Chapter Eleven
The ringtone on my phone provided a sudden and unpleasant awakening.
Especially, seeing as I seemed to have left it on maximum volume.
Eyes still tightly shut, I rolled over, fumbling about until I managed to answer it by touch alone.
When it connected, I mumbled something sleepily, unable to keep a slight sprinkling of irritation out of my greeting.
Luckily, it was Tom on the other end, rather than a prospective acting employer.
“Hey, Dean. You sound half asleep.”
I opened one eye and squinted at the clock. It wasn’t as early as it felt. “Try three-quarters. You just woke me up.” Tom’s laugh didn’t sound remotely apologetic. “What do you want, Tom?”
“Well, funny story—”
I closed my eyes again, snuggling deeper under the duvet.
The only reason I usually got an early morning call from Tom was when he needed me to cover for someone who’d dropped out of a job at short notice.
I’d heard it all before. They usually claimed some sort of emergency, whereas in actual fact, they’d probably found something better to do than spend the evening hanging off the arm of someone whose age was only exceeded by their bank balance.
It really wasn’t what I felt like doing either.
But the money would certainly be useful.
I could go on another date with Justin without humiliating myself again.
I’d listen to the main gist of what Tom was asking, grudgingly agree and then hopefully be able to drift back off to sleep.
Georgia was already up, I could hear her banging about in the kitchen.
It probably wouldn’t be long before her inevitable interruption.
She was probably already counting down the minutes until she could ask me all the questions I hadn’t let her ask the previous night.
If I was lucky, she’d bring a cup of coffee with her.
I tuned back into Tom, realizing I’d been so lost in thought I’d not actually bothered to pay much attention to what he’d been saying so far.
“…So, he’d obviously had some sort of attack of conscience. Or maybe, he went away and didn’t think he was coming back. I don’t know what brought on the sudden change of heart. He didn’t really say. Just apologized for messing me, and you, around.”
I frowned, I’d obviously missed more than I thought. I didn’t have the faintest clue what he was talking about.
“Who had a change of heart?”
Tom paused. “Dean, have you been listening to me at all?”
“Sure,” I lied. “I just didn’t catch all of it. Could you run it past me again?”
“I just need a yes or no from you. I’ll understand if you can’t take being messed around anymore. After all, this is the second time he’s changed his mind now.”
“Who?”
Under other circumstances, Tom’s exasperated sigh would have been amusing. But, I’d managed to fill in some of the blanks and was ninety nine percent certain of his answer already. I held my breath while I waited. “Mr. Tuesday.”
My eyes snapped open and I sat up, my hand clutching the phone too tightly. “He changed his mind. He wants to see me again?”
“Yes, Dean. I’ve just spent five minutes telling you exactly that. Remind me never to call you in the morning again. So, yes or no?”
I leant back against the pillow, a hundred thoughts racing through my brain.
The reason I knew I should say no, my fledgling relationship with Justin, was ironically one of the things that also made me feel like I needed to say yes.
How was I meant to date someone without money?
We’d agreed to have lunch the next day. I’d eagerly said yes, because I didn’t want to wait long before seeing him again.
I’d figured on borrowing money from Andy and I’d worry about how to pay him back later.
Now, here was the solution staring me straight in the face.
I shifted in the bed, the beginning of an erection stirring at the thought of seeing, or more accurately not seeing, the mystery Tuesday man.
“Dean, are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m still here.” I exhaled slowly. “Yes. Tell him it’s a yes.”
“Are you sure about this?”
It was the third time in the space of about ten minutes that I’d asked Justin the exact same question.
Therefore, it wasn’t too surprising that the only response I got in return was a slight head shake teamed with a look of disbelief.
I smiled to myself, liking the fact he was already comfortable enough to show his irritation with me.
We shouldered our way into the bar, managing to get past the busy crowd in the doorway, who seemed confused whether they were arriving or leaving.
Our second date had gone well and with Georgia’s pleading still ringing in my ears, I’d broached the subject of us meeting up with her and her boyfriend.
To my surprise, Justin had been nothing but enthusiastic about the idea.
So, there we were. I scanned the interior of the bar, searching for Georgia.
It was Benedict I spotted first. He was at a table in the corner on his own.
I gestured for Justin to follow me in that direction.
We’d only managed to get halfway there, when we were suddenly intercepted by an excited ball of Georgia, careening toward us at top speed.
I just had chance to get the words, “Brace yourself,” out, before my name was screamed and I was embraced like she hadn’t seen me for two days, rather than the two hours it had actually been.
Just when I was beginning to think I’d never be allowed to breathe again, she pushed me away to get at the man standing behind me.
“You must be Justin. It’s really good to… oh!”
There was an awkward silence while she stood and stared. Justin shifted uncomfortably, glancing my way. “I’m guessing Dean didn’t warn you about my…scars.”
I stepped forward, feeling terrible. “Sorry. I completely forgot.” I elbowed Georgia. “Stop staring. This is Justin. He has burns from something that happened when he was in the army.” She still continued to stare. “Georgia,” I hissed at her. “Get over it.”
She finally snapped out of it, immediately stepped toward him with a smile on her face.
“Sorry, if I was rude. It just took me by surprise”—she threw an accusatory look my way, before swiveling back to Justin—“because, yes, you’re right, Dean didn’t bother to mention it.
I’m really sorry.” She threw her arms open wide.
“Can I hug you? Is that weird? You know…like an apology. Or will it hurt? I don’t want to hurt you. ”
Justin looked a little taken aback. “It won’t hurt, but—” He didn’t get a chance to say any more before he was subjected to the same bone-crushing treatment I’d just endured.
At some point, Ben had appeared behind us.
He’d probably come to find out why his girlfriend had stood for so long open-mouthed.
I made the necessary introductions before we all went and sat down.
Benedict, to his credit, managed to hide any reaction to Justin’s scars much more successfully than his girlfriend had.
But then again, I knew Georgia. I knew full well she was useless at hiding her reactions.
It was my fault for not having bothered to prepare her for the sight of Justin’s injuries.
The evening was going well. Benedict and Justin had quickly bonded over a mutual love of basketball.
They’d spent ages happily discussing teams and other technical ins and outs which had gone completely over Georgia’s and my head.
Drinks had flowed freely; Justin getting more than his fair share of rounds from the bar.
I suspected he was trying to make me spend as little money as possible, which was sweet, while at the same time extremely annoying.
I’d borrowed money from my brother, assuring him I’d be able to pay him back by Wednesday.
I glanced over at Justin, catching his eye.
Deep in conversation with Ben, he offered a bright smile.
The more time I spent with him, the more I liked him.
Guilt gnawed at my stomach. No doubt, if he had the slightest clue what I’d be spending next Tuesday night doing, I wouldn’t see him for dust.
He must have read something on my face as he broke off his conversation to lean over and ask if I was alright.
It took my best acting skills to reassure him I was absolutely fine.
Georgia, however, looked less than convinced.
She waited until Justin was deep in conversation again before leaning forward, her whisper meaning only I’d be able to hear her. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.” As far as she was concerned, Tuesday nights had been canceled for good and I didn’t intend for her to find out any differently.
She winked. “He’s lovely. I like him.”
I nodded, relieved she wasn’t going to probe further.
She leaned even closer. “He’s got great biceps.”
We both automatically looked that way, examining the way Justin’s long-sleeved T-shirt did absolutely nothing to hide the muscles beneath. He met our look with a quizzical eyebrow and we both dissolved into laughter, much to Justin’s confusion.
A shadow fell across the table. “Well, this is cozy! What’s going on here?”