Page 101 of Brighter Together

I haven’t called it that before.

Maybe because loneliness sounds like something that happens to people who have nothing in their lives, and mine has always been full. Work. FMR. Friends. Meetings. Guests. Problems that need solving.

But being busy and being alone are not mutually exclusive.

Ella’s fingers still against my skin.

“How long have you felt like that?”

“Probably since Mum and Dad died.”

“I’m sorry.” She cups my face and pulls me down for a soft, quick kiss.

“It was a long time ago.”

Her thumb brushes over my chest.

“That doesn’t mean you stop missing them.”

I look at her.

“No. It doesn’t.”

Dad is still the voice in my head every time I think about dropping something important because work is easier.

“He was the reason I stayed with FMR. I promised him I wouldn’t let Greenview Manor take everything.”

Ella smiles slightly.

“I’m not sure you’ve completely succeeded.”

I laugh. “Neither am I.”

“But at least you kept FMR.”

“I did.” I nod.

Then she smiles.

“What about the infamous she-devil?”

I groan. “Who told you?”

“A staff member who shall remain nameless may have mentioned her.”

“I can’t believe staff are still gossiping about her.” I shake my head.

“Was she really that bad?” Ella asks.

“She wasn’t evil. She was just completely wrong for me,” I admit.

Ella looks amused. “That’s significantly less dramatic than she-devil.”

“Alex named her.”

“Why.”

“He couldn’t stand her,” I say.