“Don’t ask,” I tell her, wanting to change the subject.
Izzy sighs and holds out her phone to Courtney. “Oh, I see.”
She and Izzy share a look.
“Don’t do that,” I hiss. “Don’t have a silent conversation with your eyes.”
Izzy offers me an apologetic smile and puts her hand over mine. “I just think you’re making much more of this than then you need to. Grayson adores you, Everly. He would never cheat on you.”
“Says every girl, right before she gets cheated on,” I huff, tearing at my toast a little aggressively.
“Remember that photo of you and Andrews? That was nothing but it looked like more. Just give him a chance to explain.”
I sigh. She’s right. Before Grayson and I were official, a photograph was taken of Andrews and me at a club and it looked like we were a lot closer than we were. I pick up my phone and switch it on and message after message comes through from Grayson. All of them telling me the photo is nothing and asking me to please ring him.
I wiggle the phone in my hand. “I’m going to go ring him,” I tell them, and I head outside into the backyard and sit myself on the bench under the kitchen window. I call his number and he picks up on the first ring.
“Finally,” he says. “I have been trying to call you for the last hour.”
“And I wonder why that is?” I reply in a deadpan tone.
Grayson sighs. “That photo is nothing, Everly. She’s the daughter of one of my dad’s business pals. As a photographer was walking past, she grabbed me and asked him to take a photo.”
“Mm-hmm.” I reply, picking at the nail varnish on my fingers and trying and failing to sound nonchalant.
“I’d never cheat on you, Manchester. I adore the fucking ground you walk on,” he says in earnest, and deep down I know he means every word. My insecurities niggle in my head, telling me that everyone I love leaves me and I hate that I’m so needy.
“You promise,” I whisper.
“I swear, Manchester. There is nothing going on with that girl. Nothing.”
I release a deep sigh. “I believe you, but if I see you with your arm around her waist again, then you and I have got problems posh.”
“I promise,” he says, and I can hear the sincerity in his voice. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I reply. Sometimes, I think I love him too much and it scares the hell out of me how I’ll pick myself up if he ever leaves me.
“How was your night last night?” He asks me, attempting to change the subject.
I pause for a moment when I think back to that moment in the laundry room with Tyler. Here I am giving him grief for a photo, and I let Tyler touch my lips with his fingers. God, I was such a hypocrite.
“It was okay. It’s strange being home. So much has changed. I’ve changed.”
“You’re doing okay though?”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “I am. I’m glad Izzy came with me though.”
He sighs. “I wish I could get in my car and just drive to you and ditch this fucking weekend. I’ve got to play golf now with my dad and his business pals. I loathe them, Ev. They’re all pricks who think the world owes them something.”
‘Don’t let it get to you. You’re nothing like them so, just hold on to that thought.”
I can feel his smile even though I can’t see him. “Can you send me a photo of your titties? That might make me feel better,” he asks me in a playful voice.
“You’re unbelievable,” I laugh. “Use your imagination instead.”
“Aw come on babe, I miss you. Just one photo.”
I chuckle, feeling hot and flustered. “I’m in the garden, Grayson.”
“Well, go upstairs.”
“No.” I hiss, going red in the face, even though no one knows we are having this conversation. “Go play your golf and maybe, I’ll video call you later when I’m in the bath.”
“Really?” his voice perks up. “I’ll hold you to that Manchester.”
“Yeah, yeah, go and play with the rich pricks. I’ll see you later.”
SATURDAY BECOMES A full on girl’s day. We take Izzy into Manchester and we hit the shops, and she gushes over what a vibrant city it is. We take her to the northern quarter and we eat in some cute bar before we eventually get the train back to my house. An hour later we’re all snuggled up in our PJ’s with lots of snacks and watching movies.
“You have to come down and stay for the weekend, Courtney,” Izzy insists. “I think my brother would adore you.”
Courtney’s eyebrows jerk up in interest. “Is this the twin brother?”
“She’d eat Owen alive,” I snigger.
“I think he’d like to be eaten alive,” Izzy says with a grin and a waggle of her eyebrows. She loads her spoon full of ice cream.
I shake my head. “I have a hunch that Owen’s interest is already taken.”
Izzy looks at me, shocked. “You do? Who?”
I bob my head from side-to-side and shrug. “I don’t know, it could be nothing, but him and Ems seem to get on well.”
Izzy’s eyes widen. “Well, I hope you’re wrong, because Grayson will murder him and I like my twin alive and breathing, even if he is an annoying dick most of the time.”
I hope I’m wrong too, but there was something there. I was sure of it.
“So, I know you’re all loved up and everything now, but don’t think I didn’t notice how Tyler couldn’t keep his eyes off you all last night.”
I shuffle uncomfortably in my seat. “You did, huh? Kind of crazy isn’t it that I crushed on him all those years and then when I’m not available he tells me he’s into me.”
“Shut the fucking front door!” Courtney exclaims, her mouth hanging open. She leans into my personal space, all eager. “Well, spill girl.”
I sigh and fold my legs underneath me. “Last night
