Page 42 of Wish You Knew
“I can see that from the gossip columns. More to the point, what are you doing there? Were you there when we spoke yesterday? Oh my God, Rosie, what’s going on?”
I bit my lip, wondering exactly what to tell her. Things had escalated quickly. I guessed Scott hadn’t seen any of the pictures, otherwise he’d be in here demanding to know what we should do about them.
“It’s complicated,” I began.
“Doesn’t look like it from those pictures. Looks like you’re all loved up with someone who basically treats you like nothing more than a booty call.” Saff’s anger crackled down the line.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and put Saff on speaker phone so I could examine the pictures in more detail. She was right. To the casual observer, we were like any other couple on a date, laughing at whatever the other one had said, walking close together, holding hands. For every intent and purpose, we were together.
But we weren’t.
Two nights didn’t suddenly turn us into the new Harry and Meghan.
Vivian’s words came back to me.That’s why I don’t stay in a relationship where I’m not valued.
I didn’t know my value with Scott, not for sure.
We really did need to talk, to find out what this was going to lead to, if anything.
“Saff, listen, I know what it looks like…”
She berated me again for going back there. But I hadn’t been honest with her about the reasons why. “You know what he’s like. You saw him when I was on tour with him. You know what he’s capable of doing, making shit up to make him look good and to hell with everyone else. He nearly ruined my relationship with Tris, you know that.”
I did. I knew all the reasons why Scott Lincoln didn’t make a decent, reliable boyfriend.
I also knew how he made me feel, and I wasn’t prepared to deny that.
21
Scott
We ended up in the pub again. After a mild family argument about who was going to cook dinner - neither Bas nor I could, Vivian wasn’t prepared to, and it wasn’t fair to expect Rosie to - it turned out to be the easy option.
There hadn’t been a chance to speak with Rosie on her own since she’d come back from her afternoon out with Vivian. I’d have given anything to be a fly on the wall for their conversations. Vivian knew all the dirt in my past, and she wasn’t usually backwards in coming forwards when it came to spilling the beans. No wonder Rosie hadn’t sought me out straight away when she returned. She hadn’t spoken to me on the walk over either, choosing instead to walk with Vivian, leaving me with Bas. It gave me the opportunity to ogle her arse though.
I had to admit she looked absolutely stunning, even dressed down for a country pub. The indigo blue jeans she wore clung to her arse, teamed with a black roll-neck jumper and black heeled boots; simple, yet classic. Her blonde hair was just-rolled-out-of-bed mussed up, and I wanted to pull her in close and take her back to bed.
The landlord greeted Vivian with open arms, gathering her into a hug the moment we walked into the place. “Vivian! How lovely to see you again, I had no idea you were here.”
“Gerard, don’t tell me such fibs. I was in the village earlier today; I’m sure Marion would have mentioned it.”
I rolled my eyes at Bas as they chatted. It had been like this ever since we’d been kids. Gerard flirting with Vivian, pretending his wife hadn’t said a word about their glamorous London visitor. You’d have thought after fifteen years they may have tired at the pretence, but apparently not.
“Rosie, what do you want to drink?” Bas asked, making his way to the bar.
She totally ignored me as she pushed past to join Bas. Resting her hands on the bar, she stretched up to look over at the options on the shelves. The motion pushed her cute peachy butt out and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. If she carried on like that, I was going to embarrass myself in the middle of the Kings Arms.
“I’ll try the rhubarb gin with tonic. Lots of ice please.”
“Good choice,” agreed Bas. “I’ll have the same.” He turned to me. “Scott?”
I fucking hated gin. But if it was Rosie’s drink of choice this evening, I’d be damned if I’d have anything different. “Yeah, count me in to the gin club. Make mine a double. And I’ll have a beer first.”
Bas grinned at the bar man. The girl who had served us the previous evening appeared to be absent.
“Easiest round ever, mate. Four rhubarb gins, and a beer for my man.”
“Coming right up.” He spun away and busied himself making our drinks.
