Page 131 of Sit, Stay, Love
Toby’s shoulders dropped. ‘Don’t do this. You told me I’m your person. Me. Not him. What about that? What about us?’
‘Us?’ she demanded harshly. ‘You should have thought aboutusbefore you attacked my… boyfriend.’
He flinched, his face crumbling. ‘I’m in love with you. I’ve always been in love with you. You must know that.’
She clutched at her heart. ‘Don’t you dare.’ Tears stung at her eyes, but she was damned if she was going to let them fall. ‘You don’t get to say that to me. Not now.’
They stared at each other, their chests heaving in anger and pain as music and laughter wafted down the hill towards them.
Toby slowly shook his head and barked out a cold laugh, his face becoming hard. ‘I’ve seen how you look at me. You’re in love with me too, Sera. You’re just too fucking scared to admit it.’
Her breath hitched, catching in her throat.
Carol suddenly appeared at Sera’s side. ‘I’ve got this,’ she whispered. ‘Come on, Dr McManus. Let’s get you home.’
Toby staggered backwards as Carol took his arm, his face suddenly a mask of utter devastation. ‘Ser. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.’
‘She knows you are,’ Carol said firmly as she led him up the paddock and towards the driveway.
Tia rushed to her boyfriend’s side, and they clung to each other.
Sera briefly closed her eyes, then glanced up the rise to the party, thankful they were far enough away that the only people who seemed to have noticed the fight were those who had been told about it. She could see Linda, a little way off, staring with her hands over her mouth, and Sera’s parents were quickly making their way towards her.
‘Darling, are you all right?’ her mother asked, pushing a strand of hair out of Sera’s face.
Sera swallowed. ‘I’m fine, Mum. Toby’s drunk. He hit Ethan. And I’m going to Los Angeles.’ She forced her shoulders back and lifted her head. ‘I’d better get back to the party.’ She reached behind her for Ethan, who’d hauled himself off the grass and was wiping down his jeans. ‘Ethan, let’s check out your head, then get a drink and mingle.’ She threaded her fingers through his.
‘Sera.’ Her mother took her hand. ‘Take a minute to breathe.’
Sera drew away, hand-in-hand with Ethan. ‘I can’t. I have people to talk to.’ Her voice trembled. ‘It’s going great.’
Sera flopped onto the couch in the reception area, thankful the night was over. Her back hurt and her feet were sore, but it was her heart that was in the most pain. It ached and throbbed in her chest so much she wondered if it might just stop.
‘I think that went well,’ Lena said. ‘Apart from when your friend decided to punch out your boyfriend.’
‘He didn’t punch me,’ Ethan said as he dropped beside Sera. ‘And maybe don’t call me her boyfriend.’ He bumped his shoulder against hers. ‘I haven’t asked her to go steady yet.’
Sera tried her best to smile, but she just couldn’t.
Lena arched a brow. ‘Whatever. Thank god he didn’t decide to break your nose. And luckily, I don’t think anyone saw you get laid out.’
Ethan winced. ‘Laid out? God, Lena, do you have to?’
She sighed dramatically and slung her bag over her shoulder. ‘I’ll send a team to clean everything up tomorrow. You did great tonight, Sera.’ She bent down and kissed Ethan on the cheek. ‘You. Trouble. Call me.’ Then she rolled her eyes and sauntered out the door.
‘The cats are all back in their beds,’ Carol said, returning from outside. ‘And Harry and Barkley are back in the kennels.’ She gave Sera a sympathetic smile. ‘Tia will be in early tomorrow, so you can have a bit of a sleep-in.’
Sera would normally fight her, but she couldn’t find the energy. ‘Thank you, Carol. For everything.’
When they were finally alone, Sera relaxed against Ethan’s side.
‘I think you got a lot of donations tonight,’ he said.
She nodded. ‘I have to organise a few meetings next week with potential sponsors.’
‘Really? That’s great. I’m so happy for you. You deserve it.’ He was beaming at her, absolutely beaming.
She was doing the right thing going to Los Angeles with him. It was definitely the right thing. She swallowed back the sick feeling she couldn’t shake and gently touched her lips to his. ‘If it wasn’t for you, none of this would have happened. I can’t thank you enough.’
