I raise an eyebrow. Billy is the tightest person I know, a loud advocate of having fun on someone else’s dime—usually mine. If he didn’t play so well, I’d care more.
“What? I’m obviously getting a raise now that I’ve gone up.”
“You’re a dickhead.”
There’s another clatter at the door, interrupting Billy’s train of thought. Any more people coming in and it’ll be me picking up the tab, as usual.
When I see who’s walking in, my throat constricts.
Hendricks.
Hendricks would have been my first call. He should have been my first call.
He’s followed by my mother.
“Jesus, Eddie,” I mutter. “Did you put out an alert or something?”
But he shakes his head. “No, I didn't call them.”
“What are you guys doing here?”
“I was in the coffee shop when Claudia came in. She said she saw you looking miserable.”
“Of course she did.” I roll my eyes, such a fucking gossip.
“Why is everyone celebrating?”
I remove the letter from Billy and hand it over to him, because I don’t have a firm handle on my emotions to say the words aloud. I’ll save the bawling until I’m at home.
“You went to ten?” Hendricks says quietly.
I nod, swallowing the ball of emotion stuck in my throat. “Yeah.”
“Fucking hell, Milo. Congratulations.” He pulls me into a big hug, wrapping his arms around me so tightly I can’t breathe.
The tension between us, all the resentment simmering for the past week, melts instantly, and so does the wall blocking my tears, and I dissolve into one big sob.
A second pair of arms loops around me, and I’m engulfed in my mother’s perfume—the one she’s worn for as long as I can remember. It smells like the garden at Burlington.
My mum squeezes my cheek. “Congratulations, darling. Your father would’ve been so proud of you.”
I step back, swiping the back of my hand across my eyes. “Thank you.” Then I remember Eddie didn’t call them. “Were you in the coffee shop too?”
She shakes her head. “No, I came to talk to you.Wecame to talk to you.”
I sigh. I know what it’s about, and I’m not having Santiago fucking Torres ruining my moment.
“Can we do it later, please?”
“No, now,” she replies, her face serious. Looks like my moment is being ruined whether I like it or not.
Ruby steps away. “I’ll give you a minute.”
But my mother stops her. “Actually, Ruby, stay, please. You’re part of this family too.”
Ruby freezes, eyes flicking to me. But I’m equally surprised by both the sentiment and my mother’s enthusiasm. Giving herhand a reassuring squeeze as I can, given the circumstances, we follow the pair to a table in the corner.
“I’m sorry,” Hendricks says. “I should’ve told you sooner. I trusted Clementine to tell you herself, and I’ve been too preoccupied to make sure she did.”
