Chapter Thirty-Five
It’s Friday today and I’ve got a busy weekend ahead of me. I’ve got one last band to check out for the festival, so I’m going to one of their gigs tonight. Adam has agreed to come with me but things are still a little weird between us. It’s almost like we’re being polite to one another, but secretly wishing things would go quicker, so we can go our separate ways. Tonight shouldn’t be too bad though, because Mel, Angie, Tim and Si are coming along with us. It should be a fun night out, which is just what I need right now.
Tomorrow we’ve got the fundraiser for the festival, which is going to be held on the beach. There’s going to be a barbeque (and thankfully the weather forecast says it’s going to be nice), but it isn’t just an excuse to schmooze the local businessmen and women who have sponsored the event, they are also going to be finishing the last piece of the backstage area, even if it’s just hammering a nail for a photo opportunity. And then everything is ready!
Kerry is now obsessed with the festival being a community thing, so that’s why we’re having this get-together of the “festival family” (as she calls it) tomorrow, and why she wants it to seem like everyone is doing their bit.
The fundraiser is only for the VIPs though, important figures in the village, people who have contributed lots of money and those involved in making it happen, which is why I’m lucky enough to be invited. One thing that is worrying me a little is the fact that Si and Adam’s mum is going to be there, because her husband owns the local garden centre, and they’re sponsoring the event. I’m sure I’m worrying unnecessarily and we’ll get on just fine, I just feel… I don’t know… weird.
After successfully hogging the bathroom for the best part of an hour I am ready to go to the gig.
‘You look nice,’ Adam says brightly as we bump into each other on the landing.
‘You too,’ I reply. He’s wearing one of his trademark tight-fitting t-shirts and a trendy pair of jeans, and, of course, he’s looking devastatingly handsome.
‘Is Becka coming tonight?’ I ask him, but I instantly wish I hadn’t because it reactivates the awkwardness between us. Why do I have to be such a bitch?
‘No, she isn’t,’ he replies, and that’s that.
‘Adam, wait.’ I grab his arm to stop him walking away. ‘Look, I don’t know what’s happened but I really miss what we had before,’ I admit. ‘Maybe there’s a conversation we need to have, I don’t know, but please can we just go back to being friends.’
Adam seems to soften but we’re far from being back to normal.
‘Okay,’ he replies. ‘Let’s just have fun tonight.’
I follow him downstairs where we find Si sitting on the sofa with his feet up, there’s football on TV, his sleeves are rolled up and his tie is loosened.
‘You’re not ready,’ I squeal. ‘We’ve got to leave in five minutes.’
I know he’s a guy but even five minutes isn’t much time to get ready. His curly hair is looking messy after what was probably a hectic day at work and he looks like he could do with a shower.
‘I’m not going,’ he tells us, keeping his eyes on the TV.
‘Why not?’ I ask.
‘Because – GOAL!’ he shouts before composing himself again. ‘Because I’ve been working all week and I’m tired. I just want to relax, not go to a noisy gig.’
‘Gigs are supposed to be noisy,’ I remind him with a smile.
Adam raises his eyebrows.
‘Well, I’ll go book us a taxi if you’re not driving us,’ he says, nodding towards Si’s beer.
With Adam out of the room, I sit down next to Si.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to come?’ I check.
‘Yeah, well, I thought you two might like some time alone,’ he says. ‘You’ve been getting a lot of that recently.’
‘This is work,’ I remind him. ‘But it will still be fun – come on.’
‘Just leave it, Leah,’ he replies.
‘Si…’
Si gets up from the sofa and glances into the hallway to see if Adam is there.
‘You think I don’t see what’s going on?’ he asks me accusingly.
‘Nothing’s going on,’ I protest, but Si isn’t interested in what I have to say.
‘I have eyes, Leah,’ he says, keeping his voice low so that Adam doesn’t hear. ‘You’re blowing hot and cold with me. One minute you’re saying you want to take things slow, and I respect that. The next you’re trying to walk in on me in the bathroom. Then you’re cold again. Now you’re inviting me out. I can’t be doing with these mixed messages, I’m too old for this.’
‘Si, I really appreciate you saying I can live here, but I meant what I said, I’m not ready for anything, or anyone. I need time to get my head together – if you need me to move out, I can do that,’ I say.
‘Taxi’s here,’ Adam interrupts us. ‘Let’s go, Leah.’
Si plonks himself back down on the sofa.
‘Have fun,’ Si tells us, not really sounding like he means it.
Okay, so things are messier than I thought. Perhaps I should leave, if Si thinks it’s just a matter of time before I come around. It wasn’t my intention, to make him feel like he was just waiting for the go-ahead, but if that’s what he thinks then maybe I do need to move out. To be honest, that might be what’s best for everyone.