Page 12 of Wish You Once More
Callie: Don’t be long, I can’t fight off all the out of town hotties without you! X
Callie was all about the casual fling right now, having split up with a long-term boyfriend at the start of the year. Her break-up sparked a series of changes for her: dyeing her previously blonde hair brown, moving into a flat with me, getting a new job with one of the estate agents in town, and basically sleeping with anyone before moving on to the next.
Her laissez faire attitude towards relationships was one I could learn from, rather than being hung up on my past. I knew this, but it didn’t mean I could do it.
I scrawled a note for my studio mates on our shared chalkboard, saying I wouldn’t be around this weekend, so the place was all theirs. I knew that sometimes, particularly if I was sanding down an object, the noise didn’t exactly make for a peaceful, creative experience for them. I think it was why I found myself there on my own more often than not.
Tentatively, I turned my phone back on. Apart from a flurry of messages from Callie, it was blissfully silent.
There was nothing more from Mat.
I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. In a small way, I’d hoped he would at least engage in some conversation. Stuffing my things into my bag, I locked up and headed for the pub.
When I arrived, a loud wolf whistle greeted me.
“Looking hot, Bree!”
The sound and comment came from one of the benches outside, which Callie had commandeered. She waved, shielding her eyes from the sun. A large pitcher of margarita sat in the middle of the table. My mouth watered at the thought of tequila and lime.
I headed over to join her, noting that my moves were followed by a group of lads around our age sitting at one of the other tables.
“What are you waiting for? Pour me one of those, I need it!” I ran a hand through my hair, flicking the ponytail over one shoulder, and fanning myself. “Geez, it’s hot.”
“Are you flirting?” hissed Callie, her gaze darting to the table near us.
I shrugged. “Why not?”
It didn’t seem like a bad idea. I needed some distraction to get me away from the thought that Mat Redmond would be in town.
She raised her eyebrows and passed me my glass. I lifted it to my lips and sank almost half the contents in one go. The tequila burned a path down my chest, and I exhaled deeply.
“So, what’s new?” Callie sipped her drink in a more ladylike manner. “Did you and Harry have a nice afternoon together?”
“What’s the obsession with getting me and Harry together?”
Callie tilted her head. “Oh, I don’t know? Maybe because he’s hot, you two have great chemistry, and you both enjoy poking around smelly antiques shops?”
She had a point, but I liked Harry too much to want to jeopardise our friendship. If we got together and screwed it up, I’d have to find somewhere else to get my projects from. I’d be too embarrassed to work with him.
There may also have been another sticking point in that I wasn’t totally over Mat.
Which presented problems all of its own.
I took another gulp of the cocktail. “I got a text from Mat today.”
Her head whipped up, mouth forming an ‘o’. “You what?”
“Totally innocent. Darla wanted to check he was okay with everything for this weekend.” I shrugged.
“Christ, Bree, it’s been how long?”
Too long and not long enough.
“Dunno.”
Callie reached across the table, her hand making grabbing movements. “Let me see.”
“No.” Knowing how nosy she was, I didn’t want her scrolling back in the message thread and watching our entire relationship history unfolding backwards as she read the exchanges. There were a number of less than savoury things on there, plus some sexting which even my best friend shouldn’t see. I kept a tight hand on my phone, not willing to hand it over.
