Chapter Twenty-Five
Maya
“Honey, I’m home!” Fallon calls as she walks into the living room. “How was today? I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been a mess all day knowing you would be on your own.”
She walks over, slips off her shoes and sits opposite on me on the couch.
“I’m a big girl you know,” I say, rolling my eyes. Deciding there and then not to tell her about Jack. The last thing I want is to worry her even more. “I had a great time without you all cackling in the background like the bunch of witches you are,” I stick out my tongue to lighten her mood.
“At least we’re witches and not bitches,” She laughs. “So… what time is Tommy picking you up?”
Tommy text me earlier to say he’d get me at 7pm and to dress nice, but to bring a warm coat and flats for later.
“In an hour. I just need to put my dress on,” I say, excitement taking over me again. “Do you think my hair and make up looks okay?”
“You look beautiful girl, you always do.”
“You don’t mind me going out with him, do you? It’s only today I realised it might seem weird for you,” I’ve had this feeling all day that she wouldn’t be happy about it, but she hasn’t shown me any reason to feel like that. It’s so confusing.
“Oh my god. No, not at all! Maya,” She comes over to my side of the couch, taking my hands in hers. “The thought of you two together would make me so unbelievably happy. You’d be my true sister as well as my soul sister.”
Recognition shoots through me, my body jerking ramrod straight. I can’t take my eyes off of her, searching every detail of her face. Fallon reaches over, brushing away a tear that has leaked down my cheek.
“Babes, why are you crying?” She asks, concern written all over her face. “What did I do?”
“Come on Maymay! We’re going to be late!” Fallon yells up the stairs.
“One minute,” I reply, laughing to myself. I know how much she loves to be early for everything.
My response obviously wasn’t good enough for her as her feet bang on every step and she storms up the stairs.
“Maya! You may be my soul sister, but I swear to god I will kill you if you don’t hurry up,” She barks at me as she slams the bedroom door open. “You know tonight is the night that Matthew plans to ask me to be his girlfriend.”
“I love our girly nights,” Fallon says excitedly. “I’m so happy my mum said we can have our first proper sleepover.”
“Me too,” I smile, squeezing her hands as we jump up and down excitedly. “This is going to be the best night ever!”
“We can stay up all night! Do our skin care, watch some movies and eat loads of chocolate!”
“Fal? What’s wrong?” I ask as I take in her tear-stained cheeks. Mascara running in black lines all the way down her neck.
“Jimmy is cheating on me!” She wails.
I sit down on the bed facing her, leaning forward to wipe away the tears with the arm of my jumper. They have been together for two years, but she has had suspicions for a while. I bring her in for the world tightest hug.
“Fuck him. We have each other. Let’s get dressed up and party all this sadness out of you,” I tell her. Her eyes light up at the idea.
“I love you Maymay.”
“This is what soul sisters are for.”
“Fallon… I remember you. I remember us. As soon as you said soul sister, it’s like a mist blew away from my mind,” I say quickly, shaking my head as I carry on.
“I doubt it’s everything, just snippets.
Like the time when you wanted to break up with that boy in year ten…
Matthew? So, we wrote him a text together.
Or the time we went for lunch, and I spilt a Pornstar Martini all down your new dress and we had to rush out to buy a new one before the shops closed for the day. ”
Fallon has fat tears soaking her beautiful face, a look of wonder in her eyes.
“Oh Maymay!” She lunges at me, pulling me close. “I can’t believe it. This is amazing! I can’t even speak I’m that happy.”
“Stop it,” I say, dabbing under my eyes. “I need to look gorgeous and you’re ruining my make up!” We laugh. “Now, come help me impress your brother.”
“Trust me, you could wear a bin bag and he will be impressed,” She says with a cheeky smile, grabbing my hand and dragging me into the bedroom.
I can’t believe it, maybe I’m not entirely broken. Piece by piece I will get my memories back. Next stop is to find out where Tommy fits into the puzzle.
“Mayaaaa!” Gracie shouts from the front door. “Someone is here for you,” She sing-songs out to me.
Gracie and Blair were so excited to hear about my mini revelation with Fallon. Blair was fuming that I don’t recall much of her, as apparently, she’s the most memorable of us all.
I finish fastening my heels and grab my coat before heading to the door. Tommy is stood there, wearing the most impeccable suit and jacket.
Fuck me sideways.
I thought he couldn’t get any better looking. Tommy in a suit is on parr with Tommy shirtless and sweaty after a run, bloody delightful.
“Hi,” I say, suddenly feeling shy now I’m in his presence.
“You look beautiful Maya. Are you ready?” he says as he reaches his hand out for me to take.
As if I needed anymore butterflies flittering around in my stomach, just a simple touch of his hand sends them into a frenzy.
“Yes, lets go,” I smile up at him as we leave. Looking back at the cabin, I see all three girls peaking through the blinds at us as we leave.
“Oh my god. Have you seen the state of them?” I say, cocking my head in the direction of the window.
He looks towards the window and lets out a laugh, shaking his head.
“Wow, they’re another level. You lot have always been like this you know,” He says, smiling fondly at the memories.
“Really?” I ask, as he opens the car door for me, and I take a seat.
I wait until he has rounded the car and taken his own seat before continuing.
“I remembered something earlier! Fallon called me her soul sister and loads of memories came flooding back to me. Nothing important, just snippets of happy times together. I really think I’m ready to know more. ”
His eyes widen, a slow, jubilant smile taking over his face. “Maya, that’s fucking amazing. You never know, more memories might come back quicker than you think now.”
“I hope so, I’m sick of being in the dark. Like everyone knows my secrets but me,” I say timidly. “I sound like a child, don’t I? I’m just fed up of it all.”
“Not at all, you’ve been through a lot. I’m happy to fill in any of the gaps, but first I was thinking I could take you somewhere that might help.”
We pull up to a restaurant that I have been to recently with the girls, they must have told him how much I liked the food here. A waiter comes over to show us to our seats and leaves us with the menu.
“I have an idea, but only if you’re okay with it, could I order for you? We have been here together once before, and I remember what you liked.” He says, with a cocky smile.
This man! Is there anything he could say that would turn me off? I can’t take my eyes off of him, sex appeal oozes from his every pore.
“I’d like that. Let’s hope my taste hasn’t changed,” I wink.
“Oh I know it hasn’t. Nothing about you has changed.”
“How can you be so sure?” I ask, genuinely needing to know. I need to know that I can still be the person I was before.
“Because I know everything about you and hopefully, one day soon, you’ll know all there is to know about me again.”
There is one question I’m desperate to ask him, that I need the answer to but am I ready for the answer?
“Tommy. I… I want to ask you something,” I say before my nerve disappears.
“You can ask me anything,” He stares at me intently, intrigued to know what I’m about to say, no doubt.
“Did we…”
I’m stopped before I could ask the full question by the waiter. My shoulders droop, why did he have to come over right now?
“Are you ready for me to take your order? Or do you need another minute?” He asks brightly. I’m about to say a few more minutes as we haven’t even looked at the menu, when Tommy turns and answers him first.
“Yes please. Could we both have the bruschetta to start and spaghetti carbonara for our mains, to drink could we have a bottle of Whispering Angel and a bottle of water for the table,” He asks, not even having to look. The girls had mentioned my love of carbonara but I hadn’t tried it yet.
“Of course. I’ll be over shortly with your drinks.”
“Thank you,” We both say.
“What was it you wanted to ask? I’m dying to know.”
But I’ve lost my courage, I swallowed the question, doubt taking over me. He must be able to read it on my face as he reaches across the table for my hand.
“Maya, you can ask me anything. I want to know everything about you.” The look of sincerity on his face convinces me to just do it.
“Were we a couple Tommy? Is that why I feel so comfortable around you?” I did it. I’ve finally asked the question that’s bugged me since I first laid eyes on him.
“Oh baby, we were so much more than that,” His lip lifts and he grins at me, the flirt even winks. I see behind the act he’s putting on though, I see it doesn’t reach his eyes. There’s a sadness there, lurking beneath it all. What kind of hell did I put him through?
“I’m so sorry. I wish I could offer you more, but I…”
“No,” he interrupts me. “How can you apologise for something that was completely out of your control? I’ve been hurting for a long time Maya.
Needing you, fuck, craving you. but it’s more than that, we were more than that.
One day I hope you remember it all, but for now, I’d want to just spend some time with you.
I can only hope that one day, you will fall back in love with me. ”
Wow. I loved him, and I can tell he loved or maybe even still does, love me. Just sitting with him here, admiring how handsome he is and how easy he is to talk to, I know that it wouldn’t be hard to fall for this man. If I’m lucky, maybe one day I can love him again.
“Baby, I don’t want to be the one to cause you tears,” His face looks pained. I didn’t even know I was crying.
Bloody hell, it’s all I’ve done today.
“It’s been an emotional day,” I offer him a sheepish smile. “You haven’t made me cry, I’m just a bit overwhelmed that’s all.”
“Well, let’s hope your next tears are over how good this food is,” He smiles at me briefly before his face drops, his eyes zeroing in on my arm. “Maya, what’s that?”
I follow his glare and notice four bruises, the size of fingertips on my arm.
Shit!
Do I tell him about Jack? I don’t want him to get the wrong idea about it. It’s not like I was ever going to date Jack, it was just someone to talk to. Deciding my best option was to tell a little white lie, I smile and wave him off.
“Oh it’s nothing, I fell over in my bedroom. Just me being clumsy,” I laugh, but even I could tell it sounded forced.
“Maya, who did this to you?” He insists, not about to let this drop anytime soon. Is it wrong that it’s turning me on a bit? I love this protective side of him.
“Listen, its nothing to worry about. It was just an accident,” I reply, pleading with him to just let it go. I don’t want to ruin our night.
“If someone has hurt you, I want you to tell me. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” He states, clearly not believing my bullshit.
“I know,” I reach over touching my fingers with his. “Stop worrying.”
Before he gets chance to say anything else, the waiter returns with our meals, thank god. Saved by bruschetta.