Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CALLA
Hey Cal, I’m sorry I won’t get over tonight. Dani is working us so hard. I swear she’s sucking the life out of us.
Missing you every minute I’m not with you. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Sleep tight.
XXX
I re-read the text I received from Ash this morning.
It’s not the first time he’s cancelled on me during this past week.
A part of me wonders if I should be worried.
Is he trying to tell me something? As it happened, I was exhausted last night after working a full day, and I must have passed out.
At least he didn’t arrive and find me dead to the world.
Now I’m at the end of another long day. My feet kill me, my back aches and I’m so ready for the hot shower, and early night I have on my agenda.
“Okay guys, we’re done. Get yourselves home,” Rosie announces.
“I can’t wait to get out of here tonight. No offence Rosie,” Scott says while hanging up his apron and I finish wiping down the sandwich area.
“None taken sweet cheeks.”
“Got a hot date with Mr Rockstar tonight, Cal?” Scott asks, his tone a little too familiar.
I’m still so cautious of him, and at times, it’s awkward as hell.
The elephant in the room has not been mentioned since the whole thing came out a week ago.
It’s the most bizarre situation, but I’ve decided not to push myself and take this one step at a time.
I need to get used to being around him. I swear he’s caught me staring a few times.
Something inside me wants to analyse his features, just to see if we have any similarities.
“Not tonight. I wanted to see Angie, but she was already busy.”
I’m deep in thought while mindlessly wiping over the surface I’ve cleaned ten times already. Scott breaks the daze I’m in when I realise, he’s kind of hanging around and still looking my way. Although I don’t want to make small talk, I ask him out of courtesy, “You up to anything?”
“Nah, not tonight. It’s a quiet one.” We exchange an awkward smile, Scott lifting his chin with a huff. “Right then, I’ll head off. See you Tuesday, ladies.” He picks up his keys from the shelf, slips his wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and shoots out the door quicker than a rabbit.
“Bye, Scott,” Rosie calls after him, but the door is already closing to a slow stop before his name leaves her lips.
“He’s in a hurry tonight,” Rosie comments while mopping the floor.
“Hmm?”
“I thought he was a little more comfortable around you today, probably because he got so much off his mind.”
“Lucky him,” I mutter. We had no time to talk today as the café was packed solid.
“Are you still feeling unsettled?”
“That’s an understatement.”
Rosie’s lips form a kind smile. “I’m never sure if I should say anything or not. I don’t want to intrude.”
“You could never intrude, Rosie. You know pretty much everything about me.”
She carries on mopping when she asks, “Does he make you feel uneasy?”
I bite my lip before I answer. “Yes… and no. I mean, it’s not every day you find out the boy who caused you nothing but grief at school is your brother.
It's early days, but we’re getting used to each other I suppose.
I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact we’re related.
I keep expecting him to burst into laughter and tell me it’s all a horrible joke. ”
Rosie glances towards me, her hand gripping the pole of her mop.
“If this is upsetting you, babe, I can move shifts around, give him reduced hours. You know, the only reason I didn’t move your shifts around before was because I thought it would help you both heal a few wounds.
I truly believe he deserves a second chance. ”
“No, yeah, of course. Yeah.”
“Calla?” Rosie questions as if I haven’t been listening.
“Honestly, it’s all good, almost like a weird therapy or something.”
“That’s the spirit and talking of weird therapy, have you spoken to your mother about all this?”
The mention of my mum sends a shiver down my spine. “No.” Just the thought of seeing her puts me in a foul mood. “Please don’t hassle me, Rosie. I’ve literally just found this out myself. I’ll call her next week.”
“Why not tonight? You’ve got a spare evening now.”
“Because I’m not in the mood for her sarcasm and to be honest, I’m still getting to grips with it all. Honestly, I have so many questions floating in my head.”
“Calla, you really should—”
A knock to the locked café door interrupts us. “I’ll get that.” I’m grateful for the diversion, and as I get closer, my smile grows at the sight of beautiful blues smiling back my way.
“You could not have come at a better time,” I whisper towards Ash, almost dragging him inside.
“Really?” He gives me a quizzical glance.
“Look who’s here, Rosie.”
“Uh-huh,” her mouth screws up like a duck’s backside.
I mumble again to Ash, “Do me a favour and let’s get out of here as quick as possible.”
“How can I resist.” His eyebrows wiggle suggestively, to which I respond with a slap to his chest.
“I’ve finished the tables, so I’m going now Rosie,” I say while hanging up my apron.
“You can’t put it off forever.”
“Oh yes I can,” I call back, pushing Ash out the door. “See you in the morning.”
The door slowly draws to a close behind us and I drag him down the road towards home.
“What was all that about?” he asks.
“Just the whole situation with Scott.”
“And? Is it getting any better?”
It seems my issues with Scott run deeper than I’ve thought about. I don’t want to confront my feelings head-on. Instead, I put on a brave face knowing Ash is eager for us to be friends. “Oh, yeah, pretty good.”
“No awkwardness?”
“Well, yeah. It’s been awkward as hell, to be honest, but the café’s been too busy for us to talk about anything serious. It’s when we stop working, it feels… strange. He seems to have changed though, and like you said, all I can do is give him a chance.” I press my lips together in a hard line.
“Then that’s good, right?”
I nod, “Yeah, definitely, but Rosie thinks I should talk to my mum about Scott’s dad and get her side of the story.”
“Cal, remember he’s your dad too.”
I stop in my tracks as my stomach drops.
“Ash, I’m not ready for all this. You can’t expect Scott to drop this news like a bomb in my lap and for me to be fine with it.
It’s like today. I’m sure Rosie was expecting everything to be hunky-dory by now—like in a bloody Disney film or something.
Jesus, this is huge for me, you know. I need time to get used to it all and the last thing I want is to get in touch with Mum. Our relationship is amicable, at best.”
His next offer throws me off balance. “We could see your mum together if it helps?”
“In Edinburgh?”
“Sure, why not? We could make a weekend of it.”
“Nooo,” I laugh out. “Absolutely not.”
“You ashamed of me?” He smirks, smoothing his hand over my lower back and down to my bum.
“I could never be ashamed of you, believe me, but chances are, she’ll fancy you for herself. Honestly, it’s for your own protection.”
“What the fuck?” He laughs. “This is your mum you’re talking about, right?”
“You think I’m joking? I’m not exaggerating when I say my mother would eat you for breakfast. She’s something else.”
“I’ll pass in that case.”
It’s alright for him to laugh it off so freely, but he has no idea how accurately I’ve just described her. The woman has no shame, no scruples, no respect for anyone, including herself, which is why I didn’t question Scott’s story too much.
We walk down the narrow streets, hand in hand but silent until Ash says, “Want to talk things over some more? It’s like you’re bottling everything up, Cal.”
I blink several times to hydrate and soothe my bone-dry eyes. “To be honest, I could do with forgetting about it—just for tonight. Actually, I thought I could make you some dinner?” I ask, swiftly changing the subject.
“Tonight?”
“If you’re free.”
“Shit, I’ve got rehearsals again and anyway, you said you wanted to catch up with Angie.”
“She couldn’t make it; she said something came up.”
“Ahh, so I’m your sloppy second?”
“Don’t be daft,” I laugh while his hand folds around my shoulder.
“I’m joking.” Ash nuzzles into my neck. “You know I’d spend time with you in a heartbeat if I could.” We straighten up and carry on walking arm in arm. “We’ve got rehearsal time booked again tonight, which we need now, more than ever.”
“Why is that? Do you have a gig booked?” I say, looking up towards him.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, but we have a signing date and the label want to make a big deal out of it.”
“That’s fantastic!” I stop him in his tracks; my fingers hook around his neck and I stand on my tiptoes to reach his lips. “Things are really moving for you now.”
“It’s probably time. Bernie’s been pretty patient.” His lips brush mine, and there’s a moment where perhaps both of us realise, our time together is precious.
“So, since you’re free tonight, you could come and watch.”
“Yeah, sure.” I blink. “I’d love to. I can make us something quick to eat instead, then we can go.
” Selfishly, I’d prefer it if we could have a night alone, but I don’t let on.
I’ve never wanted to be one of those girls who got all huffy about her man doing his own thing, especially when I was meant to be out doing my own thing too.
However, tonight was different; I needed him to be there for me.
Of course, I knew his music would come first, which I’m on board with.
It is, after all, his future; but something inside me has changed.
I need him like I’ve never needed anyone before.
I want him to tell me everything will be okay.
I better snap out of whatever funk this is. I don’t know what’s wrong, this is not me.
Ash holds me close, my chest just below his and I take in his smile while his thumb brushes the line of my jaw. His offer should be just what I need—time to relax and watch my man in action. This is the way I have to look at it.
We carry on our walk and Ash says, “I’m glad you’re coming tonight. I love it when you watch me on stage. I want to give it my all, you know?”
“Me too… I mean, I love watching you. It’s like you’re singing just to me.” I giggle. “But I wish it wasn’t getting so hard for us to spend time on our own, especially with us both working.”
“Yeah, it is difficult, but we knew it would happen.” I look up into his eyes, acknowledging his words when we stop outside my house.
I lose myself there for a moment before turning towards my old front door, and Ash’s hands fall to my shoulders behind me.
“The best thing we can do is make the most of every minute.”
“I’m all for that.” I rummage in my pockets, finding my key, then slip into the lock—it’s a moment Ash takes to kiss down my neck. His favourite place it seems.
“Fuck, you smell incredible,” he says against my skin.
“I didn’t realise Eau de fry-up was your favourite smell.”
“No, this is something else. This is all you. I want to bottle it and take it with me when we’re apart.”
“Why would you want to do that?” I ask, closing my eyes and enjoying his touch.
“I miss you.” His voice is soft and calming, his kisses cause sweet tingles through my body, and my heart beats so fast, my chest hurts.
“Same,” I hum, enjoying every minute of his attention. I’ve definitely missed the warmth of his skin next to mine.
“I haven’t been able to focus on the music properly, I hate it when you’re not around.” His hands continue to rest against my hips as we walk into the hallway.
“I don’t want to affect your performance, Ash. Never let me get in the way of your music.” He releases me briefly, and I turn to face him, looping my hands around his neck and interlinking my fingers to hold me there.
“I can’t help the way I feel about you, Cal. You’re fast becoming my favourite distraction.”
“And you mine.” I mouth the words so close to his lips, enjoying the warmth of his hands against my back.
Gradually, he smooths them down towards my bum again, bringing me flush against him.
I can already feel how hard he is through his jeans.
The urge to have Ash inside me takes over and I don’t contemplate my next move until it’s already done.
My fingers break their grip and go their separate ways.
The fingers of one hand stay curled around his neck while the other lays flat against the hard wall of his toned chest. I draw a slow line down his body until I reach the button on his jeans.
I take a moment to look in the deep blue eyes I’m in love with, then drop my focus to his lips which curve upwards on one side.
Dinner can wait. Everything can wait. There is no better feast than Ashton Chambers.