Page 119 of No Strings

I’m waiting on my Uber, something that is going to cost me a small fortune, when I spot my dipshit stepbrother. Fuck. I subtly turn away and try to keep my head down, but he spots me.

“Rhys?”

I turn to face him, but I say nothing. He looks… older? He’s only a year older than me, but fuck he looks almost ten years older.

“Long time no see.”

Yeah, about six years, when I got asked to give over the house.

“Not going to say anything?”

I shrug, wishing for my ride to hurry up. “I have nothing to say.”

“Mum would love to see you.”

“Mum?”He calls her Mum?

“Yeah, she talks about you, you know.”

I can’t help it, I laugh. “No, she doesn’t. She kicked me out in favour of you, and only came to me to ask for my grandparents’ house for Penelope, she doesn’t miss me.”

He has the decency to look ashamed. “Look, she feels bad about all that.”

“I’m sure she does,” And thank fucking god my Uber rocks up “Tell her to not feel bad, my life turned out great.” I get in the car and then drop the window. “This will be the last time you’ll ever see me.”

With that, I wind the window back up as the driver pulls away from the curb leaving Reid standing there with his stupid mouth agape. I could have found better words; but what do I say to the person who turned my life upside down? And Mum, well she’s no better. So, they don’t deserve closure.

When I finally get to Rafter Falls and hand over my kidney in payment, I meet the movers. We pack the back of the truck, making sure everything is there and wrapped to protect it all. Once the truck is loaded, I round the last thing that is in here, covered in a dusty sheet.

“Need a hand with that?” The burley truck driver asks.

I grasp the edge of the sheet. “Nah, you guys get started, I’m sure we’ll catch you on the Nullarbor.”

“Not a problem boss.” He gives me his back as he turns on his heels, I pull the sheet.

Dust particles fill the air, settling over my grandad’s powder blue ZB Ford Falcon.

I run my hands over the smooth paint. Shane and I helped him restore the engine, while Nanna and Morgan would just watch us. Grandad tried to show Morgan, but Shane and I protested, a lot. He even taught us to drive in it. So, leaving Barrenridge and driving into our future seems right in this car; driving us to new beginnings.

MORGAN

“Are you sure you have to go?” Paige hugs me.

“Yeah, I’m sure. But you can visit me and I’m sure we’ll be back.” She doesn’t seem so sure. “Plus, I’m not with a controlling asshole anymore,” I finally opened up about the shit Ethan put me through, leaving out the fact that I murdered him. “So, I will definitely be able to keep in contact this time.”

Tears gather at her lashes as she nods. “Okay.”

I do wish we could stay longer, especially with everything going on, but Rhys needs to sign some paperwork, and I want to try to find a job. There was a posting about a GraphicDesigner needing someone familiar with Marketing, so maybe I could do that. As soon as I get to Ridgewood Downs, I’ll email her; I think her name was Delilah Sainsbury.

Baby Sawyer fusses in Paige’s arms. “Here, can you take her?”

I don’t hesitate to take Sawyer, taking the chance to give her a hug. “I’m going to miss you baby girl, maybe almost as much as I’ll miss your mum.”

“Aunty Morgan talking nonsense?” I snap my head up to look at Paige. “What? We were joined at the hip when you were here. Just because you’ll be on the other side of the country doesn’t mean you can’t be her aunty.”

“I love you guys.” I wrap my free hand around Paige and pull her into a hug.

Shane’s throat clears behind us. “Where’s lover-boy?”