Chapter 24
Act III, Scene XVI: Hackney
Titan
T he suffering of my sleep coincided with Kalina’s increased presence in my day-to-day life.
The only place she hadn’t affected was the gym.
At least, until today.
‘Whoa!’ Alex exclaimed as he braced his hand beneath the bar before it crushed my chest.
‘Thanks.’ I exhaled a long shuddering breath.
‘Are you okay? What the fuck was that?’
I shook my head. ‘Had a rough night.’
‘Get it together, okay?’ He slapped my shoulder. ‘You’re done for the day.’
Alex was great at spotting, advising on investments, and telling me when enough was enough.
My phone rang and I reached for it below the bench.
It was Charlie.
I took another breath before answering. ‘Hey.’
‘Hi, are you at the studio?’
‘No, at the gym.’
‘Oh, I can bring you some breakfast? I know you’re probably going to need it after your workout.’
He truly was the better man.
‘Yeah, thanks. I was just leaving.’
‘Great, I’ll see you in…thirty?’
‘See you then.’
Charlie was exactly on time and showed up outside the studio door with a brown paper bag and yellow disposable cups. ‘You still like the Brewery, right?’
I nodded. ‘Still my favourite.’
‘Great,’ he said and grinned widely.
I let him into the studio and he made a beeline straight for the kitchen. ‘I wanted to say thank you for last night. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t there to help Kalina.’
I was a shit friend.
I couldn’t meet his gaze and busied myself getting plates instead. ‘No big deal. Really.’
‘Accept my apology and compliment,’ he teased.
I laughed, and it sounded strained even to my ears. ‘You’re welcome.’
‘So, I feel like shit,’ he said and set the bag and cups down on the counter. He hopped up onto one of the barstools then raked both his hands through his hair.
‘You didn’t plan to delay a flight and have no signal.’ I set the plates down.
‘You’d think I’d have a leg up on technology.’ He pulled out a brown container then handed it to me. ‘They said it was the highest protein item on their menu.’
‘Thanks.’ Charlie made this really hard for me. I looked through the clear lid at the contents. Eggs, spinach, chicken, and veg with some kind of dressing on the side.
‘I got pancakes.’ He grinned like a child as he set the container down beside his plate.
That made me laugh. ‘You’re still the same.’
‘Thank you. So are you.’ He lifted the pancakes onto his plate and dug in immediately. ‘I would offer you some,’ he said around a forkful. ‘But I know you’re trying to watch your figure.’
I shot him an unimpressed look.
He only smiled as he stuffed more pancakes into his mouth.
I pulled up a seat and hadn’t even sat down before he swallowed his bite and looked over at me.
‘This is actually a sneaky and selfish visit.’
‘Oh?’
‘Yeah.’ He scratched the back of his head. ‘I wanted to talk to you about Kalina.’
I paused with my fork lifted halfway to my lips. ‘Mmm.’
‘I feel terrible about last night.’
I released the breath I’d been holding. ‘Did you tell her that?’ I shoved the food into my mouth so I wasn’t tempted to say anything further.
‘Yes, countless times. She’s taking it rather well. The two of you are close, right?’ He looked at me expectedly.
Close was an understatement.
I’d seen her sleep, I could tell how she felt based on her expressions alone, and I knew what she tasted like.
‘We’re friends,’ I said and shrugged nonchalantly.
‘I want to make things right between us, and she’s willing to give it another shot.’
My heart sank, but I smiled at him reassuringly. ‘Then you’re already good. I know she’ll have the best time with you.’
‘Thanks, but I want it to be great.’
‘Okay…what do you have in mind?’
‘That’s why I’m here.’ He folded his arms on the counter. ‘I need your help.’
‘You are the romantic one.’ He didn’t need my assistance. In fact, I was the last person he should be asking.
But I couldn’t tell him that.
‘I can’t seem to get it quite right with her. And things between you two are so…easy.’
I let out a breath. He needed to give himself more credit, but if I told him the ways I knew Kalina, and what set her off or what made her do a little happy dance, then they would be inexplicably happy together.
So, I put on my best smile and said, ‘Okay, let’s get you that perfect second date.’