Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 143633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 718(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 718(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
I helped myself to a towel and took a shower before facing the music downstairs. I knew Scottie would be gone for work, but I’d have to see Mum as I got dressed for college, and I’d have to brave the deceit of playing down the truth. Scottie had more power over her than I did. He’d whisper in her ear and have her believe any lies he wanted to spin. I didn’t want to throw her into that drama. She dealt with enough already.
“Hi, Mum!” I called out as I stepped into our hallway.
I found her on the sofa with a coffee. She didn’t look at me, her fingers too busy tapping on her phone.
“You ok?” I asked, nerves spiking at the realisation she might ask me where the hell I’d been, but as it turned out, she didn’t. She was too caught up in her own news as she looked at me.
“Scottie’s got a job in Scotland. A new one. He got the offer this morning. On a load more money. He had to leave today, straight off.”
“Whoa.”
I sat down next to her, with a mash of different emotions. Relief for me, but hurt for her, because she’d no doubt hit the floor with him leaving. I couldn’t believe he was upping and leaving and dumping her already.
“Shit,” I said. “I’m really sorry.”
I expected sobs, but she smiled as another message came through.
“No, it’s ok. He’s not leaving me, he’s just leaving here. The job offer was just too good, and if he loves me, which he does, then it’ll be better for us. We’ll have a much better future when he’s settled up there. I might even go up there with him, when you’re finished at college. He says he wants that more than anything.”
Scottie was a liar. Wanting that more than anything meant nothing, and things felt off. Really off. I wanted to quiz her on what exactly he’d said, but I didn’t want to stab her with my words. She was happy for now. That’s all that mattered.
She put a hand on her heart like she was reading a marriage proposal when another message came through. I was blind as to what loved-up bullshit he was spinning her, but it was working. She seemed like she’d been pulled into an imaginary fairytale. I was just grateful that neither of us would have to see his nasty, weasel face in here for a while. Fate had been kind.
Mum didn’t notice that I’d already taken a shower when I disappeared into my room to get ready for college. She didn’t so much as ask where I’d been, just sat there in the same spot, still burning up as the messages kept buzzing. She barely noticed when I said goodbye and set off with my bag on my back.
I’d have happily called up Scottie’s new employer myself and given them a massive thank you, begging them to keep him up there for all time. Maybe miracles can happen. For the time being, a mini miracle was certainly a massive godsend.
College went by in a blur. I tried to focus, keeping my plain-faced mask up high while everyone chatted and gossiped around me. I did my lessons, doing my best to concentrate, but the swirl of events back home were prickling my senses. So much to take in… all of it good…
They say good luck comes in threes, and they weren’t lying.
One. Julian was gorgeous and I adored him. I adored us. I adored the man who was such a saint to me. Two. Scottie was gone, far away, and three, Mum wasn’t torn to pieces. At least not for now.
For once I felt like things were slotting into a world of good fortune. I was savouring every second as I set off on my way home. The dark clouds were giving me a break for once, so I let myself be happy. Life was kind.
I must have been smiling like crazy when Jayden appeared across the street, scoping out everyone walking away from college. I hoped he’d be as pleased as I was that his dad had been granted such an opportunity out of nowhere. But no. He wasn’t. He looked like he wanted me to burst into flames when he marched over, grabbing my elbow and tugging me aside.
“Hey! What the hell’s up?” I asked, but he kept his mouth shut until we were out of view, in the alleyway that led off to the sports field. It took him a few moments to collect himself.
“You already know what the fuck’s up!” he said.
I knew Scottie would be leaving Jayden alone for a bit, but a good opportunity was a good opportunity. There were phones and video calls, after all.
But wait…
There was more to it than that. There must have been. His eyes were raging. But this was none of my business. Not really.