She huffs. “But my life is a mess and I want to run away to LA.”
“You could do that without me.”
“But a girls’ trip is way more fun.”
I roll my eyes. “Sort your shit out.”
“I bet you just love that you can tell people to do that now.”
We step outside my practice. I activate the alarm on the panel by the door and lock up. The building is still a shell. Builders have been working hard to fit out the rather large space. I’ve made it cosier by having two therapy rooms in the hope that, one day, I’ll be able to employ another counsellor.
Spencer helped me, along with an architect.
It’s all been paid for with the money left to me in my parents’ will. I once said that I’d never use that money—it ruined us—but if I can use it to save someone else, it will be worth it.
Tomorrow, I’m off to LA to meet Spencer on set. He’s been out there for three months. I’m going to watch him be a criminal mastermind, hustling super rich arseholes on screen, and then we’re going back to his apartment for a lot of sex. It’s been three weeks since I last saw him. We’ve both been busy, but we haven’t missed a phone call, FaceTime, or a text yet.
I cannot wait.
Mila has taken a call from Liam who was wanting to meet up, which means he wants them to get back together. She will go, too, because that’s what they do, and neither of them seem to be able to break the cycle.
I’m pretty sure that’s why she wants to come with me. Not that she can because she’s five months into her course at uni – finally.
I graduated with a first last year. I did it. Andrew and Jodie threw me a huge party. I loved it.
“Tell Liam no.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Oh, it really is. You don’t want to be with him.”
“That’s not exactly true.”
“Well, you don’t want the life you two have together, and there’s nothing else on offer. You need to make a choice. Either have him and that life, or let him go and find the one you want.”
“Yeah, all I’m looking for right now is to go to America.”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Fine, I’ll figure it out.” We all know what that means. “Are you completely packed?”
“Almost, I just need to chuck my cosmetics in my bag tomorrow.”
“I could carry your bag if you let me go with you.”
Laughing as we get into my car, I reply, “No!”
“This car is much better than your last one.”
I press the engine button. Yep, that’s how I start this thing. We’re getting lazier. There’s a button or app for everything. “You tell me that every time you’re in here.”
“I always will. I still get backache from your old seats. Spencer did good with this.”
He bought me a big, flashy Audi that has more gadgets than I know how to use. It took two months from when he ordered it to when it was delivered because he specked me a bloody brand new one.
Without telling me!
I came home to see this shiny, silver thing on our driveway. He’d even put a massive red bow on top of it.
I appreciate it so much, but I didn’t need anything so expensive.
Apparently, I have some button that I can press to make it park itself. There’s absolutely no way I’m trusting the thing to do that when I can’t even get the radio to stop giving me travel updates.
“Where am I taking you?” I ask her.
She sighs. “Home, I guess.”
“Mila, just tell him it’s not working.”
“It could.”
“Bullshit,” I sing.
“He’s—”
“Your addiction… and not in a good way.”
She frowns. “Are any addictions good?”
“I should say no after what I’ve seen, but they’re not all bad.”
“Ugh, you’re talking about Spencer.”
I turn down Mila’s road, and she pouts. “Last chance, Indie. I can be packed and ready in an hour.”
“Talk to Liam. Don’t sleep with him.”
“Easy for you to say,” she grumbles.
I watch her get out with a huff, and then she turns to me. “You be safe.”
“I will.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too,” I say as she closes the door.
I wait until she’s opened the door before I leave. Not before I catch a glimpse of Reid Walker watching her from his doorway while he accepts a delivery.
Honestly, if she would just ditch Liam for good, she’d see what’s right in front of her.
My phone rings when I’m almost halfway to our new house. Spencer bought that almost immediately, too, and he installed a swing on the porch, just like I wanted. The elderly couple didn’t drive a hard bargain. Spencer offered them a very good price, and I got the impression they were relieved. The house was too much for them, but it’s perfect for us.
Five bedrooms that, despite what he says, we will not fill with ‘dozens’ of children. There are only so many I’m willing to push out of my hoo-ha.
Spence wants to have a pool house built. I’m pretending it’s a ridiculous excess, but I’m secretly excited. I think he knows that, too. We’ll swim every morning… naked, apparently.
At home, I get an early night.
The next morning, I make my plane with time to spare—first class, of course. Spencer insists on booking my flights so he can make sure that I’m pampered. Can’t say I mind that much, but it still feels like a waste of money. He says we can afford it. We. Everything is we now. I’ve not looked at his bank balance.
He wants a joint account, but I’ve been putting it off. Sometimes it’s best to stay blissfully ignorant. Lots of money intimidates me. Stupid, really, since we don’t need to spend it all and we can do good things with it. Spence already donates heavily to underfunded performing arts classes for kids.
The hours pass slowly, as they always do when I’m on my way to him. Coming home, I’m sure the pilot turns on
