Page 4 of Anteros' Return

“What? He cut us all off the second he made it big, Emily included.”

“Fuck you, Mike!” I slammed my glass on the bar, beer sloshing over the rim. “I’m out of here, Ol, text me Daniel’s number.”

I grabbed my crutches and made my way to the exit, albeit a little too slowly for my liking. His words boiled my blood. I hated the fact he interfered in something he shouldn’t have. That he ran his mouth like he typically did and didn’t know when to keep it shut.

Prick!

Just as I thought the night couldn’t get any bloody worse, I collided with Harry on my way out. A guy that was my best mate growing up, who now looked at me with more hatred than I could have imagined.

What the fuck did I do?

“You’ve got some nerve, Beckett,” he hissed, squaring up to my face.

His face was flushed, jaw clenched so tight I thought he might crack a tooth. He used to have this easy, boyish look about him, but that had gone now, and been replaced by something sharper. His dark brown hair was swept back just as it used to be, but other than that he hadn’t changed much at all, other than the fact he looked able to grow a beard now.

“Of course you’d think that.”I tried to sidestep him, but he was quicker than me for obvious reasons.

“Stay away from my sister. Don’t even glance in her direction if you see her. If you’re on the same side of the street, you cross to the other side, you got it?” His words tore into me, hurting more than my injury did.

I squared my shoulders and looked down at him. Harry had always been a few inches shorter than me. “Do you speak for her now?”

“I fucking mean it. Stay away from her.” The anger radiated off of him as he reached out to me, his hand instantly fisted my jacket.

“Fellas, are we going to have a problem?” The bouncer, who watched the door on Saturday nights, stepped between us. His large, burly hand came down on Harry’s shoulder in silent warning.

“Nope, none at all. He was just leaving. He’s good at that.” Harry scoffed and narrowed his eyes at me, telling me just how disgusted he was to see me, and stepped back. A second later, he disappeared inside.

“You good?” It was the bouncer who asked.

“Yeah, couldn’t be better.” I straightened my jacket before making my way to the nearest taxi rank.

I should have stayed away if this was the welcome I’d get.

I climbed into the taxi and relaxed back into the seat, ready to call it a night. A flash of auburn glimmered in the corner of my eye causing my head to turn.

My heart jolted. I turned, almost involuntarily, craning my neck toward the pavement outside. My chest tightened, breath catching before it could properly leave my lungs. For a second, the world narrowed. My mouth went dry, stomach twisting with the sharp, familiar rush of hope I hadn’t felt in years.

Emily.

“Mate, one second.” I flung the cab door open, hobbling over to where the girl stood with her back to me. I spun her around to face me, expecting to see the woman that I still dreamed of every night but disappointment filled me when it wasn’t who I expected it to be. It wasn’t her at all.

The woman looked at me in horror, the shape and colour of her eyes was all wrong. I cleared my throat. “Sorry, my bad. I thought you were someone else.” I stumbled back slightly, unsure of what came over me.

“No problem, are you alright?” She asked, placing her hand on my arm which was anything but welcome.

“Yeah, all good,” I lied.

“Wait a second, you’re that footballer, aren’t you?” She gasped, pulling out her phone to snap a selfie.

“Listen, tonight isn’t the night, alright?” Shrugging off her hand, I turned my back to her and could practically hear her pouting as I hobbled away.

I managed to get away quick enough, escaping the shittest night possible, before she alerted the other people around of who I was.

As I relaxed back against the seat in the taxi for a second time, my phone vibrated in my pocket. One glance at it told me it was Ollie.

I’ve forwarded Daniel’s number to you. I know you might not want to teach a bunch of kids but I think it’ll be good for you.

Cheers, mate. I’ll give him a call tomorrow, maybe helping out for a couple of weeks will do me good. I mean, being here can’t get any worse, can it?

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