I sigh. He was minimising what was going on, just like I knew he would.
“Ty, do you owe the Doyle’s money?”
There’s silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds. “I’m handling it Taylor, you don’t need to worry about me.”
“I think I should worry when you end up in hospital battered and broken. They’re bad news, Ty. Why are you getting mixed up with them?”
“I didn’t have a choice, Ev. My mum wasn’t managing, money’s been really tight.’
I sigh. If there was one thing you can say about Ty, it’s that he loves his family and he will do anything to protect them. It isn’t right that so much responsibility falls on his shoulders at nineteen years old.
“You’re no good to your mum dead Ty. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will,” he assures me, the teasing tone in his gone.
I turn when I hear footsteps, and Grayson is on his way down. “Listen, I got to go. Please think about what I said. I’ll call again soon.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Taylor. Speak soon.”
Grayson drops down beside me and picks up the television remote. “Who was that?”
“Just Courtney from home. What are we watching?” I ask. I’m not sure why I lie; it just feels easier than dealing with Grays’ questions. I have an uneasy feeling that Ty is in deeper shit than he is letting on.
Chapter 7
GRAYSON MOVES BACK home on Friday. I hated dropping him off with Dom and leaving him there. His dad had been waiting at the door when we pulled up. He too was still sporting bruises to his face, courtesy of his son. Mr St. Clair had glowered at me when I’d got out of the car and kissed Grayson goodbye. Grayson’s eighteenth couldn’t come quick enough. The sooner he could walk away from his toxic father, the better.
I’m lying in bed later that night when he rings me and I grab my phone, anxious to hear from him.
“Hey you.”
“Hey Manchester.”
I lie back on my pillow and stare up at my ceiling. “How are things?”
Grayson sniggers. “Tense as fuck. I’m already under orders to attend a dinner party this weekend at the Hilton house.”
My stomach sinks. “Tell him no.”
He releases a deep sigh. “I can’t Ev. He’s dangling the threat of sending Ems to a boarding school abroad. I have to go.”
“I hate this,” I confess. I hate how his dad is controlling him like this and using threats to get him to as he wants. It isn’t right, and it isn’t fair.
“So go, but take me along.” I suggest.
“I would if I could, but that will just piss him off even more. I’ll be back Sunday day and we can spend the day together, I promise.”
“Okay,” I agree with him reluctantly. I know he is being backed in to a corner but it doesn’t mean I have to be okay about it.
THERE’S A KNOCK ON my bedroom door Saturday night and a second later Izzy pops her head in. “Hey, we’re all heading out to Louie’s if you fancy it for an hour or two?”
I shake my head, about to say no, but then I realise what a lame arse I’m turning into. Just because my boyfriend wasn’t here, it didn’t mean I had to stay in and mope. “Sure,” I tell her. “What time do we leave?”
“Can you be ready in fifteen?” she asks me.
I snigger. “Izz, this is me you’re talking to. I can be ready in ten.”
Izzy sighs. “It’s so unfair how you can look so good with zero effort. We’ll see you downstairs.”
I jump up out of bed and rummage through my drawers until I find my favourite black jeans, I then search out a top and settle on my red wrap top. I pair it with my favourite strappy silver heels and then quickly run my fingers through my hair before putting on some mascara and a touch of red lipstick. I grab my phone and take a quick selfie, blowing a kiss to the camera.
‘This is what you’re missing tonight, Posh.’
I send it to him, before throwing my phone and my coin purse in my bag and head downstairs.
“Ready to go?” Dom asks me as he grabs his keys out of the bowl that holds everyone’s keys on the console table.
“Will I do?” I ask Izzy, giving her a twirl.
Izzy shakes her head in astonishment. “I seriously don’t know how you get ready so fast and still manage to look freaking amazing.”
“Magic,” I tell her with a wink as I move past her to the door.
It’s a typical busy Saturday night in Louies when we arrive. We weave our way through the crowds until we find our friends, who have somehow bagged a booth right off the dance floor.
Ben comes up behind me and picks me up by the waist and twirls me round.
“Everly, looking good,” he says with a flirty wink.
Dom eyeballs him. “Bet you wouldn’t have the guts to do that when Grayson’s around?”
Ben scoffs, nodding. “Too right, because I don’t have a death wish,” he admits. He nudges me playfully, “But the big mans not here tonight so I can flirt my arse off.”
I playfully pat Ben’s cheek with my hand. “Benny boy, who knew you had a rebellious streak.”
Owen comes up on my other side and drops his arm over my shoulder. “What’s up my favourite northern girl?”
I side eye him. “Owen. I’m the only northern girl you know.”
He grins, winking. “You’re still my favourite.”
Dom shakes his head, fighting a smile. “Just wait until I tell my best friend that the minute his back is turned you’re all circling Ev like vultures.”
Owen chuckles. “You know how we love to wind our friend up. In fact,” Owen pulls out his phone and holds it up in front of us. Keeping his arm around my shoulder, he leans in and kisses my cheek and he snaps a
