“You . . . you don’t understand—”
“I don’t want it. I’m having an abortion, but Rosey said I should tell you at least.”
Suddenly, I feel sick. “Rosey knows?”
“I needed to talk to someone, and you’re never around.”
“Who else knows?” I snap.
“No one. Relax, our dirty secret is safe. Look, it’s booked for this evening, and providing it goes well, I can be in and out. My only problem is, I need one of you guys to accompany me out, and unless you want another brother knowing my business, it has to be you.”
I nod. “Of course.”
“Great. Well, be ready for five.”
She breezes out of the office like she didn’t just drop a big bombshell. Mav comes in seconds later and looks up from his mobile in surprise. “Hey, did you need me?” I shake my head. “Are you okay? You look sick.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.” I grab the plate of food and leave the office, dumping the lot in a nearby bin as I head out of the club.
HADLEY
I’m not sure how long I lie in bed before I realise Grim has probably been dragged on something club-related and he’s not bringing me breakfast. I shower, dress, and head downstairs to the normal chaos surrounding the kitchen. “Morning,” I say as I sit beside Meli and Rosey. “Anyone seen Grim today?” I ask casually.
They both fix me with a stare. “Why?” they say in unison.
“No reason. I was gonna speak to him about the court case for his drunk driving charge.”
“The last time I saw him, he was walking out of here with a plate loaded for two. He’s probably in his room with some skank-whore,” says Rosey.
“Not all women who sleep with a club member are skanks or whores,” I say defensively.
“Please, I’m not in the mood for a speech about how all the men here are good and they just need someone on their side,” Meli mutters.
“I get you two didn’t have great experiences with some of the men here but they’re not all bad.”
“Just because you have the hots for Grim,” says Rosey, sniggering.
“I do not,” I snap. “Grow up. For two women who hate men, you sure hang around here a lot.” I leave them to their bitch-fest and go back to my room to call Grim. When he doesn’t answer, I send him a text asking if he’s okay. He was so happy this morning, and if he filled a plate for breakfast, what stopped him coming back up to me?
I put on the television and opt for a movie day. I’m sure Grim will turn up whenever he’s finished what he’s doing.
GRIM
A few minutes before five, I send a text to Meli telling her I’m outside. I’ve spent the day by the river thinking shit through, but my head still feels a mess. When she appears with Rosey, I remove my bike helmet. “She ain’t coming,” I snap.
“Excuse me, that’s not your choice,” says Rosey.
“You shouldn’t be driving,” says Meli. “And I don’t think I should come home on the bike after . . .” she trails off.
Rosey smirks and holds up a set of car keys. “I’ll drive.”
We’re quiet on the way to the private clinic. I sit in the back with Meli because the thought of being up front with Rosey makes me shudder. Meli fidgets with her hands, so I place mine over hers, and she smiles gratefully. “Listen,” I begin, “are you sure about this?”
“Please don’t do that,” she begs. “This is the right thing.”
“As long as it’s the right thing for you, because if it’s not, just say and I’ll stick by you.”
“Me and you?” She shakes her head. “We’d never work.”
“I know that, but people co-parent all the time.”
Meli laughs. “Can you really see yourself with a kid, Grim?” I shake my head, and she goes on, “Exactly, and neither can I. It wasn’t supposed to happen, and I took the morning-after pill, but it must have failed. Let’s just get through this and pretend it never happened.”
The procedure is short. It took less time to suction the embryo out of Meli than the consultation took when we first arrived. We sit in silence in the recovery room while Meli sips tea and eats a biscuit like this is all normal. “Now what?” I ask.
She pauses mid-bite. “Now, we go home and pretend this never happened.”
“Just like that?”
“What do you want me to say, Grim? It’s done, and we can go on with our lives.”
I nod. “Fine. Are you gonna tell Hadley?”
She eyes me suspiciously. “I wasn’t planning to, but since we’re on the subject, I wanted to speak to you about her.” I hold my breath, waiting for her to ask the question. “I want you to stay away from her.”
I frown, not expecting her to say that. “What?”
“I know she’s helped you through the last few weeks, but I don’t want you getting any ideas. She’s not like me—she’ll fall for you, and she’ll end up hurt.”
“Hadley’s an adult,” I mutter.
“She’s my twin sister, Grim. If you ever went there with her, it would be disgusting. How would she feel knowing we had sex first?” I grimace, that thought scaring me. “You know she’s liked you for a long time.”
“She had a crush when she was a kid. She’s grown up now.”
“Her feelings didn’t go away.”
“If you knew that, why the fuck did you sleep with me?” I snap.
“Because I knew you’d never go near her. She’s looking for love, and you’re looking for a fuck. Hadley is amazing and she deserves to find a great guy. If you keep hanging around her, you’ll give her the wrong idea and she’ll get attached. Where does that leave her when you get bored?”
I shrug. “Maybe I won’t get bored.”
“Grim, you’re not listening. Stay away from Hadley or I’ll tell her everything.”
“And she’ll hate you for it.”
“I’m her twin, she’ll forgive me. All I’m saying is step away slowly and she’ll get used to it. It’s not like you’re a thing. She can get over a crush.”
HADLEY
It’s been a whole day and I’ve heard nothing from Grim. Mav said he was on Meli watch earlier, but she came home hours ago and there’s still no sign. I’ve texted and called to see if he’s okay and I’ve gotten no response.
Grabbing my blanket and a book, I head downstairs. The bar is a hive of activity, so it will distract me. Arthur Taylor and his brothers are drinking with Mav, but I ignore them and tap him on the shoulder. “Have you heard from Grim?” I ask.
Mav shakes his head. “Do you want me to call him?”
“No. I’m sure he’s just busy. Never mind.”
Tommy Taylor, the youngest of the brothers, lifts the book in my hand and reads the title aloud. “The Concept of Law, huh?”
“She’s a book queen,” says Mav proudly.