Page 41 of Wish You Knew
More revelations. If she kept going at this rate, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to look Scott in the eye by the time we got home.
“He told me. I’m honoured.” A small smile crept across my face.
“Did Scott tell you how we bought the house?” Vivian changed the subject.
I nodded. “Yes, you and your sister invested in it.”
“It was our escape.” Vivian lowered her eyes. “My first marriage wasn’t a pleasant one. My ex was violent towards me. I never had anywhere I could class as a bolt hole when I needed to get away. When he finally paid out on a settlement, I promised myself we’d always have somewhere to go. Somewhere safe, peaceful, away from all the stresses and strains of real life.”
Scott had invited me here after the incidents with Mark - when I needed to be far, far away from him and anything which could remind me of what had nearly happened. He knew it was a safe house, a retreat. Maybe that explained why he hadn’t felt the need to invite anyone there before - no-one else needed rescuing.
“I’m sorry.” The words seemed trite, but I didn’t know what else to say.
“Don’t be.” A small smile played on Vivian’s lips. “I learned a lot from that marriage and I’ve not made the same mistake again.” She shrugged. “Which is maybe why I don’t stay in a relationship where I’m not valued.”
Her words hit home. Scott’s actions, even though he hadn’t followed them up with words, spoke volumes.
My stomach churned. He did care after all.
In spite of the village being fairly small, we both came back with a significant amount of shopping. While I’d paid for most of mine, Vivian had generously bought me a necklace and earring set from one of the boutiques. Even though I’d protested, she’d insisted. Who was I to argue?
By the time we got back to the house, it was starting to get dark.
Vivian excused herself to go to her room.
Bas was in the kitchen, singing badly along to the radio while making a smoothie.
“Want some?” he offered.
The slime green sludge looked about as appetising as cold sick, but he assured me it was full of super foods, all of which would be good for me. I accepted the glass he gave me and tentatively took a sip.
“Oh, you’re right. It isn’t as bad as it looks at all.” I licked my lips, cleaning off the smears left by the kale or spinach or whatever it was.
“Here, you missed a bit.” Bas leaned over and smoothed a finger over my bottom lip, lingering for a little longer than necessary.
I sprang back as if I’d been burned, crashing into one of the chairs at the table and bruising my hip. “What do you…” I began.
He held his hands up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t get freaked out.”
Why was it that if anyone who wasn’t Scott touched me, I couldn’t handle it? Bas’s actions were totally innocent, at least I hoped they were.
My phone pinged from my bag - literally saved by the bell. “Thanks for the smoothie, I’ll see you later.” I backed out of the room and headed upstairs.
Dropping the shopping bags in the middle of the bed, I reached for my phone, seeing the screen had blown up with messages.
Saff: Where the fuck are you?
Saff: What the fuck are you doing with Scott Lincoln?
Saff: Call me as soon as you get this message…
She had also sent through links to various gossip websites which showed me and Scott at the pub the previous evening, and one of us leaving together hand in hand. Unsurprisingly, they speculated as to what we were doing in a country pub, nowhere near either of our homes. It wasn’t the first time either of us had been gossip fodder, but I’d thought better of the people who worked in the Kings Arms. If they’d tipped off a pap or even sold the pictures themselves, it was a total betrayal of trust.
Saff answered immediately. She had clearly been waiting for my call.
“Where are you?” she demanded.
“At Scott’s mum’s house in the country.”
