That One Moment (Lost in London #2) (28 page)

“Hayden!” she snaps. “You’re not crazy and I will smack you if you call yourself that again.”

I roll my eyes. “I was in a loony bin for thirty days, Leslie. I’m a mess and Vi is well…Vi.”

“You were in rehab, Hayden. Hell, Ke$ha went to rehab. It’s practically a trendy hot spot these days.” I eye her harshly and her light tone falters a bit. “Hayden, look. I know you. If I tell you you’re worth it…you’re worth it!”

“This is different, Leslie. Vi’s special. She deserves more.” I bite out the last word and swallow hard thinking about the impending doom I feel every time I consider that thought I know to be true.

“Deserves more than a Clarke brother? No such thing! You guys have super powers.”

I shake my head, putting a pin in this conversation for now. “I’m being stupid,” I scoff and offer her a cocky smirk that symbolizes the complete opposite of what I feel on the inside.

“Hey!” her eyes flash with excitement. “Why don’t you bring Vi over to Frank’s tomorrow night? It’s family flick night. Could be fun!”

My face recoils. “I don’t know Leslie. I think it might be a little soon. Won’t Rey and Liam be there?” While it wasn’t horrid being around them a couple of weeks ago, avoiding them is a lot better for my own sanity.

“No, they haven’t come since the pub’s been up and running. And what do you mean, too soon? You guys have been hanging out together for a couple of weeks…and it’s not like you’re asking her to marry you. Vi’s my friend! It’s just a casual evening with some friends.”

I nod silently, mulling it over for a moment. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.” Leslie cheers at her win. She immediately starts texting Frank while I attempt to snuff out the painful ache of insecurity hurtling through me. Feeling everything I’ve allowed myself to feel for Vi isn’t just scary for me…it’s dangerous.

The next night, Vi meets us at Theo and Leslie’s flat so we can all ride over to Frank’s together. I feel a bit like a couple of pubescent teenagers stuffed into the backseat of Mum and Dad’s car on our way to a school dance, aside from Baby Marisa nestled snuggly between us in her infant seat.

“Everybody all buckled up?” Leslie crows from the passenger side as Theo slides in behind the wheel.

“You’re seriously wearing that?” I ask Leslie, my tone flat and clearly unimpressed.

“I wear it every time.”

Vi giggles. “You should have gotten me one, Leslie. I would have joined you.” My eyes swerve to her and I can’t tell if she’s joking.

“I’ll place an order for future flick nights, Vilma!” Leslie fist bumps Vi moronically and then cries out, “Boom. Converted another!”

“Still won’t get me,” Theo grumbles as he buckles up.

“Hey, I got Frank, I got Finley, I got Julie. Hell, I even got Brody!” She turns and nods her head eagerly, clearly impressed with herself. “It’s only a matter of time before you Clarke brothers submit to my redheaded superpower wiles!”

Leslie is referring to her cheetah print, onesie, footie pajamas. She’s actually wearing them in the car with trainers on over them, clearly not the least bit embarrassed to be riding through the streets of London in that getup. Apparently they all wear onesies on family flick night…It’s a part of their thing. I didn’t tell Vi about it because I was certain she wouldn’t want one. Apparently I was mistaken.

“Brody is whipped,” Theo grumbles. “You got enough leg room back there, Hayden?” My brother’s cocky chuckle gets right up my nose, but I let it pass. “How about you, Vi?”

“I’m good!” she chirps in response and I smirk at her happy demeanour.

When I pitched the idea of family flick night to her last night on the phone, she seemed shocked that I’d want to hang out with friends so soon. Then I told her I was prepared to meet her brothers any time, which I think really floored her. She keeps going on about how scary they are, but frankly, they are the least of my concerns.

Theo pulls out of the carport and drives us all through the dark streets of London like one big happy family. I peek down at Marisa, who has hold of my finger and is attempting to yank it into her mouth repeatedly. Her eyes are wide and curious as she takes in the flashing lights.

I glance up to find Vi watching me. She smirks. I smirk back. She licks her lips. I lick mine. As if we are being drawn together by some outside force, our heads lean into each other and our mouths connect in a soft, sweet kiss. It’s the kind of kiss that leaves you wanting more, but also completely satisfies everything inside of you like you’ve never had better.

Marisa’s sudden cry interrupts our tender moment. I pull back from Vi, laughing. “Don’t be jealous, Marisa. You’re still my number one girl.”

“Number one is it?” Vi tsks in mock offense, her grin still permanently in place.

“She’s
my
number one girl,” Theo objects from the front seat. Leslie’s hand reaches over and strokes his. “Tied for number one,” he adds curtly and cuts a heated squint at her that forces me to look away.

We arrive at Frank’s and waltz through the large purple door framed in climbing ivy. I’ve never been to Frank’s, but it somehow suits him. It’s a large, imposing home, but when you walk in, there’s an energy unlike any other.

Frank comes bounding out of the living room on our left. “The bloody Clarke’s are here…Hide the family jewels!”

Leslie’s eyes turn into saucers. “I believe it was my jewels that you always stole, Frank and Beans…along with my bedazzler.”

“Christ, Gingers sure can hold a grudge.” He glares meanly at her and then looks to my and Vi’s hands clasped together. He ropes his arm with Vi’s and pulls her away from me, leading her toward the dining room. His voice trails back into the foyer as he says, “Why, Vi. Hopped from Ethan to Hayden faster than you can say Frank’s your Uncle! I have to say, I’m impressed, dear girl.”

My face falls and I move forward quickly, but Theo stops me in my tracks with a hard hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be a fool, Hayden. It was a joke.” He gives me an annoying matey pat on the shoulder. “You’re better than that.”

Am I? I swallow hard, my clenched jaw rocking side to side in frustration. Just thinking about Ethan and Vi makes my blood boil. But fuck, Theo’s right. I know what Frank’s like, so why is it bothering me so much?

Finley and her husband Brody join us in the living room, both kitted out in their own footie pajamas. They sit cosily next to each other on the couch as Brody holds Marisa somewhat awkwardly and Finley looks so happy she might burst into tears. They’ve been married for about a year now, and Leslie has mentioned to me that children won’t be a part of their future. But watching them right now…I’m not sure they know it.

“I think we should do it now,” Finley says, looking up at Frank sneakily as he readies some snacks on the coffee table.

Frank’s eyes alight knowingly. “All right. Everyone remain calm. This is not a drill. We have a bit of a surprise for Marisa, so if you’ll all follow me.”

Finley passes Marisa back to Leslie, and I find myself so intrigued that I follow the group up the large staircase to the second floor. Frank stops in front of a closed bedroom door and turns back to us while dramatically coiffing his puffy red hair.

“This was my idea,” Frank starts.

“Bullshit! It was my idea!” Finley interjects, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. The two of them are wearing footie pajamas, looking like the biggest fools as they bicker over whose idea whatever it is we’re about to see was.

“Oi, all right, Fin-Bin. It was your idea, but you need to thank fuck I was around for the design process or you would have had it decked out in K-State University drivel.”

“Frank!” Finley cuts.

“Why don’t you guys just open the door,” Brody asks calmly. Seriously, Brody is a big, brawny, man-type of bloke and seeing him in that onesie is just…disturbing. Finley must have some serious pull over him to get him to wear one of those.

Finley smirks and opens the door. Following her lead, we all walk in to one of the most beautiful nurseries I’ve ever seen. Not that I’ve seen many. Honestly, I feel a bit poorly because I’m in the bedroom that would normally be Marisa’s perfect little nursery at Theo and Leslie’s flat if it wasn’t for me. But Leslie says she wants to keep Marisa close for a while anyway, so having her crib upstairs next to them works best for everyone.

I take note of the expensive-looking crib covered in a funky, loud, floral print of fuchsias, pinks, reds, and oranges. Next to it is a safari baby bouncer, a fire-engine-red changing table, nappies, wipes, the works. The walls are a soft cyan colour with white crown moulding everywhere, allowing the decorations to make the statement. A modern, grey, upholstered rocker is nestled perfectly in the corner. It’s a trendy baby’s dream come true nursery. A day bed even rests along the window making it not just a nursery, but a place for mum and dad to stay when they visit as well.

Leslie hands Marisa off to Theo and does a complete survey of the room, remaining completely silent. I think we’re all waiting to hear her reaction as she runs her hands along the crib. Finally, she covers her mouth as she turns to look at Theo. Her eyes are drenched with tears and, without pause, Theo rushes up to her and hugs her with his free arm—an unknowing Baby Marisa smashed happily between them.

I look away and rub my face annoyingly as my own damn eyes start to prick. Vi catches sight of me and I frown, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the room.

“You okay?” she asks softly.

I nod. “Yeah. That’s just…I know that means a lot to Leslie. Her family isn’t the best.” I don’t offer any more details on the matter because it’s not my story to tell.

“You’re really close to her, aren’t you?” Vi’s eyes squint curiously as if she’s trying to piece together why I’m reacting so strongly.

Feeling strangely, like I need to minimise what Leslie means to me, I huff, “It’s nothing. Let’s go downstairs.” I take Vi’s hand in mine and lead her toward the flight of stairs. I freeze in my tracks when I see Reyna standing below.

“Hey,” she says, looking up at me in surprise and pausing her climb up the steps. “I didn’t expect you to be here.” Her eyes cut down to my hand in Vi’s and, for some reason, I quickly let her go.

I swallow awkwardly. “Leslie invited me.”

Reyna looks at Vi, her eyes narrowing. “Vilma, right?”

“Yeah. It’s Vi, I told you before. Hi Reyna. Nice to see you again.” Vi tucks her long blonde strands behind her ears, her eyes squinting with speculation.

Reyna’s grey eyes chill, which puzzles me, but we’re all suddenly distracted by a huge commotion behind us.

“FUCKING CUNT-FACED SPUNK BUBBLE!” a woman’s voice screams from the bedroom down the hall from the new nursery.

Frank, Leslie, Theo, Finley, and Brody come dashing out into the hallway just as a box of men’s clothing is launched out the open bedroom door. Next comes a cell phone. It strikes the hallway wall and crumbles to several pieces with a cringe-worthy crack.

A besotted Julie comes storming out of the room dressed in a lime green onesie, her almond-shaped eyes wide, her black hair tangled, and her stance braced with a menacing gait that makes me fight the urge to cover my balls.

“Men are fucking PIGS! The lot of them!” she screams.

My eyes flash to Baby Marisa who begins fussing in Theo’s arms.

“Fuck, I’m sorry…but they are. Men are fucking spunk bubble twats. I will tell all of you this right now. You’re all in love and you all think love can conquer the universe. It fucking doesn’t. The only men you can trust are the arseholes who have no feelings….they just have…ARSE HOLES!”

She turns and storms into the bathroom at the end of the hall, slamming the door loudly in her wake.

“Well, there goes our tender family moment,” Frank huffs as he sashays down the hall to console whatever is eating at Julie.

Finely turns and sees Reyna and rushes to welcome her surprise visit. I overhear Rey tell Finley that Liam is running the pub tonight and that she needed a night of relaxation. Leslie joins in the greeting, but watches me nervously. I try to give her a look that tells her I’m okay because I know she tries to hide her friendship with Rey from me. But I’m not an idiot. Theo and Liam are best mates. I know Leslie has naturally grown closer to Reyna as a result. It’s not just that, though. Having Rey around with Vi here makes me uneasy. Last time I properly spoke to Rey, I told her that lust and recovery don’t mix. Now I’m standing here feeling like a hypocritical prat. Although, a quiet, annoying voice in my head knows that this is more than just lust with Vi. But admitting that thought is more terrifying than tempting my recovery.

We make our way to the living room and eventually begin watching a film. It’s charged and awkward and I feel horrid because I’m not touching Vi like I normally do. My body yearns to throw a claiming arm around her, but Rey’s presence and the thoughts rattling off in my head make me feel…disjointed.

Eventually, I remove myself to pop out to the kitchen for a drink. Maybe if I can give myself a silent pep talk, I can stop acting like such a wanker. Just as I close the fridge door, Rey’s face appears from behind it.

“So, you and Vi?” she asks, leaning her back on the fridge and crossing her inked arms over her chest.