Starr Destined (Starr Series) (20 page)

“So, Abbey and Toby?”  I asked, prepared to join in with some more distracting gossip to keep her light-hearted mood going.

“Oh, she says they’re ‘just good friends’,” Sera rolled her eyes as she made air quotes with her fingers.  “But I think maybe if Toby wasn’t about to go to the other side of the world, she might actually have considered taking things to the next level with him. I guess the timing is all wrong for them.”

“Isn’t Toby a bit…  I don't know, staid for Abbey?” 

“Staid?  You mean boring?”  Sera frowned as she sipped her coffee.

“No, don't go putting words in my mouth,” I objected, although she was right.  Abbey had always seemed a bit of a wild child to me, whereas Toby was much more your traditional average Joe.

“Well, no point in worrying about it, seeing as it doesn't look like it’s going to happen.  Which really is a shame.  I think she’d liven him up, and he’d calm her down, so they’d balance each other out.  Bit like us really, the old Yin Yang, opposites attract thing,” she smiled.

“Oh really, is that how you see things?”  I arched an eyebrow.  “I need livening up, do I?”

“Yep.  I mean, look at the walls of your apartment.  Not one single piece of art anywhere to be seen, just all these bland and boring walls.  It’s a total disgrace,” she teased.

“Then rectify the blandness.  Help me choose some art, or better still, hang some of your work in here,” I suggested.

“I’ve told you before.  I wouldn’t consider anything I've produced good enough to hang.  But I do know some very talented up and coming artists from college.  It would be good to support them, and you’d get something really unique and different.  We could go to some of their exhibitions and see what you like.”

“We could, yes.  But I like some of your photographic work that I've seen.  I’d be happy to hang some of those in here,” I told her truthfully.

“Really?  We’ll have to choose some together, and maybe I’ll take some more for you to pick from as well.  Then they’ll be personal to us, won’t they?”

“Sounds good to me.  Why don't we have a few days away together somewhere?”  I suggested.  “Then you could take lots of pictures, as many as you wanted.”

“That sounds like fun - for me anyway.  But wouldn’t you be bored rigid just chillaxing and missing all your wheeling and dealing?”

“Not if I was with you, Angel.  I’m never bored when I’m with you.  And maybe it’s time I started learning how to kick back and relax a bit more.  All work and no play…”  I smiled.

“…makes Liam a dull boy.  We can't have that, can we?” she smiled.

“So, what do you want to do this evening?  I can easily throw something together for dinner with what Aggie’s left for us,” I offered.

“Do you know what I really fancy?  Takeaway pizza.  And then I could watch some silly fluffy romcom film - my head’s still a bit too mushy for me to do anything more productive this evening.  I can watch my film while you check in with all your emails and work stuff, because I know you must have loads to catch up on.  I’m so sorry I've been such a pain, and the weekend’s turned out so shitty for you.”  Sera’s face fell, as memories flooded back.

I put my coffee down, took hers and placed it next to mine.  Then I put my arm around her shou
lders, and scooped her legs round onto my lap.

“Will you please stop apologising?  It’s getting boring, when you’re the one who’s had the shitty weekend.”  I gently kissed her soft sweet lips repeatedly, until I got her to smile.

“Okay,” she murmured.  “Wouldn’t want to bore you.”

“So, we can order in pizza if you want.  Choose any sort you like, just so long as it’s from Ricardo’s, one of their special deep pan meat feasts, with extra mushrooms.”  I grinned. 

“I see.  I guess it’s no surprise that you know exactly what you want, and how you like it,” she said as she poked me in the ribs.

“Naturally.”

“I never had you down as a pizza take out sort of guy.”

“Why not?  Nothing beats it for ease when you need to have a mountain of work to get through.”

“Okay, so we’ll have pizza, then I’ll let you crack on with some work.”

“Work can wait, because I’d much rather just spend the evening relaxing with you.  And I think it’s about time I was educated about this whole romcom thing, don't you?”  I leant in to kiss her cheek.

“You?  Watch a romcom?” she scoffed.

“Why not?  Might actually help me finally figure out the mystery of how the female mind works,” I grinned.

“Not a hope in hell, Mister,” she grinned back.

Just as we were about to order the pizza, Jamie turned up.

“I’ve been trying to call you, but I couldn’t get through on either your mobile or the landline,” he frowned, as I ushered him into the hallway.

“Sorry about that.  I turned everything off so we could catch up on some sleep.  And then the police were here to take Sera’s statement, so I hadn't got round to switching everything back on again yet.”  I explained.

“Well, I was worried, you know?  I mean, after seeing Sera unconscious like that yesterday, and being rushed to hospital by ambulance with all the sirens blazing.  And then today the hospital wouldn’t tell me anything because I’m not her next of kin,” he continued to scold me.

“I’m sorry.  I should have let you know that she was discharged this morning and is feeling much better now.  Come and see for yourself,” I suggested. 

Shit.  I should have realised how scared and upset my brother must have been to see her like that.  Well, it certainly made a change for him to be telling me off for being thoughtless.

“No, I don't want to intrude.  I guessed you were both probably catching up on some sleep, but I couldn’t relax until I was sure Sera was okay.  Toby
and Abbey were worried too, especially as they’d been advised not to come to the hospital last night by the police, as they wouldn’t have been allowed in to see her, and then they’d not heard anything today either.”

“Jamie!  I thought I heard your voice.”  Sera had followed me out to the hall.

“Hey, Sera.  Good to see you up and about.  So, how are you doing?” he smiled in obvious relief at seeing her looking nearly back to normal.

“Oh my God, Jamie.  I’m fine, but look at you!  You poor thing.  I’m so, so sorry,” she cried as she went up and hugged him, shocked by his bruised and battered appearance. 

Fuck.  In her drugged state, she hadn't been aware of his injuries last night.  I should have anticipated how upsetting she’d find it. 

“Hey, it’s no big deal.  Nothing permanent.”  He made light of his impressive black eye and swollen lip.

“Come on in and let me look at you.  You didn't lose any teeth did you?”  Sera worried, as she dragged him through to the lounge so she could examine his cut lip “And are you sure there’s no damage to your eye?”

“I told you, I’m fine,” he insisted.  “I just wanted to make sure you were alright, because I feel kind of responsible.  You know, for leaving you on your own like that at the club.”

“Don't be so ridiculous, Jamie.  In no way were you responsible for what happened.  You weren’t there as some sort of bodyguard for me, and yet Liam’s told me how you stopped that guy from taking me.  You were totally amazing.  You saved me, and now look at you.  All beaten up on my account.”  Then she burst into tears.  “Sorry.  Just ignore me.  I guess I’m still getting my head around what happened.  I’m just so angry that Scott did this to you.” 

“I’m really angry too, about what that fucker did to you.  Fucking furious, actually, and if I got my hands on him again…  ” Jamie started to say, but stopped as he realised he wasn’t helping Sera any, as she was getting more upset.  He stood back and watched as I took Sera in my arms.  I stroked her hair and held her tightly against my chest, while she quietly wept.

I understood exactly how Jamie felt, but I silently mouthed ‘
leave it’
at him over her head, to get him to calm down, not wanting her fragile emotional state upset any further.  Luckily, Jamie quickly caught on as he nodded and mouthed ‘
okay
,
sorry
’ back to me.

“We were just about to order some pizza.  Why don't you stay and have some with us,” I suggested, to change the subject.

“Thanks, but I’m not staying.  I only dropped in because we couldn’t make contact any other way.”

“Sorry about that,” I apologised again.  “But as you can see, Sera’s doing just fine.”

“No worries.  You had other things on your mind,” Jamie responded.

“Toby - is he okay?  Or did he get beaten up like you as well?”  Sera worried, as she pulled away from me to wipe her eyes with a tissue she produced from her pocket.  Then she pulled her shou
lders back and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, and then slowly blew it out again, which  I assumed was a yoga technique for calming herself.  It seemed to work anyway. 

“He’s fine, Sera.  His ugly mug didn't get a mark on it,” Jamie grinned at her.

“Abbey doesn't seem to think he’s got such an ugly mug,” Sera commented.  “So, what do you make of them as a couple?”

“I think Abbey just wants Toby for his body, and he’s more than happy to supply it,” Jamie smirked.

“Well, I think you’re wrong.  I think there’s more than that between them.  Hasn’t he said anything about how he feels to you?  You know, like how he’s going to miss her when you’re out in Australia?” she probed.

“We’re blokes, Sera.  We don't do the whole ‘feelings’ thing the way you girls do,” he shrugged.  “Anyway, I don't want to intrude, so I'm going to head off now.  You take care of yourself, Sera, and I'm just really glad you’re looking so much better now.”

“Yeah, I’m getting there.  I’ll be right as rain by tomorrow, ready for work,” she smiled.

“You most certainly will
not
be going to work tomorrow!”  I blurted out, horrified.

“Why ever not, Liam?”  Sera turned to look at me defiantly.

“Do I need to remind you that you only got out of hospital earlier today?  That you’re still recovering from a large dose of an illegal drug?”

“And do I need to remind you that it’s out of my system now, and the best thing is for me to get back to normal?  So that means going into the office tomorrow as usual.”

“Absolutely not.  No way,” I insisted, as I stood over her with my arms folded.

“See what I mean, Jamie?  Overprotective or what?”  Sera turned to my brother for support, as he stood there watching us with a look of amusement plastered on his face.

“Sorry, but I’m with Liam on this, Sera.  I really think you should take at least a couple of days off to recover properly.  And anyway, seeing as Liam’s your boss, I’m afraid you’ll have to comply with his orders,” he winked at me.

“Ugh!  What is this - the Starr brothers ganging up on me?”  Sera almost succeeded in sounding cross, but I could tell she was secretly trying not to smile.

“We’re just trying our best to take care of you, Angel,” I murmured.

“I know.  And I really appreciate it, honestly.”  She slipped an arm round both of our waists and pulled us into a kind of a group hug for a few seconds, before Jamie cleared his throat and pulled away.

“Right… well…  I’ll leave you both to it, but you just do what you’re told, Sera.  The Big Guy is pretty good at all this looking after people crap - I should know, right?”  Jamie wagged his finger at her.

Sera laughed.  She stretched up to give Jamie a kiss, and then gently stroked his cheek. 

I waited for my usual jealous reaction to kick in as it always did whenever another guy got close to Sera, but strangely, it didn't.  At that moment, we were all just family, pulling together.  It was a pretty good feeling, actually.

“Thank you so much for what you did for me yesterday.  I hope your face heals up quickly, and you know I’m forever in your debt for coming to my rescue the way you did,” she whispered, as her eyes filled with tears again.

“I’m glad I was there to help.  And as for my face - I’m thinking it’s going to be a winner with the chicks - it makes me look tough and macho.  Either that, or I’ll go for the sympathy vote and get them look to after me,” he grinned.

“You take it easy yourself, little bro, although knowing what a lazy sod you are, that’s pretty much a given anyway,” I joked, as I pulled him in for a quick man hug and back slap, remembering to go easy on his sore ribs this time.

As I glanced over his shoulder at Sera, there appeared to be a contented smile playing around her mouth at the sight of such a hands-on show of affection between us, reminding me how she always insisted that she didn't want to come between me and my baby brother. 

Everything my
Gran had told me about Liam was true. 

He was my solid, dependable rock, always there for me, watching out for me, protecting me. 

The One.

I don't know how I would have got through those days after Scott Franklin drugged me without him. 

Liam was calm, patient, loving and caring.  He made me feel safe and secure.