Page 6 of Only Ever Yours

Chapter Five

Hollis

It had been a long time since I’d been out on quite such a wild evening.

Nights out in London certainly hadn’t ended with me throwing up in the toilets, and the following days hadn’t heralded the hangover from hell I was suffering either.

Thank God for Jase looking after me. If he hadn’t been there, I didn’t know what would have happened.

Gil would certainly never have held my hair while I vomited the contents of my stomach.

Jase always looked out for me even when we were younger.

I was currently the only one up and out of bed, sitting on the sofa, a blanket wrapped around my legs, with a black-and-white film on in the background as I scrolled through my socials.

There were pictures of work colleagues on a night out, an inspirational quote posted by Ella, then something that made me stop in my tracks.

A picture of Gil with his arm around the shoulders of a black-haired woman, who looked a few years younger than me.

The caption was “Lovely evening with a lovely lady,” accompanied by a heart-eyed emoji and a couple of hashtags, #newlove #firstdate.

If I hadn’t already been feeling ropey after last night’s drinking, the whole thing would have still brought bile to my throat.

I lifted a hand to my mouth, taking several deep breaths to quell the nausea.

Scanning the post again, I wondered if he’d tagged her. Maybe I could DM her and warn her off.

Ugh. Not my circus any longer.

A new message popped up on screen.

Ella

You have to come as my plus one to Barney and Lenora’s wedding! I was meant to have a new man by then to show Finn what he’s missing, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen. And PLEASE come on the hen night…

I almost laughed out loud. When we’d been out the previous evening, Barney and Lenora had both apologised to me because they couldn’t invite me to the wedding because of numbers.

Apparently, Finn and Jase had both turned down the opportunity of inviting a guest as they were both single and a part of the wedding party.

I had to admit, the thought of Jase in full morning suit was a turn-on.

You’ll have to let me know the dates so I can come back x

As I sent the message, a pang of something hit me.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what. It wouldn’t be long before I’d be heading back to London, back to work, and back to trying to avoid Gil.

Being around old friends last night had been everything I didn’t know I needed.

The familiarity, the easy banter, not having to look over my shoulder.

Ella

Absolutely! What are you up to today? Want to go out tonight? x

I’m still suffering from last night. Not sure I can do two nights in a row anymore, lol! How about lunch tomorrow if you’re not working? X

Ella

Sounds good, I’ll message you in the morning. Have a good day x

Smiling, I tossed the phone to one side and tried to focus on the film instead.

Footsteps on the stairs diverted my attention to the living room door. Jase wandered into the living room, dressed in grey sweatpants which hung off his hips and a dark blue hoodie. His hair appeared wet, like he’d freshly showered. “Hey, Hollis. Are you okay after last night? You look a bit pale.”

I mumbled something unintelligible while shaking my head. “Could you get me a glass of water?” I managed.

“Sure.” He disappeared into the kitchen and returned a couple of minutes later with a pint glass of iced water. “Here you go.”

I took it from him and gulped down the icy liquid, feeling the nausea dissipate. “Thanks. I needed that.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “I’m not surprised after last night.” He fixed me with a look. “What do you remember about it?”

Wrinkling my nose, a flood of memories came back. Jase and I dancing, twirling around and having fun…and then being violently sick in front of him. I placed a hand over my eyes. “Too much, unfortunately.” If only that’s what’s making me feel sick now .

He sank down into the seat beside me. “I guess you don’t fancy a bacon sandwich, then?”

My stomach gurgled in response. “There’s your answer. Thanks, Jase. It’s really sweet of you. I don’t think I can manage a sandwich right now. Maybe yoghurt and fruit instead?”

Jase laughed. “Did you pick those things up in the weekly shop? Because unless you did, I can guarantee there’s no fruit and yoghurt here.” He teased, a smile playing on his mouth as he spoke.

A long sigh escaped from my lips. “It’s okay. I’ll go out and get some later.” I leaned back into the sofa. “When I feel a bit more human.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get it. I think we’ve run out of bread, and your brother gets hangry when he’s hung over. I need to go out now.”

In all the time we’d been together, Gil had never done anything like that for me.

I’d been there a little over twenty-four hours, and Jase was already demonstrating more boyfriend-like behaviour.

Part of me wondered why he was being so nice, but hey, I enjoyed it, so I was going to let it happen. “You’ll go shopping for me?”

“Of course. You’re our guest this weekend. Don’t get used to it, okay, Princess?” Jase tapped me on the nose and stood up. “If Finn appears, tell him where I’ve gone.”

Once he’d left, I picked up my phone and found Gil’s post again. I stared at it for a moment, then hit the unfollow button on his account. I didn’t need reminders of the past.

“You look about as good as I feel.” Finn stretched as he entered the room a few moments later. “Where’s Jase? I thought I heard him come downstairs.”

“He’s gone out to get supplies. ”

My brother pulled his phone from the pocket of his joggers. “Let me message him a list.”

“He’s already getting bread for you and yoghurt and fruit for me. Apparently, you get hangry after you’ve been drinking.” I winked.

“Yeah, yeah. That’s all he’ll get. We need more milk and some fresh orange juice.” His eyes were fixed on the screen as his fingers flew over it. “Do you want anything else?”

A small part of me wanted to tell him all the things I wanted, but I wasn’t staying. It would be unfair of me to land them with a bunch of food and drink that would be out of date by the time I next came for a visit. “No. Whatever you get will be fine. I probably won’t be here much longer.”

Finn sat down next to me and squeezed my hand. “You know you can stay as long as you need to, Sis. If you have any doubts about going back to London, back to that man , then don’t hesitate to tell me. We’ll make it work.”

“Don’t worry, I’m definitely not going back to Gil.”

“Glad to hear it.” Finn’s phone pinged. He glanced at the screen and laughed, turning it to me.

Jase

What the fuck, man? I only popped out for a couple of things. How am I going to carry all this shit home?

“What on earth did you ask him to get?”

“Oh, a few extra essentials. Toilet roll, baked beans, some beers for tonight. He’ll be fine.” My brother laughed. “You should have seen what he asked me to get last week.”

“I’m not sure I want to, thanks.”

“Probably wise.” Finn stood. “Tea?”

“Don’t suppose you’ve got a lemon, have you?”

He reached for his phone and messaged Jase. “On it! ”

Once Jase got back from the shops, the three of us ended up in the kitchen. The guys took over the cooking, whipping up the most amazing-looking—and smelling—breakfast, although I knew my stomach wouldn’t be able to take it. Instead, I enjoyed the fruit and yoghurt, along with hot water and lemon.

Finn held his stomach after he’d cleared his plate. “I’m not sure I should have eaten everything on my plate. I think I feel worse than I did before.”

I spooned the last strawberry covered in yoghurt into my mouth. “And I’m feeling much better.”

He pulled a face. “Oh, so virtuous, Hollis.” With a start, he pushed back his chair and dashed out of the room. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Jase laughed. “Looks like it runs in the family.”

“Haha, funny.” I threw my orange peel at him, which he caught deftly and tossed straight into the bin.

We cleared away the dishes, loaded up the dishwasher, and Jase washed up the pots and pans they’d used. A totally domesticated couple-y scene, which felt totally comfortable and yet so unexpected.

After eating, I began to feel much better. Jase and I went into the living room and settled at opposite ends of the sofa, legs tucked underneath us, almost like bookends. Both of us were immersed in our phones until Jase spoke.

“What happened in London to make you run home?”

My head snapped up in his direction. I’d asked Finn to keep the real reason I’d fled the city to himself. With Jase asking directly, I couldn’t really ignore it.

Fiddling with the sleeve of my sweatshirt, I glanced down again, trying to work out how to word the explanation. “Let’s just say I was having boyfriend trouble. Well, ex-boyfriend trouble. And I needed somewhere away from him for a while.”

“Sorry to hear that.” His eyes radiated genuine concern. “I don’t like to think of anyone hurting you or treating you badly.”

For a moment, I wanted to pour out the truth.

If I did, it would be exactly like Jase to track Gil down and tell him what he thought of him.

He’d done it in the past when we were teenagers at college, making sure my then-boyfriends knew where they stood if they ever messed me about.

Jase had always been protective of me, and I secretly liked it.

He had always looked out for me and made me feel safe. Like he had done last night.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

Finn reappeared, blowing his cheeks out. “Remind me never to drink ever again.”

“Try telling Barney that when it comes to his stag.” Jase grinned.

My brother plonked himself between Jase and me. “This is nice, isn’t it? Just like old times.” He slapped both of us on the thigh at the same time.

I couldn’t deny it did feel like old times, the three of us hanging out together, enjoying each other’s company. Maplebrook already felt a lot more like home than London had recently, but I knew I couldn’t stay here forever.