Chapter Twenty

Violet

Please be okay. Please be okay.

I pick Sam up from school on Thursday afternoon, and by the time we get home, Mum and Dad are back from her appointment. Nerves jiggle in my stomach as we go inside. I don’t know whether the fact neither of them texted me after seeing her specialist is a good or bad sign.

Think positive. Sam charges into the front room, where Mum’s propped up on the sofa, and regales them about his day. I try and pick up subliminal messages, but it’s not working.

After about two minutes, I can’t stand it anymore. “Sam, why don’t you get a snack? I left stuff out in the kitchen.”

Sam shuts up like magic and tears into the kitchen. I take a deep breath, which doesn’t help the butterflies at all, and glance between my parents. Is it my imagination or are they trying to avoid my eye?

“Well? What did she say?” I realize I’m wringing my hands, and it’s a big effort to stop.

“Now look, Violet,” Dad says, which isn’t a very encouraging start. “We don’t want you to worry. But the thing is,” he looks at Mum who gives a jagged sigh.

“They did some tests.” She sounds so exhausted, and my insides cramp in sympathy. “The inflammation’s really bad in one part of the bowel. That’s why my meds weren’t helping the way they should.”

“Okay.” I nod, to show I’m on top of this, even though it’s not okay at all. “So, what’s that mean?”

“Surgery.” Dad gives a we’ve got this smile, which doesn’t fool me for a second, as the word and all its implications hammer through my mind.

“I didn’t think surgery was an option.” I collapse onto the edge of the nearest chair, cross my legs, and grip my knee with both hands.

“It wasn’t, but now it is. The doctors want to remove the small section that’s become blocked. And they think Mum has a great chance of going into long-term remission afterward.”

Is that even possible? Sometimes she can go a couple of years without an attack, but her relapses have never been as frequent as they’ve been the last month. I just thought they’d put her on different meds. It never crossed my mind they’d go straight to surgery.

“Violet.” Mum holds out her hand, and I go kneel on the floor next to her. “I can’t go on like this. Once they get rid of that rubbishy diseased bit, I’ll be right as rain. You’ll see.”

But suppose you’re not? Suppose something happens while you’re on the operating table?

“I know,” I tell her, squeezing her fingers, while panic churns through my stomach. Keep it together, Vi. “When are they doing it?”

“Tuesday.”

At least Lucas will still be here. I’m desperate to tell him but can’t call him right before his leaving party. Talk about putting a damper on things. I’ll tell him tonight when we’re alone.

Oh, God, should I even go out tonight? Guilt eats through me. I should be here, with Mum, but I really want to see Lucas.

“Do you want me to stay in?”

Please say no. I’m a horrible person. Please don’t die…

“Don’t be silly.” Mum gives my hand a little shake. “You go and enjoy yourself, and then you can tell me all about it tomorrow. I bet there’ll be loads of celebrities. Anyway, I want to see you in that new dress you bought.”

This time when Lucas collects me, there’s no reception committee waiting to pounce on him. Sam’s staying the night with a school friend, Mum’s in bed, and Dad won’t leave her side. She’s so pumped full of painkillers I don’t think she even recognized me when I went in to say good night.

“Whoa. You look amazing.” Lucas’s admiration washes over me like a balm. Katie and I went shopping yesterday, and I spent way too much on this dress, but Mum’s right. There’re going to be lots of celebs at this party, and no way do I want to look as though I don’t belong.

“Thanks. You look good enough to eat.”

He leans in close, and his warm breath teases my ear. “I’m gonna remind you of that tonight.”

A delicious shiver skims over my bare arms at his promise. Threat? I’m not sure there’s a difference when it comes to Lucas and our sex life.

Should I really be thinking about sex when Mum’s so sick?

I bite my lip and turn away to pull the front door shut, so he can’t see the worry on my face and ask me what’s up.

He takes my overnight bag from me, and it’s only then I notice the stretch limo parked in the road. “We’re going in that?”

“No point trying to hide from the press tonight. They’ll be out like fire ants. Anyway, my girl deserves only the best.”

A warm glow spreads through me. My girl. It sounds so special and intimate the way he says it. I can hardly believe it took me so long to agree to go out with him. He might’ve played the field in the past and had a different gorgeous girl on his arm every week, but since we’ve got together, there’s not been even a hint of anything like that in the gossip columns.

After all, I didn’t expect him to be exclusive at the start. Not when all it was going to be was a brief summer fling.

I do now, though. Even though we haven’t discussed it. I mean, he’s taken me to visit his dad, and it was obvious he’s never done that with any other girl.

As we walk to the limo, Lucas slides his arm around my waist. “There’s just one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Somehow I ended up agreeing to take Mac and Will. But I promise I’ll make it up to you another time.”

Chad, the chauffeur who drove us to Overton’s, holds open the door for me, and I slide inside. Mackenzie and Will are sitting as far apart from each other as possible. It’s like they’ve just had a fight, but they smile a greeting at me.

And as for the limo. Wow. I could get used to this. All leather seats and trim, and it smells like it’s just rolled off the showroom floor. Lucas gets in beside me, and I snuggle against him.

“Who’s for some bubbly?” Will reaches into a bar fridge and pulls out a bottle of champagne.

“Oh yes,” Mac says in a sugary-sweet voice. “Why not? Let’s all get pissed out of our heads before we even arrive.”

“Have some water.” Will tosses her a bottle which she catches one-handed. “Do you want a glass, Violet?”

It’s obvious he’s rattled. Is something going on between him and Mac? Not that I’m going to ask Lucas after the way I put my foot in it with his dad and Margo.

“Yes, please.”

After Will makes a toast, curiosity gets the better of me. “Are Harry and Alice coming tonight?” I’m surprised they’re not in the limo with us. There’s plenty of room.

“Not really Harry’s scene,” Will says, pouring himself a second glass.

“I told him to make the effort.” Mac exhales an impatient breath. “Honestly, you’d think he’d want to take Alice out somewhere special sometimes, wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t think she’s into this kind of thing, either,” Lucas says. Our fingers are entwined, and he absently strokes the back of my thumb. It’s crazily sexy, and I unobtrusively shift on my seat. Tonight is going to be a long, slow burn before we can do anything about it.

It takes about half an hour before we arrive at Westminster Pier, where Jax has organized a cruise party on the Thames. Even though it’s not dark yet, one boat is lit up like a Christmas tree, and the open top deck is fit to bursting with all the beautiful people.

Nervously, I smooth down my dress before we get out of the limo. I’ll have to get used to these kinds of parties, since Lucas goes to so many. Although, it’s funny. He hasn’t since we started dating, unless I count his birthday thing at Hydra.

Jax Kennedy strolls over to us, a couple of elegant girls hanging off his arms. “Hey, man,” he says, disentangling himself from his companions. He and Lucas exchange one of those manly hugs, complete with fist pumps to the shoulder.

Lucas introduces me, and Jax is charm personified. He kisses Mac on the cheek and high-fives Will. Clearly, they all know each other pretty well, and I try not to feel the odd one out.

There are also photographers who take about a thousand photos, so I keep a freaky, fixed smile on my face in the hope that disguises how out of my element I am. When we finally end the protracted greeting on the pier, which I can only think was for the benefit of the press, we make our way onto the boat.

There’s a spacious saloon, with lots of leather booth seats surrounding a dance floor, and a large bar at one end. Everyone wants to speak to Lucas, and although he never releases my hand, and introduces me to everyone, within five minutes, the whole thing becomes a blur of famous faces I can’t quite place, designer dresses, and glittering jewelry.

I try and focus and keep up with the quick-fire conversation, but it’s hard when I don’t know anyone that they’re talking about.

“Hey, Violet.” Mac links arms with me. “Want to get some air?”

Lucas releases my hand, and Mac and I go upstairs to the top deck, where’s there’s a grand view of the Houses of Parliament.

She grabs a glass of pink champagne from a passing waiter and hands it to me. “Are you okay?”

No. There are way too many people here. I swallow a mouthful of my drink for Dutch courage. I haven’t been to a big party since Geoff and I split up, and there must be at least three hundred A-listers here, which is twice as many, and three times as starry, as that other night. But since Mac appears to have inherited the same gregarious gene as Lucas, there’s no way she’d understand my panic at making a twat of myself in public.

“It’s a bit overwhelming.” Well, shit. Didn’t I just tell myself not to say that?

“I know what you mean,” she says, giving my arm a comforting squeeze. “It’s hard when you don’t know many people.”

“I know three,” I tell her. “You, Lucas and Will.”

“Come and meet Yolanda. She’s great, almost like part of the family.”

“Oh, well I’ve already met her, actually. I mean, briefly. Weeks ago.” Just shut the hell up, Violet.

“Well, there you go.” Mac grins at me as though I didn’t just sound like an idiot. We weave through throngs of people—who ignore us, as we aren’t with the star of the show—and I see Yolanda hanging out with a couple of guys by the impressive barbeque.

My stomach somersaults. Is that Heath Granger, the bad boy star of my favorite soap, Dominion Drive?

Yes. Yes, it is.

“Hey, guys,” Mac says, before telling me everyone’s name. “This is Violet, Lucas’s girlfriend.”

“Nice to see you again.” Yolanda gives me a friendly smile.

“Great to meet you,” Heath says. “Lucas’s kept quiet about you, hasn’t he?”

He doesn’t say it in a mean way; it’s almost like a compliment. But I don’t see how keeping quiet about the fact we’re dating can be complimentary?

Did I really want to be splashed across the gutter press as Lucas’s new girl?

Well, no. It was bad enough when I was simply his mystery lady. But that’s different. Although I’m not sure why…

The other guy, whose name I’ve forgotten, laughs. “Wouldn’t be good for his rep, would it?”

“And what rep is that?” Oh my God, did I say that out loud?

The guy raises his hands in mock surrender. “His former rep. No way is that guy gonna be mad enough to date another girl when he’s got you. Right?”

“Stop being such an arsehole, Mick,” Yolanda says.

“That’s right.” Heath winks at me. “It’s not Lucas you need to worry about. It’s all the girls here tonight whose hearts are breaking because he’s off the market.”

I’ve never thought about it that way before. I’m not sure I like the sound of it.

“They’ll get over it.” Mac rolls her eyes, as though she’s heard this conversation a thousand times before.

Has she? Just because I’ve always assumed Lucas is a serial dater and has never had a serious girlfriend, all I’m basing that on is the gossip columns. For all I know, maybe he’s had several long-lasting relationships that he’s managed to keep out of the public gaze.

Maybe what we have together isn’t nearly as special as I think it is.

Stop being so melodramatic.

“Miss me?” Lucas slides his fingers between mine and nuzzles my neck.

I push my churning thoughts to the back of my mind. I’m not going to let a couple of random comments spoil the night. “Yes.”

Mac releases my arm and wriggles between Yolanda and Heath.

“Congrats on your news,” he says to Lucas. “Bet you can’t wait for your first game.”

“You’ve got that right.”

I take another sip of champagne and realize I’ve finished the glass. How did that happen? I don’t even remember drinking it. I need to slow down. It’s hard to concentrate on the conversation, as though I’m fading in and out. But it’s not the alcohol. Well, that’s not the only reason.

A couple more guys join our group, and there’s a rowdy disagreement between them, and Mac, Heath, and Mick, about something I totally missed, and Yolanda leans in close to Lucas and me.

“I’m really pleased you two got together.” She nudges Lucas and gives me her friendly smile. She’s so nice, no one would guess she’s a top supermodel. Then again, she’s the only supermodel I’ve ever met. Maybe most of them are as normal as her when they’re away from the cameras. “I was so sure you wouldn’t date him, Violet. Guess I owe you ten quid,” she adds to Lucas.

“Ten quid?” I query when it becomes clear neither of them is going to elaborate.

“It was just a stupid bet.” Lucas shrugs. “Nothing important.”

The made a bet on me?

“Didn’t he tell you? I thought he would’ve.” Yolanda raises her eyebrows. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to put my foot in it. It wasn’t anything awful. I thought it hilarious that you wouldn’t go out with him. I told him you’d turn down the commission. You know, commission, dating, whatever.”

I open my mouth but don’t have a clue what to say, so pretend to clear my throat instead. Should I be furious? Or laugh it off? It’s not like one of his teammates made a bet for Lucas to sleep with me, is it? That’d be gross, but Lucas would never do anything like that, in any case.

This is kind of…I’m not sure exactly.

“I saw a different side to him. That’s why I agreed to date him.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Yolanda doesn’t sound as though she’s mocking me. “The real Lucas Carter isn’t so bad, is he?”

“Standing right here,” Lucas says.

“And you’re loving it,” Yolanda tells him.

“No, he’s not bad at all.” Our gazes mesh, and as always, his blue eyes slay me. I wish we could leave. All I want is for him to hold me tight and tell me everything’s going to be all right, but the boat is booked until two a.m., and I don’t expect the partying will stop then. There’re always nightclubs to hit.

Luuuucas!” The shrill female voice blasts through me, and I blink, disorientated, as three stunningly beautiful girls throw themselves at him like a trio of leeches.