Stanton Box Set

Max closes his eyes in regret and my eyes fill with tears as the lump in my throat burns. “I’m sorry Max. I had to get home. I couldn’t stay there with him,” I sob.

He nods but doesn’t speak. He gets out of the car and retrieves our things and we head upstairs. As we get to the front door we hear a noise inside and Max pushes me behind him. He holds his finger to his mouth signifying silence.

I roll my eyes. “You should take up acting you know, you really are good with the dramatics,” I mutter under my breath.

He bursts open the door like in an episode of NCIS. Mum, Bridget and Abbie are all lying on the lounge and scream in fright.

Mum falls off the lounge in fear. “Shit!” she screams.

I laugh out loud. Honestly what has my life come to … this is just totally fucked up.

“What the hell!” Abbie yells. “Are you trying to frighten us to frigging death Max?”

He relaxes. “Sorry.” He gives a stifled smile.

“How did you guys know I was coming home?” I mutter flatly.

“Joshua rang me,” Mum says as she pulls me into an embrace.

I pull back to look at her face. “Joshua rang you. Did he tell you what happened?”

She smiles sympathetically. “Yes love, he did. Can you ring him? He’s distraught, Natasha.”

I screw up my face. “Did he tell you he slept with Amelie?”

She nods again. “Yes.”

My eyes flick to Bridget and Abbie.

“Natasha, you left him. He thought you weren’t coming back,” Bridget sighs.

“What! You’re on his side? You’re taking his side.” I frown as I pull out of her embrace. I need support, not a fucking lecture.

“No love, there are no sides. But I know Joshua has had just as hard a time as you and I understand. We all understand. He’s suffering too, Natasha,” Mum says as she rubs my arm.

I stand still in shock as my eyes hold hers. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears as my anger hits a crescendo.

“Get out! All three of you. Get the fuck out! You may condone my boyfriend playing up on me, but I don’t. And I never will.” I storm to the bathroom and lock the door.

I run the water as hot as I can stand it, get in and sink to the bottom of the shower as silent acid tears roll down my face and the distinct taste of betrayal burns my stomach and lines my mouth.

An hour and a half later I leave the steamy bathroom to find the girls all lying on my lounge watching True Blood. The girls are filling Mum in on the storyline, which she doesn’t seem to be getting. Hmm. I walk past them in silence and into my kitchen to make a cup of tea. Shit, I don’t have any bloody milk. I open the fridge to find it stocked with groceries.

“Who went shopping?” I yell from the kitchen.

“I did,” yells Abbie.

“Thanks,” I reply flatly.

“Does that get me out of the bad books?” she yells again.

I narrow my eyes. “Just,” I snap.

“Does anyone want coffee?” I ask.

“Yes I will. Milky Milo actually,” calls Bridget.

“Can I have one of those Latte Sachet thingys?” Abbie yells.