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“Nice one, mum.” Charlotte giggles, and I realise she’s just as much of a shit stirrer as Cherry is.
Mrs Rogan sighs. “Simon?”
My eyes widen as all eyes fall to me, and I glance at Cherry to see her biting back a smirk.
“Uh-yeah?” I ask warily, glancing back at my school principal.
“I’ve been speaking with Mr and Mrs Bossier.” Mrs Rogan smiles. “He advises me that you’re living on their farm now and working on weekends. Is that right?”
My eyes automatically dart across the table to Shaun, noticing his broad grin. “Uh-yeah.”
“I was happy to hear that. I was a little worried after your mother called to un-enrol you. She mentioned she was trying to get you to move with her to Western Australia.”
My shoulders slump. I still can’t believe my mum thought I’d leave my mates and my girl. Why would I go anywhere with her after she spent most of my life not wanting anything to do with me? It only took a week to sell our house, and she called my bluff, so I packed my bags and walked out. The staff quarters at Bossi’s farm might not be luxurious, but it feels more like home than that stupid, oversized mansion ever did.
“Yeah. She left, and I stayed, and the Bossier’s have been kind enough to put a roof over my head.” My voice is flat because even though I am still here, I can’t continue going to Fox Pines Catholic, as both my parents refuse to cover the bill.
“That’s very kind of them.” She smiles over to Shaun, who is nodding, proud of his family for not being arseholes. “Your mother mentioned that if you stay, you will have to attend public school for your final year.”
“Yep.” I nod, looking down at my plate.
“It’s lucky I didn’t finalise your un-enrolment paperwork then, isn’t it?”
My eyes dart up to Mrs Rogan in confusion. “What?”
She turns around and takes some papers off a table behind her and then walks around the table to me, holding them out. “You have been granted a full scholarship to complete your final year of school at Fox Pines Catholic.”
“What?” My eyes lock on the papers she’s holding out, and with a shaky hand, I take them. My eyes roam over the words, and it takes a moment to sink in before I glance back up at her with damp eyes. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” She smiles and nods, and I leap up from my seat, sending it crashing behind me. I throw my arms around her, and she stiffens, but I don’t fucking care. She’s getting a Simon hug, whether she likes it or not.
Cheers ring out around me, and I turn to Cherry, who is now standing, her lips spread wide in a smile as she watches on. I leap at her next, throwing my arms around her.
“I fucking love you, Cherry.”
“I love you too, Sy.” She rasps against my ear before we pull back.
I can’t fucking help myself. I slap a kiss on those delicious lips in front of her parents, and the next thing I know, we are in a group hug, the guys diving on us to share in my celebration. We all start jumping around, linked together as one, but I realise someone is missing, so I break free of our group and approach Tyler.
His smile is genuine, and he stands from his chair, holding his hand out for me to shake. I shake my head at him and slap it away as his eyes go wide. Then I hug him too.
Chapter Forty-Three
Rhys
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Simon is so happy, and so he should be. He deserves to be happy. All my guys do.
I didn’t even go to my mum and ask her to do this for Simon. She came to me and said that’s what she was doing. I had to keep the secret for two fucking days. Holy hell, that was hard. I wanted to say something so many times, and in the end, I told Ty last night when I was alone on our daily FaceTime call. I get the feeling Shaun already knew, though. Cheeky fucker knows how to keep a secret.
“I have something else to say.” My mum's voice gains everyone’s attention, and we all return to our seats wearing the biggest, goofiest grins ever. Cynthia moves back over to the table she had Simon’s scholarship papers on and picks up a large envelope. Then she turns her brown eyes to me.
“Rhys. We have something for you.” She smiles down at Will, who stands from his chair and wraps his arm across her shoulders, smiling back at me. “We have actually had these for a while, but we didn’t feel you were ready.” She swallows like she has a lump in her throat and tears well in her eyes.
I stand, concern sinking into my chest. “Mum?”
She waves a hand in front of her face like that will make the tears disappear, and she shakes her head. “Maybe it’s best if you just take this.” She holds out the envelope.
I reach out across Marcus over the table and take the envelope, confusion swirling through my head. What the hell is going on? Holding it in my hand, I glance back at my parents, who both nod at me to open the envelope, so I do. My fingers grip the papers inside, and I ease them out.
