Chapter 60
KAI
“What the fuck happened to you, lad?” Callum’s voice blasted through the phone the second I answered. “One minute you were in McNeils with us and the next you were gone… didn’t even say goodbye.” He sounded genuinely offended.
“Oh right… Yeah, there was just something I needed to do,” I said, slotting my key into the front door.
“For the whole night?” he pressed, incredulous.
“Uh… yeah.” I winced at how unconvincing I sounded.
“Well, you must’ve hurt Jessica’s feelings; she was well upset when you left - said you treated her like a mug.” He sounded far too pleased about that.
“Ahh, shit,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “I forgot about Jessica - she was all over me like a bad rash. I had to get away from her,” I added with a laugh.
“Fair enough, Cap, you made a quick escape with that.” I could practically hear his grin. “Didn’t take her long to move onto Nathan. Said she gave him a blowjob behind the alley.”
Even though I couldn’t see him, I knew he had that smug, dirty smirk on his face.
“She didn’t?!” I replied, shocked but not exactly surprised.
“Apparently,” he said, crunching loudly on cereal. “You’re lucky you didn’t go there. She’s the type of girl who either sticks you with the clap or a baby.”
“Yeah…” I muttered, suddenly very glad I’d left. Alex had been the clarity in the blur of last night - the one thing that made sense.
“What about you and Amanda?” I asked, brightening my tone.
“You’d be proud of me…” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “I walked her home, she invited me in, and I said no.”
“What?” I laughed. “You’ve had a crush on Amanda for like a century.”
“Yeah, but she was all drunk, and it didn’t feel right,” he said. “I’ll get her next time.”
“Wow… I am surprised drunk Callum had the willpower to think without his dick,” I joked, stepping out of my shoes and placing them neatly on the rack.
“Me too,” he laughed. “You still coming to mine later, right?” I could hear the grin in his voice, that familiar Callum energy buzzing through the line.
“Yeah,” I said, chucking my keys on the side. “Just let me get dressed, and I’ll be over.”
“Alright, I’ve got a pack of beers with our name on them.” Something clattered on his end - probably him kicking something across his messy floor.
“I’m not drinking,” I said, shaking my head even though he couldn’t see it. “My head’s pounding as it is, and you shouldn’t either. We have a game tomorrow.”
“What?!” Callum huffed, dramatic as ever. “You mean party Kai was only in town for one night?” I could picture him throwing his hands up like I’d personally offended him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I laughed, running my fingers through my hair.
“It means I should have made the most out of drunk Kai when I had the chance. He’s a right laugh.” He was definitely pacing now - he always paced when he got going.
“He is me.” I found myself pointing at my chest even though he couldn’t see.
“No, you’re like two different people.” I could practically feel him rolling his eyes through the phone. “It’s like a Jekyll and Hyde situation, only you never know when he’s going to appear.”
“You idiot.” I laughed, rubbing my forehead.
“Hurry up and get your ass round here.” Something thumped - probably him flopping onto his bed.
“Don’t talk about my ass,” I said, smirking as I rounded the archway into the kitchen.
He laughed - a loud, unfiltered bark - and hung up.
I stared at my phone for a second, shaking my head.
Bloody idiot.
The kitchen tiles were cold under my feet as I walked in, the house quiet in that familiar way - the kind of quiet that used to feel peaceful but suddenly felt a bit too empty after being with Alex.
I dropped my phone on the counter and let out a breath, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Where have you been then?” Mum’s voice cut through my thoughts.
She was perched on the barstool, hair a mess, eyes wide and tired like she hadn’t slept at all. Still in her pyjamas. Hands running through her hair over and over, like she was trying to keep herself together by force.
I stopped in the doorway and just looked at her. A heavy, regretful sigh slipping out of me before I could stop it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when I was coming home,” I said, wincing as I met her eyes. “I just… needed some time.”
“I was worried sick. All night, Kai.” Her voice cracked, the words trembling. “But I wanted to give you some space.”
That made it worse.
She’d been hurting and still tried to do right by me.
I crossed the kitchen and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into me.
“I’m sorry, Mum,” I whispered into her hair. “I’m so sorry.”
She let out a shaky breath, leaning into me like she’d been holding herself upright for hours.
“I don’t want to sell the house,” she said finally; the words sounded like they were dragged out of her, like they hurt to say. “But we don’t have a choice, Kai.”
“I know…” I murmured, guilt twisting in my chest.
“And wherever we go, your father is still going to be looking down on us.” She wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. “He loved us… so much, Kai.”
“I know.” I breathed out slowly, feeling the weight of it settle between us.
“We haven’t had any buyers yet anyway,” she added, her voice softening. “But when we do, Kai… I need you to work with me, not against me. You’re all I have.”
That hit me like a punch. Because she was right. She was the one working overtime, night shifts, early mornings, holding everything together while I’d been spiralling. She was the thread keeping our whole world from falling apart.
And I’d been tugging at it.
“I’m going to buy this house back one day,” I said, pulling back enough to look at her properly. “Once I’ve signed a contract… I’ll get it back. I promise.”
Her eyes filled instantly, soft and shining, and she tucked herself into my arms again like she used to when I was little.
“Okay, Kai,” she whispered, and for a moment I just held her. The silence wrapped around us like a blanket - warm, heavy, familiar. The kind of silence that didn’t need filling, it said everything without either of us speaking.
Her breathing steadied against my chest.
Mine did too.
Then she finally pulled back, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand, and looked at me properly - really looked - taking in the leaf still clinging to my jumper, the faint alcohol stains on the fabric, the smell of cold night air still wrapped around me like a cheap cologne.
And I could see the question forming before she even opened her mouth.
“Where were you last night, Kai?” she asked softly.
I swallowed, guilt prickling at my skin.
“I was with a friend,” I said honestly. “I just… needed to get out. Clear my head.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly - not suspicious, just curious. “Alex?”
“Uh…Yeah.” I nodded slowly, and I felt my lips curl at the edges just thinking of him. “He helped. I’m okay now.”
She studied me for a moment longer, and then a small smile crept up her lips too - the kind that said she’d noticed something I hadn’t meant to show.
“I like him,” she said, eyes shining under the kitchen light.
“Yeah, me too, Mum.” I smiled and said it like I really meant it. Because I did.
I kissed the top of her head before heading upstairs, my legs suddenly heavy with everything the morning had been.