Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CALLA
“One egg and cress, one BLT, both on brown and two teas, please Rosie,” I shout. She’s on general food prep today while I serve and clear tables.
There are ten tables inside and six outside, plus the option to take-away.
It’s also popular with locals, so I get to catch up with the gossip when I’m back for the holidays.
Sadly, this year will be my last before I leave Braebeach.
It’s not that I don’t love my hometown, because I do, but I want to spread my wings.
Once I complete my degree, I don’t plan on coming back for a while.
“Sit down and I’ll bring them over,” I tell Frank and Rosemary, two of our regulars.
I set about making their tea, wishing I wasn’t here.
On any other day, I’m happy to work. I love the Rosie Lee, but I’m not feeling it today, and small talk with customers isn’t taking my mind away from snippets of Ash now formed in my memory.
I thought a casual summer fling was easily achievable; perhaps on reflection, he was the worst person to choose.
The boy I’ve had a crush on forever has finally become a reality, yet neither of us can commit right now.
If it lasts the entire summer, it will be a miracle.
To make things worse, I thought I could handle it, but as turns out, I’m struggling.
I’m on tenterhooks, every time the latch clicks on the café door, and there’s no point in lying, I’m desperate to see Ash.
It’s exactly one month ago today that we spent the most incredible night together.
It turned out to be the first of many as we’ve not spent a night apart since—except last night.
He dropped me a text to say something came up and he’d call me today.
Now I’ve got myself in a spin. Is he okay?
Could this be the end of our fling? I sincerely hope not.
During our two short months together, and these last four weeks in particular, I’ve experienced a wealth of sensations I never thought possible.
No other boy has ever made me feel the way Ashton does, who knew sex with him could be so amazing?
I’ve had many clumsy experiences with boys, not all bad but the way Ash makes me feel is on another level.
I just hope to God I make him feel the same.
Noting the cluttered tables outside, I shout to let Rosie know I’m nipping out to clear them.
It means she has to hold the fort for a few minutes.
Usually, there’s three of us. The boy Rosie previously hired wasn’t interested in getting his hands dirty and she had to let him go.
Then there’s Betty, Rosie’s right-hand woman, but she is off sick.
Rosie’s been advertising for more staff, but so far, we’ve had no takers.
Today, there are just two of us covering both shifts.
Outside, the weather is cooler, making the edge of the plastic cloths slap against the white tables as they wave in the wind.
Good job they have clips holding them down on each side; otherwise, we’d have no tablecloths left.
It doesn’t make the job any easier as I try to wipe them down.
I’m holding up three plates with cutlery on top which slides around the porcelain as I move.
It looks as if the little one who sat here with, I presume, his mum and dad, had a lovely time finger painting with the remaining sauce from his baked beans.
It’s smeared all over the top and down the sides.
“What a bloody mess,” I say out loud while the cutlery slides to the ridge of the top plate and flicks the thick tomato sauce all over my apron.
I’m about to drop the lot, so I let go of the cloth on the table in a bid to catch it, but a hand reaches out before it smashes to the ground.
“Need a hand?” the voice I’ve been waiting for offers.
“Ash—”
“Hey you,” he says, placing the plate stack on the table. “What’s up?” His hand reaches out for mine to hold while his other smooths over my jawline, followed closely by his lips.
“Nothing now,” I say, all breathy, closing my eyes and lifting my chin. I’m enjoying his mouth against my skin. “Just a busy day… lots of customers.”
I pull back to get my first delicious eye-full today of the boy who is driving me crazy.
It’s then I realise the bridge of his nose is slightly swollen and there’s a purple looking bruise in the corner of his left eye.
“Oh my God, Ash, what the hell happened?” I ask, cupping one side of his face with my hand.
His sad eyes glance downward briefly, then back up to me. “I had a visit from my Dad.”
My eyes widen, “And he did this to you?”
Ash nods. “It turned pretty nasty. I had to block him getting through the door, but he still caused a scene. He wouldn’t leave and was mouthing off to Mum, saying things he shouldn’t. He finally left when we threatened to call the police.”
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry. Is your mum okay?”
“A little shaken up. We’ve got to get some more of her things from the house today while Dad’s at work. She seems pretty nervous about going back there, so I might just go do it myself.”
“Calla babe,” a voice comes from the open door of the café. “I really need you inside a second.”
“I’ll be right there,” I call back to Rosie, then look to Ash.
“Sorry, Cal,” he says, stroking my arm. “I should have waited to tell you this later.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m glad you’re here.” I look to his bruising again. “Don’t you think you should go to the doctors?”
“It looks worse than it is. Nothing hurts too bad, I’ll be okay.”
“You sure? Why don’t you come in and I’ll get you a coffee or something? Maybe Rosie can look at the swelling, she knows a bit of First Aid.”
“Honestly, I’m good. I won’t hold you up. I can see you’re busy.”
Ash Chambers can hold me up, down, any which way he bloody well likes. I just wish this hadn’t happened to him; he doesn’t deserve it.
“I just wanted to say sorry about last night.”
“Hey, it’s fine. Your mum is more important. It’s all good.” I look down and bite my lip. I’m turning into such a sap over him. This is not me. I take the piss out of girls who act this way, yet I can’t help myself.
He steps forward again, holding my hips either side, “I knew you’d be okay with it, but I wanted you to know I’d never miss out on time with you if it wasn’t an emergency.”
“Ash, I promise it’s okay. You don’t have to explain to me.”
“Yes, I do, Cal. To you more than anyone.”
Those eyes of his draw me in, and I’m about to press my whole body to his, then remember I’m covered in crap.
“You’ve caught me at a great time, I don’t want to mess you up,” I huff out a laugh, stepping back from him and holding out my arms to the side.
I notice while looking down my apron; my chunky pink trainers are also covered in baked bean sauce.
I blow away a strand of hair which has escaped from my messy ponytail.
“Oh, you can mess me up Cal, in fact, I encourage it.” He chews his bottom lip fully while I wish I had time to bite his lip for him. Holy shit, this boy has my girl bits tingling.
“I… I better go in,” I signal with my thumb over my shoulder. “We’re short-staffed right now, although Rosie is advertising for someone new. You don’t fancy an extra job?” I joke.
“I’m tempted, but I don’t think I’d get a lot of work done. There’s a seriously hot waitress working here and I’m pretty sure she’d be hell-bent on distracting me.” He grabs the strap of my apron, pulling me forward to kiss my mouth firmly with his soft lips.
“Sorry, can I just get through the door?”
We’re blocking the entrance, and I’m so embarrassed, I look away, wiping my lips with the pad of my thumb.
I turn around to apologise. “I’m so sorry—” but I stop when I come face to face with Scott.
“Jesus Christ, what are you doing here?” It falls from my mouth, the sight of him almost knocking me off my feet.
Then Ash greets his old friend with, “Hey man,” and a broad smile, making up for my vomit of words.
I can’t help it. Seeing Scott again so soon is a shock for me. He’s like a bloody bad penny.
“Well, look who we have here.” I can’t believe my eyes when Angie appears out of the blue. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Just thought I’d call in on my way to work.” I’ve never been more pleased to see my oldest friend.
“You remember Angie?” I ask Scott. Now we’ll see sparks fly. Angie didn’t take any of his shit at school, so she won’t hold back now.
“Knob end. Is that really you?”
“Delightful as ever Angie.” I smile half-heartedly at his reaction. This is new for him. He wouldn’t have laughed off her comment so easily a few years back.
“What are you doing hanging around these parts?” Angie asks him bluntly.
“I’ve got an interview here.”
My stomach drops, “What do you mean?”
“Exactly that, I saw Rosie’s advert in the local paper. I’m hoping she’ll take me on.”
“You?” I don’t mean to sound so rude, but it’s a shock.
“Yeah, if it’s not too weird for you.”
“Of course it’s weird for her you idiot,” Angie says.
“Hmm, not sure you’ve thought this through Scottie,” Ash follows.
“I really need the work,” Scott looks straight at me, “and to be honest Calla if I realised you were working here too, I probably wouldn’t have gone for it, but I called Rosie and arranged—”
“No, yeah, sure. You go ahead,” I find myself saying.
“You sure?” he asks again.
“Yeah, yes, it’s okay.” Ash squeezes my hand. He must know this is taking a lot from me.
We stand around for a moment, the four of us looking at each other, not knowing what to say. “I should go, or I’ll be late,” Scott says. “Good to see you again, Angie,” he nods.
“Wish I could say the same knobby,” Scott laughs, although Angie is quite serious.
He then turns to Ash, “Let’s get together for that beer soon, yeah.” He points a finger his way.
“Sure man,” Ash lifts his chin.
“Guess I’ll see you inside Cal.”