28. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Felix
H aving three hours of sleep, I felt incredibly groggy and grumpy when I arrived at work. No amount of caffeine would change the mood I was in. I was just lucky today was my last day before annual leave. It was crazy how quickly the past twenty-four hours had gone. And there had been a lot to think about.
Of Mira and Aunt Brenna, to the news of my birth mother wanting to see us. And then finally, Alisha. I felt incredibly guilty that I hadn’t responded to her text last night, as soon as I saw it I was desperate to respond. I didn’t want to drag her into my shit though, so I did what I would do best and wallowed in self pity.
I hated myself, I really did, hated the way I couldn’t manage my emotions properly and be brave.
I scratched my chin as I glared at the computer screen, after work I needed to go and do something proactive. Skiing was the only thing that would probably help my mood. And of course, seeing Alisha. I gave myself a reminder to call her later, to arrange to meet up. Maybe go for a late bite somewhere, I just missed her presence. She was all that was good and beautiful in this world and I needed that right now. I didn’t want to fuck things up with her.
Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes and counted to three before opening them again. Just as I did, one of my colleagues brushed past me and then decided to talk to me. He was a polite person, with gentle green eyes and dark brown hair. His name was Charlie and he hadn’t been at the company for very long.
“Felix, could you help me with something? No one else seems to have a clue,” Charlie said, holding quite a large stack of papers in his hands. He looked hopeful and in need of some support. I wasn’t one to say no, especially as I was in his shoes when I first started here. Charlie seemed genuine and he was about a year younger than me.
“Of course.” I gestured for Charlie to sit down next to me and he spread the papers out in front of us.
“Some are complaints and then some are invoices, which I just can’t seem to work out. I thought I was good at numbers, I was one of the top mathematicians in my year group.” Charlie grinned as he said this. So, why did he need my help then?
“What seems to be confusing?” I questioned, glancing at one of the invoices which was dated from about a month ago.
“It’s more so that the actual payments from customers are different from what’s printed here, and I’m not sure why,” he said and I already knew why. We had a select number of clients we offered discounts to, due to their loyalty to the company and service they would bring. I explained this to Charlie and he nodded, making sure to log it and then put the invoices away.
Next were the complaints, emails from customers who were not happy with the packages, some who had flight delays or cancellations and some who just wanted to moan.
“Sadly in any business, you can’t please everyone and the best thing you can do is respond with hospitality and understanding,” I told Charlie, having had lots of experience handling complaints.
“Right, well thanks Felix. I feel a little less stupid now.” Charlie scratched the back of his neck and then offered me a warm smile. He didn’t make a move from his seat and then decided to talk to me some more.
“I was wondering, if you wanted to come out for a drink one evening? I’ve asked a few of our work colleagues and they’re keen to come along. Plus, I’d love to get to know you better. I’ve only even known you as Felix behind his desk,” he said and the idea didn’t sound too preposterous.
“Yeah, that sounds alright.” I let out a nervous breath, as I hadn’t hung out with other people apart from my own small circle in nearly a year. Maybe it was time to let down my walls I had built and have some fun. There was no harm in that.
***
Charlie and I chatted away for the rest of the shift and I’d learned that he was a twin, he had a girlfriend of two years and when he was eighteen, he was due to go to university, but he ended up in a car crash with one of his best friends, who sadly died. He was lucky to come out of it alive and didn’t take anything for granted now. He said he was given a second chance at life and he was going to make the most of it.
“So, what do you usually do for Christmas?” I asked him as we were now on our lunch breaks, I had whipped up a swiss cheese and beef sandwich which was delicious. I was really starting to enjoy preparing food for myself and I’d even packed some fruit too. Very unlike me but my lifestyle needed changes.
“My twin and I usually do all the cooking, so our parents can relax. We’ve got quite a big family, all our cousins, aunts and uncles come down to celebrate with us. The house is big enough, thankfully,” Charlie said, biting into his own lunch. He was halfway through eating a cream cheese bagel with a packet of crisps and some dried mango.
“That sounds great.” I smiled at this. I’d imagine there was chaos but they probably all were used to it.
“What about you?” Charlie fired the question back to me. My Christmas tradition would be nothing compared to his but I loved it regardless.
“I have one sister, two twin cousins and then my aunt Brenna. We usually celebrate together at Brenna’s.”
“Ah, what about your parents?” I knew he’d ask this eventually and I couldn’t really avoid the question.
“I don’t know my father. Or my mother really,” I admitted and Charlie seemed to understand that this was a touchy subject so I was grateful he didn’t ask anymore. We changed the subject to the worst Christmas cracker jokes we’d seen before our break was finished.
It was nice to talk to another male and maybe I actually had a friend now. I was eager for the next few hours to speed by so I could get home and call Alisha, to find out how she was and apologise for my cold shoulder. She didn’t deserve that. She deserved my undivided attention.
I would give her just that.
Charlie and I exchanged numbers as we clocked out of work and then I made my merry way back home, my heart racing every mile I got closer. It just meant I would be able to hear Alisha’s voice soon. Even just imagining it sent shivers down my spine.
Fuck, you really are mad for her.
When I finally got home, my palms were sweaty and my hands shook a little, jingling the key in the door. I had only shut the front door about two minutes again when I heard two sharp knocks, which made me pause what I was doing.
It could be Alisha.
I strode over to the door, practically yanking it open with a grin on my face. However, the grin sloped into a frown when I focused on who was standing in front of me.
“Felix, I’m sorry but I had to see you. Can I come in?” Evie asked nervously.
Well, I couldn’t slam the door in her face as it wasn’t my style. I twisted my body so that she could slip through the door and then closed it behind her.
“I know I’m probably the last person you want to see. But I think we need a chat,” she said and I let out a little sigh. We could have spoken months ago so why was she now about to pop my happy bubble?
“Evie, you could have spoken to me a while ago. I-I’ve moved on,” I told her and I hoped I sounded convincing to her.
“Of course Felix, I understand that. I just wanted to say my piece and then I’ll leave you alone. Is that alright?” Evie twiddled her thumbs, something she always did when she felt awkward. I had always noticed these tiny details about her, because I had loved her. Note the past tense. I didn’t want her to be in my life anymore but I would hear her out on this occasion.
I motioned for her to take a seat on the sofa, which she boldly walked over to and sat down. I glanced at her features and she did look well, her skin was flushed but smooth and she had a gleam in her eyes. Maybe this new man of hers was really the one. Me being gracious, I hoped she was happy.
“Let’s start from the beginning,” Evie proposed and I grimaced a little, as I wasn’t expecting to dive into the whole story of us. I only really wanted to hear about her going cold turkey on us, her reason for leaving me at the altar.
But I sat back and had open ears, all the time wishing the woman sitting in front of me was Alisha. I’d give anything to have her here instead of Evie.