Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
CALEB
I make my way into the restaurant, where my friends are waiting.
“Is everything okay?” Xander says as I drop into my seat.
At eleven, when I finally checked my phone, I realised there were multiple messages from the guys and that I’d forgotten about our weekly poker night. I’d sent them an update, and we’d all agreed to meet for lunch.
“Yeah, sorry about that. It was quite a day.”
“What’s the latest?” Tristan asks.
“It looks like an electrical fire. Due to the age of the building, its completely gutted. Went up like a tinder box.”
“Was anyone hurt? They said it was overnight, but the news was vague,” Xander says.
I shake my head, although the vice-like grip that restricts my breathing every time I think about April being in the building is back. I can’t think about what could have happened.
“What happens now?” Tristan asks. “Isn’t that the building that housed the dance school? The one the protests and flash mob were about. ”
“It is, was.” I run a hand through my hair. “I have back-to-back meetings with the planning and fire departments all afternoon, not to mention the council. The board is also chasing me.”
“Sounds like you have your hands full,” Quentin chips in. “What about the businesses? The dance teacher? The one who’s been ruffling feathers.”
Betty and Don's insurance will cover their losses. For April, after reading Elijah’s file, she has nothing. Her business literally went up in smoke.
“That’s what I was doing last night. April, who runs the dance school, was M.I.A. We knew she had got out, but was living there. I wanted to check she was okay.”
“ Shit! ” Marcus says. “Is she okay?”
I don’t miss the looks the boys shoot one another.
“She’s fine. I tracked her down to the local hostel.”
There’s a pregnant pause.
“What?” I say as four sets of eyes lock on me.
“Nothing,” Tristan says innocently, making the others laugh.
“So, what happened when you tracked her down?” he asks.
I inwardly groan, as this conversation is about to go downhill incredibly fast if I know my friends.
“I invited her to stay at mine,” I admit, finding a speck of lint on the tablecloth and brushing it off.
I look up to find my friends staring at me, jaws slack.
“What?” I ask as if this is nothing special.
“You say, what ? As if this is no big deal,” Quentin says, when he finally recovers. “The man who has never taken a partner back to his apartment. Claims it’s his space, his sanctuary. Now tells us he has invited a complete stranger into his home to stay with him.”
“Unless she’s not a stranger,” Tristan chips in .
He shoots me a look that makes me wonder how much of my heart I spilled on Sunday night.
I look around the table to find my friends staring at me eyebrows raised.
I shrug. “She’s down on her luck. What else was I supposed to do?”
“A hotel, one of your empty apartments?” Xander says. I grind my teeth. “There it is,” he says pointing at my ticking jaw. “There is definitely more to this.” He crosses his arms and stares at me. “I want to know why our best friend appears to be holding out on us.”
April is the first woman I have never discussed with my friends. For some reason when I came back from New York it felt wrong. I didn’t want to cheapen it. And the fact she disappeared.
In unison they sit back and cross their arms over their chests. If I didn’t feel backed into a corner, it would be amusing.
“Fine,” I huff. “I met April in New York.”
“Ha,” Marcus says, holding his palms out to the others.
“What the hell?” I mutter.
“Sorry man, I win,” he says, as the others hand over a wad of cash.
“Win?”
“I told them you met someone special in New York,” Marcus explains. “They didn’t believe me.”
I suck in a breath.
Is April special?
Hell, I know she’s special. She’s the first woman I have ever wanted to wake up next to, share a leisurely breakfast with. Instead, when I opened my eyes, she was gone.
When I don’t say anything, my friends remain silent.
“She needs my help,” I say quietly .
“Good for you,” Tristan says, and once again, I wonder how much I spilled on Sunday. My friends shift in their seats.
I hear music and look up to find Quentin on his phone. I recognise the tune instantly and the background noise and groan.
“Really,” I say, shooting my friend that look.
He simply shrugs as Xander and Tristan look over his shoulder. I know they’re watching April as she dances outside my office.
“Wow, man, she’s hot,” Xander says. “And she can dance!”
It’s Marcus who smacks him on the back of the head.
I don’t like the look on my friend’s face, it’s too… interested.
What the hell?
I’ve never been protective of a woman before, especially with my friends. But April has been through enough. She doesn’t need any of these reprobates messing with her.
“She’s been through a lot,” I say, feeling the need to defend my actions.
“Down, boy. No one’s going to take or hit on your new toy,” Xander chuckles.
“She’s not a toy,” I snap, only to be surrounded by their laughter, and I realise I’ve just walked straight into their trap.
“Sorry, Caleb, I’m only teasing.” Xander squeezes my shoulder, and I realise my friends are now staring at me with added interest.
“Our friend is heading down a slippery slope. Marcus mark two.” Quentin laughs.
“You’re just jealous,” Marcus says.
Quentin flinches, although he recovers quickly, adding, “Next time we visit, his bachelor pad will be filled with coloured pillows and fluffy throws.”
I roll my eyes, and my mind wanders to Gabriel’s apartment, which Leah has turned from a cold, sterile shell into something warm and inviting.
“He’ll be ball and chained,” Tristan adds.
Quentin lets out a fake sob, “Hearts are breaking all over the city tonight.”
They continue their tirade until our lunch is delivered, and I let them.
My mind wanders to April, and I wonder how she got on with Chloe. She sent no more messages. Samuel must have convinced her to accept my support, or at least I hope he did. I take both of their silence as a good thing.
Lunch ends, and we say goodbye, with everyone heading back to their respective offices.
I finally make it home by seven-thirty. I met with the fire officer to discuss their initial findings. Antiquated electrics look to be the cause. The building was a death trap, a fire waiting to happen. The thought leaves me cold.
The leftover structure is unsafe and will need to be pulled down as soon as possible or made safe to ensure no one can get in. Wes and I have spent the past couple of hours talking to the planning officers and builders, ensuring they carry out the recommendations to make the remaining structure is secure. It might be late, and the fire only occurred yesterday, but the Frazer name makes people act.
I enter the apartment to the smell of food—home-cooked food. April is in the kitchen at the stove. I cringe when I catch sight of her wearing the inappropriate novelty apron, Xander bought me for Christmas. As if sensing me, she looks up. Her face is makeup free, and her hair tied up in a messy bun. When she looks up and smiles, my heart stops for a second .
“Hey,” I say. “What are you doing?”
Her smile falters. “I hope you don’t mind. I thought I’d make us dinner. Paula said she usually cooks for you and leaves it in the warming drawer. I said I’d do it as a thank you.”
“Of course I don’t mind.” I step into the kitchen and throw my wallet and keys down on the side. “You’re living here. I want you to make yourself at home.”
Her cheeks take on a hint of colour.
The ribbing by the boys at lunch comes back to me, and I bite back a smile. I wonder how they’d react if the sofa is covered in throws and pillows the next time they come for a boys’ evening. I’m half tempted to order my own just to see.
“Well, I’ve made roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Paula said it’s your favourite, but she struggles to do it because it’s soggy by the time you get home.”
I’m touched by her thoughtfulness.
“Let me get changed, and I’ll come back down and help.”
“No need. Everything is in hand. Should be ready in ten minutes,” she says, stirring what looks to be gravy.
I go to leave.
“Er, Cal.”
I turn at the sound of her voice.
“I’m sorry if I seemed ungrateful this morning.” She runs a hand down her face and sighs. “I’m not used to people doing things for me. I’ve spent a lot of years looking after myself.” She shifts awkwardly. “Thank you for the phone and the clothes. I’ll repay you as soon as I can.”
I pause in the doorway and exhale.
“I don’t want repaying.” When she goes to open her mouth, I hold up a hand. “I didn’t do it to be repaid. I did it because I knew you needed clothes and a phone.” I stop, wanting to change the subject, not get into an argument. “I’m sorry about what I said last night. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want you to feel awkward while you’re living here.”
I watch the colour spread over her cheekbones and decide to change the subject.
“The fire department came by today. It looks like the fire was caused by an electrical fault. As the developer buying the building, I should have inspected it more thoroughly, especially when we found out businesses were still operating in it. Purchasing a few clothes is nothing.”
April crosses her arms over her chest and stares at me. “I know that’s not true,” she tells me quietly. “My tenancy doesn’t end until this week which means you don’t officially own the building yet. I also have copies of all the safety certificates, gas and electrics. None of this is your fault, Cal. This is all on my landlord.” She pauses, holding my gaze. “Thank you for the clothes and the phone. If I’m honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage, so for me, that is not nothing . I just want you to know that.”
I stare at her for a second, before inclining my head. “I’ll go and get changed,” I say, when she doesn’t say anything else. The last thing I want is for April to feel indebted. Damn Samuel, why didn’t he just take the money I offered him for her.
I excuse myself before she can say anything else. April is correct, I purchased the property with vacant possession. The landlord is responsible, especially as completion hasn’t taken place yet. But April won’t see a penny from the landlord and as a company we won’t be pulling out of the sale despite the fire, although the details are now with the solicitors.
I change into jeans and a jumper and return to the kitchen. April has placed all the food on the table.
“This is a small thank you for all you’ve done over the past twenty-four hours and what you’re saying you’re going to do for the community. You’re not what I thought, Caleb Frazer. When I’m wrong, I admit I’m wrong.”
“Thank you,” I say, my heart racing at her words. I turn my attention to the food and take a seat. “This looks amazing.”
April smiles, and my heart stops this time.
“Tuck in,” she says.
And we do.