Page 73 of One More Shot
The smile Eliott shoots me is one I haven’t seen before. It feels like a smile reserved just for me. ‘Two days.’
I can’t wait.
Chapter Twenty-ThreeELIOTT
‘And when will you be back?’
I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I continue tugging Nan’s laundry off the line. We’ve had this conversation about ten times over the last couple of weeks, but Nan’s acting like it’s the first time she’s heard any of this.
‘Like I said,’ I grit out, trying and failing to keep the frustration out of my tone. ‘I’ll be back on Sunday evening. But I can pass by on my way home if you want?’
She’s perched on the top step of her newly refurbished patio, watching as I methodically move down the washing line and fold up her sheets. ‘Don’t go out of your way,’ Nan says. ‘But if you have the time…’
She trails off and I shoot her a grin over my shoulder. ‘You know, you can just admit that you’re going to miss me. The world won’t end or anything.’
Nan purses her lips, but there’s an unmistakable twinklein her eye. ‘It’s four days. I think I can manage that much alone.’
It’s not that I think she can’t manage by herself. It’s just that I can’t help but worry about her. All it takes is one accident, one slip, one nasty fall… And who’ll be here to help her? I already know that I can’t rely on Mum, Leanne or Josh to check in on her with any kind of regularity, so I’ve asked Nan’s neighbours if they wouldn’t mind keeping a subtle eye on her while I’m away.
‘You can’t control everything.’
Nan is looking at me with a surprisingly soft expression on her face.
‘Huh?’
The expression drops in favour of a scowl. ‘Don’thuhme,’ she sniffs. ‘I said you can’t control everything.’
I rest the washing basket against my hip and make my way back across the lawn. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Nan shrugs. ‘I know you like to be the one in control. The one in charge.’
I let out a strangled sounding noise that’s halfway between a shriek and a laugh. ‘You think Ilikethis?’
For real?
She thinks I like having to always be the one to piece everyone back together?
That I like having to spend most of my brainpower worrying about everyone but myself?
That constantly feeling like I’m the worst person in the world, like I’m nothing but a selfish witch whenever I try to take any time for myself, is something I genuinelyenjoy?
Another shriek-slash-laugh tumbles out of my lips. ‘Nan. You can’t be serious.’
Her scowl deepens, and she opens her mouth to respond, but whatever she says is drowned out by the sound of a door slamming, followed by a high pitched:
‘Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan?!’
Three seconds later, and Leanne comes striding into the kitchen. ‘Nan, are you—Oh?’
She stares at me dumbfounded for a beat or two, like my presence at Nan’s house is a surprise to her for some reason. ‘Hey Elz, what’re you doing here?’
I’malwayshere. The petty response is on the tip of my tongue, but I catch myself before I can spit it out. Leanne hasn’t done anything to deserve my ire.
Not yet anyway.
‘Just helping Nan out with a few things before I leave.’
‘You’re leaving?’ Leanne asks. She gives Nan a quick hug and steps aside and lets me tug the laundry basket into the kitchen. ‘Where’re you going?’
