I take my time showering and dressing, and I’m surprised when I get downstairs and find Miller’s gone. But not so surprised when I find the kitchen smelling like it’s been attacked by antibacterial spray and looking like it’s been doused in sparkle dust. I won’t complain, though, because it means I can get to the hospital without delay. Snatching up my bag, I swing the front door open and dart out while fishing my keys from my satchel.
‘Oh!’ I yelp, bouncing off a chest and staggering back. I collide with the front door as it meets the frame, smacking my shoulder blade. ‘Shit!’ My hand instinctively reaches over my back and rubs away the sharp stab of pain.
‘In a rush?’ Strong fingers wrap around my forearm and hold me in place.
I drag irritated eyes up a suited frame, knowing what I’m going to be confronted with once I venture past the neck. And I’m right. William. My mother’s ex-pimp/my self-appointed guardian angel. ‘Yes, so if you’ll excuse me.’ I go to sidestep him, but he shifts with me, blocking my path. Biting my tongue and taking a calming breath, I square my shoulders and lift my chin. He’s not in the least bit fazed. It doesn’t sit well. My sass is getting hard to uphold. It’s exhausting.
‘In the car, Olivia.’ His tone irritates the hell out of me, but I know that refusing will get me nowhere.
‘He made you come here, didn’t he?’ I don’t believe it! The sneaky bastard!
‘I see little point in denying it,’ William confirms my thoughts and gestures towards his car again, where Ted is standing holding the back door open, that smile ever present on his rugged, friendly face.
I return his smile, then quickly revert to furious when I swing my eyes back onto William. ‘If you chew my ear off, then I’ll do a bunk!’
‘A bunk? You mean leave?’ William laughs. ‘Chewing ears, doing bunks. Whatever next?’
‘A foot up your annoying arse,’ I mutter, stomping past him. ‘I’m not sure whether you and Miller have noticed, but I’m an adult!’
‘Miss Taylor.’ Ted nods, and my aggravation falls away in an instant as I slip into the back.
‘Hi, Ted,’ I chirp, ignoring the look of disbelief that William throws in his driver’s direction, followed by the shrug of Ted’s shoulders as he brushes it all off. I couldn’t be stroppy with him if I tried. He has a calming aura surrounding him that seems to rub off on me. And to think this guy drives like a demon.
Settling back in my seat, I wait for William to slide in the other side while I swivel my ring, looking out of the window. ‘I was planning on visiting Josephine this morning anyway,’ he says.
I ignore him and take my phone from my bag to text Miller.
I’m mad at you.
I don’t need to elaborate. He knows William is the last person I want to be with. I click send and go to toss my phone back into my bag, but William catches my hand and I look up to see him frowning. ‘What’s this?’ he asks, tracing over my diamond ring.
Every defence mechanism I have flies up. ‘Just a ring.’ Oh, this should be fun. I pull my hand away, annoyed that my other hand instinctively hides it from his prying eyes. I don’t want to hide it. From anyone.
‘On your left ring finger?’
‘Yes,’ I snap, mildly aware that I’m pressing his buttons. I’m leading him down a merry path, when I could quite easily put his obviously racing mind to rest. I’m not explaining. He can think what he likes.
‘You’re marrying him?’ William pushes, his tone getting impatient at my continued disrespect. I’m a brave girl, but I’m also a very pissed off girl. Fleeing from London again is becoming more tempting by the second, except this time I’ll be kidnapping Nan from the hospital and taking her with me.
I maintain my silence and look down at my phone when it pings the arrival of a text.
What have I done to make you mad, sweet girl?
I scoff and drop my phone back into my satchel, not prepared to irritate myself further by entertaining his ignorance with a reply. I just want to see Nan.
‘Olivia Taylor,’ William sighs, humour starting to dilute his annoyance. ‘You never fail to disappoint.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I swing to face him, finding a mild smile on his handsome face. I know exactly what he means, and he said it to draw a reaction, to snap me from my moody silence. He’s succeeded. Now I’m still moody, but I’m far from silent. ‘Ted, could you pull over, please?’
William shakes his head and doesn’t bother to voice his counter-command to his driver. He doesn’t need to. Ted’s clearly not as brave as me . . . or, most definitely, has more respect for William Anderson. I look to the mirror and see that smile again. It seems to be a permanent fixture on his face.
‘Why’s he always so happy?’ I ask as I return my eyes to William, genuinely interested.
He’s regarding me thoughtfully, his fingers drumming the door where his arm is resting. ‘I think perhaps you might remind him of someone.’ He speaks quietly, almost cautiously, and I recoil in my chair when I register what he means. Ted knew my mother? I frown, thinking hard. Should I ask? I open my mouth to speak, but it snaps closed just as quick. Would I even want to see her if it turns out she is alive? My answer comes to me quickly with hardly any thought behind my reasoning. I don’t question it.