Double Betrayal (Surviving Book 3) Read online

  I needed my little girl home; I wanted her comfort tonight. But it wasn’t fair to her or her dad to spoil their weekend together. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the photos I had stored of her; her happy little face always chased away the shadows.

  Me: How’s Izzy’s rash? Is she being a good girl?

  It was a weak text, one I sent many times while she was with Jack, but today it felt desperate.

  Jack: Perfect as always. Join us?

  God, how I wanted to take him up on that offer. I shook my self-pitying head and sent a text back that I had too much housework to do. It was a lie, obviously. After walking for what felt like miles, I caught the bus back to my part of the city. Bastard didn't even think to offer me a ride. Not that I could climb on that bike ever again. I shivered thinking about it. I had turned into a wanton hussy all because he was massively tall with dazzling eyes. That’d teach me for judging a book by its cover. I arrived at my stop, and walked the short distance to my house.

  “Okay, stop with the pity party already, you got your rocks off. Just forget about him –”

  “Who you talking to?”

  I yelped and spun around to glare at my idiotic brother. “For fuck’s sake, Acis, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Why are you here?”

  He flapped his hand in the direction of the kitchen. “Prince Caspian over there wanted to speak to you, but his junk-car broke down again. So muggings here had to be the taxi. I’m going now, though. I have a date with a sexy little beast that lets me ride her hard and fast.”

  “Your new dirt bike? Why do you have to make it sound so gross?” I slapped at his chest to move him out of the way.

  “Hey, if your mind lives in the gutter, don’t blame me.” He chuckled as he headed to the front door. “Yo, Cas, do you need picking up when I get back?”

  Cas shook his head.

  Acis leaned in toward me and lowered his voice. “Hadley’s pregnant again.” She is one of our closest friends, her and Cas being friends the longest and she was also the lost love of his life.

  I let out a loud breath and gave the globally known facial expression for shit, fuck, and bollocks.

  Walking into the kitchen where Castor was sitting at the dining table with his head in his hands, I passed him and squeezed his shoulder.

  “He told you,” he signed.

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s great news,” he signed, giving me a fake smile.

  “Yeah, it is; doesn’t stop you feeling like shit though, does it?” I said.

  He shook his head, giving up the fake smile. “Can we bring Izzy home?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “No, although I kind of need her today, too.”

  “Dickhead from last night? What happened, he just kicked you out and isn’t going to call you ever again?”

  “Don’t be a prick, Cas; that’s Acis’ job. And no, I didn't stay with him. Izzy wasn’t feeling well. I stayed at Jack’s with her. She’s okay now though, so sit down. She had an allergic reaction, nothing a little bit of Calpol and Piriton can’t fix. And yes, you’re right, he was a dickhead and I won’t be phoning him.”

  Castor tilted his head to the side, watching me. He rubbed his hand over his chest in circular motions.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry, too.” I grabbed two mugs out of the cupboard. “Walking Dead marathon?”

  He smiled brightly and nodded. There was nothing like a zombie fest to wash away your sorrows.

  “I cannot stand this heat; I think it is possible for a human to melt. If we were designed to sweat, we wouldn’t stink when we did it and it wouldn’t be uncomfortable, urgh,” Lou complained, fanning herself with a complimentary magazine. It was Tuesday and my day off, so I was spending it with my girls.

  “Stop complaining; we get the sun for maybe a day a year if we’re lucky,” I said, nudging her. She was so grumpy lately.

  “Well, you’re not the one having to try on a million dresses. My arse is the size of China and my boobs are like two watermelons on steroids–nothing fits me.”

  “You’ve tried on three dresses; you’ve tried more shoes than dresses. Stop whining,” Eve laughed. “And your arse is cute and I wish I had your knockers.”

  “I think she’s going through the change,” I said, laughing when the magazine came flying at me.

  “Whore-bag. I’m in my prime, thank you very much,” Lou huffed, turning to get a look at her arse in the mirror. “I look like a frigging prawn,” she complained. I cracked up laughing because, yeah, the pink top she had on did make her look like an overcooked prawn.

  “So, pink isn’t your colour; Lou, you are being a serious drama queen. Talk about hormone overload. PMT?” I asked, winking at her. Eve and Lou shared a look and that outsider feeling hit me again. I wasn’t jealous of those two, I adored them, but they had this united bond I once had with Rhea, and in moments like those I missed having that connection with someone.

  “I think I’m getting old,” I muttered.

  “What?”

  “You two have this – this tight sisterhood going on, and you both have men who worship the ground you walk on and I guess lately I feel a little – lonely.”

  “Erm…I have this one you could try,” a gentle little voice came from the behind the curtain. I felt so sorry for the poor girl helping us out today. It was obvious she hadn’t worked here long, and moody medusa was being super cranky today. She stepped into the room with a deep violet swing dress. I waited for the outburst. When nothing came, I turned to look at Lou. Her nose was crinkled up in disdain. It was the shortest of the dresses the girl had brought us, but it couldn't hurt to try it.

  “I don’t want a short dress,” Lou snapped.“I have cankles.”

  “Bugger off, you don’t have cankles. Stop being an arse and try it on,” I laughed.

  “I think you have amazing legs and this type of dress will highlight your tiny waist and curvy chest,” the assistant said quietly.

  “What’s your name?” Lou asked, staring at the girl.

  “Piper.”

  “Well, Piper, you are my new best friend. These two hoes are of no use to me.” She took the dress from the girl and turned to go into the changing room. I looked at Eve and smiled. She held up her hand and we high fived. Piper had just earned herself a huge tip.

  “Oh, my God!” cried Lou from behind the doors.

  Both Eve and I stood immediately. When she stepped outside, Eve covered her mouth and I smiled.

  “This is it; this is bloody perfect,” Lou gasped. I nodded and looked to see what Eve thought. Her eyes were misted over. She stepped back and slowly sat down on the plush sofa as tears spilled down her cheeks.

  “Eve?” I said, crouching down in front of her. “What’s wrong, babe?” Seriously, these two were on oestrogen overload today.

  “She looks amazing.”

  “She does.”

  “Everything is so perfect,” she muttered, tears still streaming down her face. I looked at Lou and shrugged. I had no bloody clue what was going on. Lou chuckled softly. I moved to the side as Lou came to sit beside her sister.

  “We’ve earned perfect, Evie-beavie. Our men make everything perfect.”

  Eve nodded. “Can you believe it’s happening, though?”

  Lou turned to face me. “We’re pregnant,” she said softly. A tear rolled down her cheek.

  “Who, you and Johan?” I gasped and covered my mouth.

  “And us, too,” Eve said, leaning forward.

  “What – oh, my God, that’s why you’re both insane today,” I laughed and flung my arms around my ladies.

  “Can you handle a couple more godchildren?” Eve asked.

  I couldn't answer because my throat closed with tears as I hugged them tightly. How perfect, with what they had both been through. It was a perfect happy ending to a disastrous start.

  I knelt before them both and pressed my hands to their tummies. I ignored the heartbreaking longing in my chest. “So, kiddos, I’m Aunty Em –
oh, wait, that sounds too Wizard of Oz – Aunty Em, Aunty Em,” I called out in a ridiculously poor accent to mimic Judy Garland. Both Lou and Eve started laughing. “Listen up, kids, this is Em, just Em, so if you little sprogs are girls, then I will be your spinster guide to how not to keep a bloke. If you’re lads in there – listen up, buckos—I’ll be your guide to how not to knock up your teenage girlfriend and desert her, comprende?”

  “Em, don’t say that. Jeez, you are the worst moral guidance ever!”

  “You think?” I asked innocently, winking at her.

  “God, I bloody love you,” she laughed, hugging me.

  “Love you too, beyotch.”

  “At least we know their tackle works.” I giggled when Lou tightened her hold around my neck.

  “Oh, it works,” Eve muttered and Lou and I parted to gawp at her.

  “What?”

  “Tell us more,” I insisted, resting my arm on Lou’s knee.

  “Perv.”

  “I’ll say,” I said, a little too appreciatively, making both women look at me. Lou raised an amused eyebrow at me.

  “Shut up,” I said, pushing her shoulder.

  “Em here has a major crush on your man.”

  Eve looked at me, a little shocked, before a huge grin spread across her face. “He is pretty lush, isn’t he?”

  We all laughed at her bright red cheeks. Moments like these were like shooting stars, random and incredibly beautiful.

  “Okay, bitches, laugh it up,” I placed my hands on my hips in a mock pout. “He was the most dishy bloke I’d seen until I met the giant. Now I may need a new va-jay-jay. Because I’m telling you, he’s ruined it, the bastard.” I smiled when Eve choked and Lou’s smiled zapped away.

  “Beyotch, you better explain, or I may be forced to have Ben & Jerry break up with you.”

  I scowled at the little witch; she wouldn’t dare.

  “Who is the giant? And why are we calling him this? Hmm? I take it he’s packing more than a breadstick todger?” Lou asked.

  I threw my head back and laughed loudly, and for the first time in a few days, I could truly laugh about my bad experience with the giant. Admittedly, and I hated to admit the cliché, but so far it was the best sex I’d ever had, but he was a dick, so maybe not the best.

  “Just some bloke I met the other night at the pub,” I said and shrugged.

  “Oh, no, you don’t; you have a glint in your eye. I want details,” Lou said, shifting closer to Eve. “Come on, Em, I want all the details. I need to live vicariously through you now that I have the old ball and chain. Some of us don’t get any now that we’re all settled with the apron strings,” Lou said.

  “You speak for yourself,” Eve muttered.

  “Divine conception, was it?” I laughed, pointing at her stomach.

  “Okay, I was trying to make the single gal amongst us feel better. I admit it’s either my son or my hunk who keeps me awake at night—all night, too.” She winked.

  “Seriously, Lou, TMI,” Eve said, grimacing.

  “Pish posh, now spill.”

  “Okay, but don’t get excited. I’m not seeing him again; he’s a dickhead.”

  So I spent the next half hour telling them about my wild times with the giant. Lou needed a full description, as if she was going to run his profile on Crime Watch UK.

  “And you don’t even know his name?” Eve said in disbelief. I didn’t like the lie, but saying his name only made the horrid guilt fester in my stomach.

  “Bloody hell, where is Johan when I need him?” Lou said, fanning herself again. I chuckled and took a swig of my coffee that the young woman brought in for us. I think she realised we weren’t moving any time soon.

  “It was amazing,” I said wistfully.

  “So, why is he a dick? And why the hell are you not seeing him again?” Lou asked in disbelief. “He sounds like your ideal man. Tall, built, fantastic in bed, or in your case, anywhere but a bed.” She laughed at her own joke.

  So here came the punch line. “You really want to know?” Both nodded and leaned toward me. “So, after the sex in the kitchen, which I've got to say, blew my mind, we’re all knackered and shit, my muscles feel like jelly and I turn to look at - well nothing really, when I spot his wedding ring that had fallen out of his wallet and a fucking wedding photo of him and his wife. The real kicker – he had a kid, too.”

  Eve gasped and covered her mouth.

  “The bastard,” Lou said, and I nodded in agreement. “The lying, two faced, toad-dicked twat.”

  “See why I’m not seeing him again?”

  “You kicked him in the bollocks, right?”

  “I kicked him alright, but his crown jewels were okay. He even had the audacity to try and say it wasn’t what it looked like.”

  “Have you told Castor?”

  I shook my head vehemently. There was no way I was having that kind of conversation with my brother, but I got what Lou meant. He would kick his backside for me.

  “I would; teach the arsehole a lesson.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s over with now. I had an orgasm or two, so no harm no foul I suppose, but I was so angry that I’d inadvertently become Rhea.”

  “Babe, don’t even go there. You are nothing like your slutty twin.”

  “I take it you don’t get on with Rhea?”

  I shook my head and grimaced.

  “Do you get along with your brothers?”

  I smiled. “Yeah, I love those two idiots. Cas and I are the closest though; he’s my best friend when he isn’t being an arse.”

  “So why don’t you and Rhea get along?”

  Lou made a groaning noise, gaining our attention. “Because she’s a raving lunatic. I swear, even you would want to bitch slap her, Eve.”

  I laughed. That summed her up, pretty much. Rhea could make a saint go insane. I hated when people asked me about my sister; it was a subject that hurt my heart. I tried to keep her away from me as much as possible. Izzy didn’t need the negativity associated with Rhea, either.

  Talking of which, I glanced at my watch. “Listen, ladies, I have to go. I need to pick Izzy up from dance club.”

  “Oh crap, what time is it? I’m supposed to be picking Johan up from his old place. His brother is staying there for a while. He’s having a few personal problems. But like Johan, he refuses to talk about them.”

  “Oh, God, not another Johan in the world,” I laughed.

  “Hardly, they are like chalk and cheese. His parents adopted Ryan and Johan when they were kids. So where Johan is all sexy and dark, his brother is like a blond angel. He’s so adorably awkward and cute.”

  “Sounds…charming.”

  “Shut up, he is. Maybe that’s the type you need to start to go after. You know, the ones who will take you on a date, get to know you, rather than the knickers you wear?”

  I smiled, gathering my things. “I’m happy with my babygirl for now.”

  Lou gave me a sympathetic smile and I hated when she did that. Things weren’t perfect in the normal scheme of things, but they were my kind of perfect.

  I stood outside waiting for Izzy. The parents of the other kids were gathered around the door chatting amongst their little cliques. I hadn’t really taken up talking to the other kids’ parents; for one, I never knew what to say. The door opened and the little cherubic faced kids came walking out. I waved when my little darling walked out. Her smile blossomed across her face and she ran out of the gate straight into my arms.

  “I missed you,” I said, kissing her cheek.

  “Missed you, too.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. I carried her to the car as she chattered away about school. Something I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant without her signing, but I listened anyway.

  “Guess who is waiting for us at home?”

  “Who?” she asked excitedly.

  “Castor.”

  She squealed in delight, clapping her hands. It was like they were members of a little secret club
when they got together. “Is he having a sleep over?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “No, he will go home after bedtime story.”

  “Okay,” she said quietly. I fastened her in her car seat and walked around the car to the driver’s side.

  “Mummy-Emmy?” I rolled my eyes because the obstinate little thing would not stop calling me that.

  “Yes, monkey.”

  She giggled. “I’m not a monkey.”

  “Yes, you are, because you know not to call me that.” I tilted my head to look at her in a chastising way. Her little head dropped forward and her cheeks reddened. I grimaced because I hated upsetting her.

  I tapped her knee. “You’re a cute monkey, though.”

  She nodded, but her little smile had disappeared.

  “What did you want to ask me?”

  She didn't answer. She ran her hands over her ears, the little minx, turning her hearing aids off. That was her way of telling me she didn't want to hear me. Seeing as I was driving, there was little I could do.

  Ten minutes later, I pulled into our drive, turned the engine off and twisted Izzy to look at me. I lifted her chin with one hand and signed to her.

  “I love you, very much. More than the sun, moon, and stars.”

  “And rainbows?” she asked.

  I bobbed my head, grinning at her.

  “Sorry I made you sad,” she signed without talking.

  I tapped my ears. “Switch them on, baby, I like hearing your voice.” She did as I asked. “I’m not sad; come here,” I said, opening my arms. I scooted the seat back and cradled her to my chest. “You’re my babygirl; we’re a team. We don’t make each other sad, okay?”