Chapter Two
Maya
He has never seen me in the same way that I see him, but that has never stopped me from looking, never stopped me from thinking about him, wanting him.
Memories come to the forefront of my mind, and I start to remember the times spent with him in his family home, cuddling up close to one another, watching films and eating junk food over the weekend.
I shrink back further into the sofa as the zombie jumps out at the poor character that’s being chased.
“Don’t go in there!” I gasp aloud. As if the girl can hear me through the screen.
Tommy chuckles, the movement bringing us even closer. “Yeah, it’s never a good idea to trap yourself in a house with a zombie.”
“This isn’t going to end well for her,” I say as I pull a pillow up to cover my face, making his laughter grow louder.
“Are you too scared? We can always turn it off?” he asks.
“No, it’s okay,” I reply, knowing that the longer this movie plays, the longer I get to sit this close to him.
He looks down at me, assessing whether to turn it off or not. After a moment, he makes up his mind and puts his arm around my shoulders. My heart skips a beat as I feel the heat of his body radiating through me. I definitely won’t be watching any of the film now that I have him distracting me.
“Don’t worry, Maymay. I’ve got you.”
As that small and simple memory flashes through my mind, I think to myself, God, I have always had it bad for this man, even when he was still a boy.
He had never paid us girls much attention in the way we had all hoped, what with him being a few years older than us, but he had definitely held all of our attention.
He moved away from Worcester to the Cotswolds after finishing university to open his own business and only came back for quick visits to friends and family.
Tonight must be one of those rare occasions for him to grace us with his presence.
His dazzling eyes aim at me, a cocky smirk taking up one side of his face. Surely, it’s not me he’s looking at, but I send a shy smile in his direction, then scurry back across the bar to our table, only to be greeted by a tray filled with shots. Ten of them.
Dear lord, send help. These lot are trying to kill me off tonight. The five of us, including Harry, all grab a shot and lifting his phone, Harry starts recording.
“Right, my lovely ladies, I need some videos for the bar's socials, and you beautiful lot downing shots is exactly what we need.”
The bar has been getting busier and busier since he first took over the lease a year ago.
The dark wood interior and warm, cosy feeling you get in here have been a hit with the locals.
His quirky social media presence is definitely the largest factor in his success.
The fact that he is easy on the eye and such a charmer helps a lot too.
“Come on, girls!” Fallon hollers. “We’re here for a good time, not a long time!”
Lifting his phone higher, he gathers us around him, “3…2…1…” we all say together before slamming the shots back.
“Fuck me! That was horrid! What the hell was that?” I cry as I try to catch my breath. My eyes betray me, scanning the surroundings to make sure a certain, handsome man wasn’t watching me dry heave. “Why can’t we ever have a nice girly shot. That was like the devil’s juice.”
“Because Maymay, tonight is about letting our hair down and Absinthe is the best way to achieve that,” Blair explains as she laughs at me.
“It was like bloody battery acid,” Gracie adds, the look of disgust still on her face. Well, at least I’m not the only weak one in the group.
“Are we all ready for another?” Fallon asks, laughing as she picks up another shot off the tray and knocks it back in one go. She ends it with a coughing fit. That’s what she gets for trying to play tough. Even still, we all follow suit.
I can feel the alcohol coursing through me now.
My mind feels lighter than it has in a very long time.
Thoughts of Jake are well and truly buried at the back of my mind.
Harry has booked a live band for the night, which was the excuse Fallon used to drag me out, but I know that the true reason we are here tonight is that they had planned an intervention.
What I didn’t realise, though, is just how much I needed it, how much I needed them.
The band is playing covers from the early 2000’s, and the whole bar is loving it. As soon as they start to play their second song (Britney Spears – Oops! I did it again), we run to the dance floor.
Fallon and I are bouncing up and down, as graceful as ever, along to the music.
Meanwhile, Gracie and Blair go that extra mile and start slut dropping right in the middle of the makeshift dance floor for everyone to see.
Honestly, I have the most amazing group of friends anyone could ask for.
The four of us sing along at the top of our lungs, so terribly that I don’t know how Harry hasn’t had us kicked out.
As the song comes to an end, an eery feeling takes over me, and the hairs on my arms stand up, almost like someone is watching. Shivers travel up my spine at the hope of who it could be. Slowly, I turn around and come face to face, or should I say face to chest, with the one I’m hoping to see.
Tommy.
Oh god, did he have to smell so good? He has changed his aftershave since we were younger. Now, it’s more masculine and alluring. Just like him.
“Thanks for picking me up tonight. The girls all wanted to stay out, but I needed to get home for my exams tomorrow,” I tell Tommy, as he opens the car door for me.
As I sit in the passenger seat, he leans an elbow on the door frame, looking like an absolute sex god, and I can’t help but swoon.
Being this close to him, I can smell his woodsy boyish scent and butterflies erupt in my stomach at his proximity.
He’s still in his football gear, coming straight from training to pick me up.
How can anyone caked in sweat and mud still be this attractive? It’s not fair.
“Don’t worry, Maymay. I’d rather you call me than go home alone. I was driving past anyway.” He says with that beautiful, crooked smile of his. “Do you need any help studying for your exam?”
“Erm, sure? Are you any good at math?” I casually ask while my insides are jumping for joy.
“Yep. I’ve got an hour or two free before I need to get the others, so I can come round now?” He knows that I’m always home alone, my mother never bothering to grace me with her presence.
“Perfect,” even though I inwardly sigh, this will be another night of torture. Spending the evening with the boy I want, who will never want me in return.
I open my mouth about to speak, just as he does the same. Resulting in us both smiling at each other. Before we manage to get any words out, Fallon comes bounding over.
“Tommy! What are you doing here? I thought you were only getting back tomorrow. It’s so good to see you, big bro!” She shouts over the music.
And just like that, I feel like a bucket of ice water has been dumped all over me.
I jump back a step, remembering who he is, who he is to me.
My best friend’s brother, and he is off limits.
The look on his face shows he’s not as happy to see Fallon as she is to see him. Is he as mournful as I am to be interrupted?
“Hey, little sis. The guys were all out tonight, and I finished my latest project earlier than I anticipated. So, I thought I’d come and let off some steam.
” I don’t fully understand what it is Tommy does for work.
I know its construction related and he owns the business, but that’s about it.
I never wanted to ask much about him when I was over at Fallon’s house.
In fear of drawing too much attention to how much I have always fancied him.
A man like Tommy, though, could you blame me? Of course, he is ageing like a fine wine. The dark, well-groomed stubble and black tailored suit he’s wearing are making me feel things I know I shouldn’t. If he were a rock star, I’d be throwing my panties at him.
“Mum will be made up, she will get to spend more time with you. Are you staying at the house?” Fallon asks.
“No. I’ve actually bought an apartment here in the city, so I’ll be able to visit more often now. I picked up the keys earlier today. Max and I have opened another office nearby,” he replies. Max is their other brother.
“Is Max here too? Hang on, why didn’t we know you had bought an apartment? And why didn’t you tell us you were opening another office up here? God, Tommy, you are so secretive,” Fallon complains, ever the annoying little sister.
Tommy rolls his eyes at her dramatics.
“I am busy, you know. As for Max, yes, he’s in here somewhere.”
“Well, I think that’s amazing news, Tommy. Let me know if there’s anything you need help with,” I offer, trying to keep my cool. He’s looking at me again, and is that heat I see behind his eyes? Surely I’m mistaken.
Fallon is uncharacteristically quiet. Looking back at her, worried she noticed mine and Tommy’s exchange, I realise her focus is on Harry, who’s currently behind the bar chatting up a new group of girls. As much as she likes to deny it, it’s clear how much Harry affects her.
“One sec, I’ll be right back,” she says as she stomps over to the bar like a bratty child about to throw their dummy out. I wish they would do us all a favour, get it on and get it over with. All this sexual tension between them is suffocating.
I can’t hear what they’re saying from where I stand, but from the look Harry is giving to Fallon, she fell right into his trap. Hilarious.
“Sooo…”
“So.” We start at the same time, then laugh a little.
“I’ve not seen you around for a while. How are things?” Keep it casual, Maya, you have a boyfriend, remember. I may not be happy, but I’m not a cheater either. I need to have the talk with Jake ASAP.
“Good, busy as always. How about you?” Well, this is very formal, isn’t it? He is speaking to me in a business-like tone, but his eyes seem to be saying something more.
“Yep, all good here.” I look around the bar, feeling anxious at the level of unease between us. When I look back at him, he chuckles.
“Yeah, this is awkward, isn’t it? I’m sorry, I have always felt a little out of sorts around you.” Join the club, I thought “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” he says almost nervously. Maybe it isn’t all in my head, maybe he can feel this chemistry that I have always felt too.
No! I need to stop this. I’m getting ahead of myself, and my mind is known for betraying me, jumping to conclusions.
“Really? How come? You’ve known me for almost as long as I’ve known Fallon.” I feel my confidence build at the slight slant of a smile I see on his beautiful lips. Lips that I would love to feel against mine.
His eyes rake over me, taking me in. I feel naked under his stare. “You get more and more beautiful each time I see you, Maya.”
Well. That was unexpected. Did he really just say that? My heart is working double time on the words that just left his mouth.
“Wh-what?” I sputter, but he just laughs.
“Do you want to grab a drink with me? Maybe a dance too?” he asks, confidently now. His smile stretches wider at the blatant shock on my face. “I’d love to catch up with you some more.”
I know I should say no. Should tell him I’m seeing someone, but that teasing glint in his eyes compels me to do the opposite.
“I’d love to.”