Page 33 of Grand Love

Mase

Silence fills the car.I should get out, but I wait, dialling Nina one more time. She left without her key and the thought that she won’t be able to get back in is messing with my head. I shouldn’t care. Ellis is here with me and is safe. He drifted off before we made it to the end of Nina’s street, and instead of taking him inside and putting him to bed, I’m sitting here, staring into the parking garage.

My knee bounces as I spin my phone between my fingers. I’ve called five times already with no luck. I contemplate calling Lucy, but she deals with enough of our shit as it is.

What if she goes home and can’t get inside?

Unlocking my phone, I try once more.

Nothing.

“For fuck’s sake!”

I run my hand down my face, annoyed that I’m even letting it bother me. She can sort herself out. She needs to grow up.

I pull open the door and go to stand when my phone lights up with a text.

Nina: Nina’s asleep. Stop calling. I have a spare key to hers. I’ll have her call tomorrow. Joey.

Joey? She went to fucking Joey! My rage is boiling to the surface as I get out of the car and slam my door.

Ellis wakes, crying instantly.

Fuck!

I move quickly to his side of the car. “Hey, it’s okay, mate. Come here.” I lift him from his car seat and pull him into my jacket, trying to calm him.

He nuzzles into my shirt, his eyes slowly drifting closed. Thank god! Everything inside me calms. Nothing really matters when he’s in my arms.

I carry him into the lift and up to the penthouse. It’s dark and cold and everything I always hated about it—before her anyway. Ellis is the only thing that makes it home anymore.

His bedroom is next to my own. I had the wall knocked through to create a door between the two rooms. I don’t like being away from him. I place him in his cot then plant a soft kiss to his head, watching him for a moment as he roots around and settles onto his tummy.

“I love you, son,” I tell him.

He’s hard to look at some days. With his brown eyes and deep-set dimples. Everything about him is Nina, and I love him. But I find it impossible to love her.

* * *

The shower sprayhits my back, running down over my shoulders. I wash my body on autopilot, then rest my arms against the cool tile. Why the fuck is she with him? She should be with the girls, or Maggie. Where are the fucking girls?

I knew they’d been growing close. Lucy doesn’t think anything has happened, but I know she doesn’t let anyone in easily. To think Joey is someone she chooses to run to… It speaks fucking volumes.

When Elliot told me Nina had let Joey meet Ellis, something inside of me broke. The idea that he would be around my son, and I’d have no idea what they’d be doing. It’s almost too much to bear.

Knowing Nina is the mother that she is, is the only thing keeping me from putting a stop to it. Because I fucking could. But she wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Ellis, she trusts Joey and I have to trust that.

I just don’t like it.

* * *

Nina

My lungs burnas I come to a stop at the edge of the green, my hands on my knees as I bend and try to catch my breath.

“Jesus, woman, slow down. You won’t make it home.”

I lift my head and watch Joey as he stretches and prepares to go again. I’ve pushed hard this morning. Harder than normal. Joey is always out in front, telling me to keep up, but not today. Today I left him and every one of my thoughts behind me.

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