Page 130 of Sit, Stay, Love
Sera did the rounds of the party, introducing herself to the people she didn’t know, which was most of them, answering questions about the shelter and talking about her future plans and the role she saw Rose’s Rescue fulfilling for the welfare of animals in the Northern Beaches area. She was having a great time. She could talk about the shelter for hours – about animals and all the adventures she’d had with them. People were laughing and gasping at her tales of crawling under houses, puppies in drainpipes and cats up trees, and choking up when they heard the stories of the dogs and cats surrendered to her, lost and alone. Several of the local businesspeople spoke of their interest in ongoing sponsorship opportunities, and she excitedly took their cards and popped them in the pocket of her dress.
She was taking a breather down the side of the house, feeling pretty good about things, when Tia came to find her.
‘I think Dr McManus is a bit drunk.’
Sera’s brows knitted. ‘I saw him talking to my parents earlier, he looked fine.’
Tia shook her head. ‘He’s been throwing back beer after beer. I think you should talk to him.’
Sera sighed. ‘Okay. I’ll go find him.’
She didn’t need to look far. She was only a few steps away from the noise of the party when she heard his voice, bellowing.
She followed the noise, running across the grass in Linda’s expensive sneakers, finding Toby, Ethan and Tia’s boyfriend, Alec, down the paddock with only a hint of light from the party illuminating them.
Alec was struggling to hold Toby back, and Ethan was squaring off, leaning forward, ready for a fight.
‘What the hell is going on?’ Sera hissed.
‘Your bestie is smashed,’ Ethan spat, sneering at Toby.
‘Tell him, Ser,’ Toby said, moving towards her, dragging Alec with him. ‘Tell him you’re not going to Los Angeles. Tell him you’re staying here. With me.’
She cringed.Oh shit.‘Alec, let him go. Herriot, what are you doing?’
He turned back to Ethan. ‘You know she only wants you for your money, James.’ Toby waved his arm towards the marquee. ‘You can kiss her all you like. But it’s just the money.’
‘Toby!’ She stared at him wide-eyed, then stormed forward, put her hands against his chest and forced him backwards. ‘Shut up. Just. Shut. Up.’ She looked over her shoulder. ‘Ethan, that’s… ignore him. He’s drunk.’
She glared at Toby and hissed, ‘You promised me.’
He touched her face, his palm cupping her cheek. ‘Just tell him, so we can all get back to our lives without the fucking movie star hanging around us.’
Ethan lurched forward and growled, ‘Get your hands off her.’
Toby balled his fists at his side. ‘Don’t tell me what to do, James. I’ve been with her for two years. You think you can worm your way into our lives, destroy what we have?’
Sera tried to grab Toby’s hand, but he pulled away. ‘No one is destroying anything, Herriot,’ she said desperately. ‘I keep telling you that.’
Ethan moved in behind Sera. ‘The only one destroying anything is you, doc. It’s not my fault you weren’t man enough to make a move on her, that you sat around pining for two years. Just leave before you embarrass Sera any more than you already have.’
She swung around. ‘Ethan!’
‘Fuck you, James.’ Toby spat.
‘You’re pathetic,’ Ethan responded.
Toby became eerily silent, his jaw clenched and his gaze dark. Then he shot his huge hands out and shoved Ethan in the chest in an explosion of anger that sent the other man flying backwards and crashing to the ground, his head thumping the earth as a pained grunt escaped him.
‘Toby!’ Sera pushed him away and dashed to the sprawled Ethan. She dropped to his side. ‘Ethan. Are you okay?’
He elbowed himself up, one hand going to the back of his head with a moan. ‘I’m fine.’
Sera glared at Toby. ‘Go,’ she said flatly, pointing to the gate.
‘Ser. Just tell him you’re staying.’
She slowly stood and squared her shoulders. ‘No. Because I’m not. You’re wrong. I’ve decided to go with him, Toby. I’m going to Los Angeles.’
