her skin looked healthier. And her hair fuller, shinier. She’d put on a bit of weight and was dressed in a fitted shirt tucked into jeans.
She looked … sober.
“Hiya, son.”
I flinched. “Don’t call me that.”
Mum nodded, biting her lip. “Can I … can I come in?”
Blood whooshed in my ears. “I’m on my way to work.”
“I won’t be long. Please.”
With an abrupt nod, I turned and strode into the open-plan living and kitchen area. A construction company Thane recommended was coming in a few weeks to take down the wall between the entrance and the rest of this floor so it was all open. It involved expensive beam work, but I thought it would be worth it to be able to walk into the house and see all the way to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the other side and out to the view.
My mind stuck on thoughts about the demo because it was easier to think about that than to think about the woman behind me.
I heard Mum close the door and follow me in. My mind raced with confusion, hurt, and questions. A hundred fucking questions.
Arms crossed over my chest, I leaned against the kitchen island. Tried to look unaffected by her sudden appearance.
“Wow, you’ve done well for yourself.” Mum gestured to the house. “You’ve got a beautiful home, Fyfe.”
I jerked my chin. “So what do you want? I’m not in the mood for a family reunion.”