Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
CALLA
“Jesus, how long has it been?” Scott smiles, looking between us.
“You know what Scott, I’m sorry to do this, but we were about to leave. Why don’t you give me a call and we’ll catch up with a beer sometime?” Ash answers, holding me with reassuringly firm hands. I appreciate him trying to get me away from this situation as quickly as he can.
“Yeah, of course, sorry, mate. Look, I’ve got a new phone and lost all my old contacts. Give me your number and we’ll get it sorted.” Ash types in his number, while I whisper in his ear, “I think I’ll just let Angie know we’re going.” He glances at me with a knowing look.
“Good to see you again Calla.”
I just stare at Scott, unable to form any words at all. I can’t believe he has the balls to speak to me. I look to the floor as I make my way to my friend. As soon as I get there, Angie can tell something is up. “You okay?” she asks.
“No,” I signal over my shoulder. “Can you see who Ash is talking to?”
She glances past me and squints, “Is that?” then looks back to my raised brows. “Oh my God, it’s fucking Scott Knox, isn’t it? What the hell is Ash doing talking to him?”
“Don’t get wound up. Ash and Scott have always been friends and Ash isn’t going to ignore him because I’m around. I’d just prefer to wait here until Scott is gone.”
“It looks as if he’s already on his way,” she smiles at me, then mumbles, “arsehole” while staring back in his direction.
“Listen, I’m heading home. Do you want me to walk you back first? Ash said he’d take us both.”
“You don’t hang about madam, do you,” she giggles.
“Not like that.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. You go for it. I’m hanging around here for a bit.”
“Ahh, the gorgeous Tommy must be working his charm. Am I right?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, come on Ange. You like him and he’s giving you all the signals.”
“I don’t know. I’ve only just met the bloke. I’m not sure if anything will happen, but I love listening to him speak, he’s so laid back. And his voice, oh my God. It’s smooth as silk and bloody sexy.”
“Hmm, well, just make sure he gets you home safely,” I smile.
“I will, and the same applies to Ash, although I don’t doubt his intentions are good. I think he likes you, Cal.”
“I’m sure he will and—,” I look over to the bar where Ash is now standing with Dani and Tommy.
As if he senses me looking, he turns around.
His smile so beautiful, I could melt on the spot.
“—if I’m honest, I like him too,” I admit without thinking, then turn back to Angie’s grinning face. “Just a shame Scott had to turn up.”
“Don’t let him ruin your night. If I spot Knoxie again, I can always rough him up for you.”
“Don’t you dare!” I giggle. “No, I’ll just have to avoid him around town. Apparently, he just got back from Nepal.”
“Fancy,” Angie rolls her eyes. “Just don’t give him another thought. It’ll make you all angsty. Go and enjoy yourself.”
I hug her as Tommy returns. “Hey Cal, you okay? Ash is a little worried about you. Said you bumped into someone you didn’t want to see.”
“Yeah, well, it looks as if he’s done one so we can get going,” I smile up at him. “Just make sure you look after my girl here, Tom. Okay?”
“No problem,” he winks, then gives a smouldering glance to Angie.
“Thanks, Tommy. I better catch up with Ash. I’ll see you two later.”
I’m pleased to see Angie with someone. Before we left for university, she had her heart broken by one particular boy. She hasn’t dipped her toes in the water too much since, so I hope she lets her hair down a little.
I leave her with a wave, pushing my way through the small crowd now gathering at the bar. The Black Pearl is not only a great place to eat but also a popular drinking hole. It’s getting on for 11pm, which is chucking out time for some bars.
I make my way over to Ash, who I know has spotted me from the corner of his eye because he breaks away from Dani to meet me.
As we meet in the middle, I can’t help grinning like a lunatic because he is just so bloody gorgeous.
His hand taking mine sparks goosebumps like an electric shock right through my centre.
“You okay, Cal? I’m so sorry, but I didn’t know how to get rid of him. I had no clue he was back.”
“It’s okay. I understand Scott is your friend—”
“You two heading off?”
I can’t believe I hear his voice again. My breath hitches, and when Ash glances my way, he must see the distress in my eyes.
He answers the question for both of us. “Yeah, we’ve got somewhere to be, but we’ll catch up for that beer soon, yeah?
” Ash scoops me away, hurriedly pushing past him, but my head spins when Scott catches my arm.
I jump, causing him to let go immediately, but it’s Ash he directs his question to first.
“Can I just have a minute with Cal?”
Ash looks at me, clearly caught in the middle here, so I have to take the bull by the horns. Nothing bad can happen, there are too many people around, and I’m sure Ash won’t leave me altogether. I give a slight smile, “It’s okay Ash. I’ll be fine.”
“Sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He sighs. “Okay then, don’t keep her long, okay man?” he points a finger towards Scott, who holds up both hands in surrender.
“Got it,” Scott smiles as his hands fall to his sides as we’re left alone.
He takes a deep breath and his grey eyes cast downwards when he says, “Calla, I know I’m the last person you wanted to see tonight, but the thing is, I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while.
We never seem to be in town at the same time anymore.
” I pressed my lips together, not looking him square in the eye because I just can’t.
“I don’t know where to start. I’ve practised this speech over and over in my head but—anyway, I wanted to say I’m sorry.
So, so sorry for all the crap I put you through.
At the time I was going through some stuff myself—” I open my mouth to speak, but he stops me, holding his hands up, “I know it’s no excuse, and it’s not the only factor, but I had a chip on my shoulder.
I was jealous. You were always top of the class, always got everything you wanted, and you must have known I fancied you a little bit—which I don’t anymore, I hasten to add. I’m completely not interested.”
My mouth twists, “Okay, I get it, Scott.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “No, you don’t. You accepting my apology is important to me. I put you through so much and regret what I did.”
I bite my bottom lip in contemplation. I’ve thought over a thousand times what I might say if I ever saw him again.
My anger towards him has faded over time, so why is it bubbling inside me now?
“It’s not as simple as you think, Scott…
I’m not sure I can talk about this right now.
There’s just too much going on in my head and you’ve caught me off-guard.
I have so much pent-up anger towards you—anger I thought I’d already dealt with, but it seems I was wrong.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to talk to you about it.
” Scott bows his head, taking in a breath while my body shakes, and my stomach is in turmoil.
“For now, let’s just put it to one side, okay? ” I ask.
He agrees with a slight nod but still doesn’t meet my eyes.
Then he says, “This is better than I hoped for. I thought you’d give me an ear full, which is no less than I deserve.
” A half-smile flickers across his lips and has me wondering.
Is he under the impression this is it? Does he think he’s off the hook?
“Look, Scott, I don’t know what you think is happening here, but I’m not ready to become best buds overnight. I have too much hurt inside.”
“No, no, I understand, but what if I was to tell you I’m not the same person anymore. I’ve accepted a lot of things about myself.”
“I don’t think—” I sigh, there’s no point in carrying on this conversation.
I’m not ready for it. “Look, I need to go. If I don’t see you again, good luck with—whatever.
” I turn to leave, moving away from him as quickly as possible, but before I get to Ash, who is watching our every move, I take one quick glance over my shoulder.
Scott is rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
I recognise it took a lot of guts for him to make an apology, but I can’t accept it. Not yet.
I cast my eyes towards Angie, double-checking she’s okay. I won’t leave her out on a limb. If she were unhappy, I’d take her home myself. However, going by her body language, if I drag her away from Tommy right now, she might kill me.
I turn around, just a step or two away from Ash.
Before I get a chance to take one of those steps, another female body sidles up beside him.
She’s pretty, probably the same age as us, but a little shorter than my 5ft 7in.
Her long, peroxide blonde hair goes all the way down to her bum.
She flicks it slightly as her hands lay flat to his chest. Ash’s eyes bug out from their sockets.
Is he happy to see her or just surprised?
I’ll soon find out. I’m close enough to hear her say, “Where have you been hiding?”
“Jade, hey,” he laughs her name out rather than speaks it, and his magnetic eyes seem to contract when he notes I’m standing behind her.
His lips tighten as her palms move onto his shoulders.
She looks up to his mouth while waiting for a reply, but he knocks her hands away and takes a step back. “It’s been a while.”
“Just a couple of weeks,” she steps back into his personal space once again; standing on tiptoes to whine in his ear, “but I’ve missed you.”