Page 6 of Spiralling Skywards
Despite missing him terribly, Luke leaving was the making of me. I left college, unsure of whether I wanted to go on to university or get a job. I signed up with an agency so that I could earn some money through the summer and make a decision about my future, which was decided for me when I was offered a permanent position in the office of an investment bank in London’s Fleet Street. It wasn’t a graduate or even an under grad position, but the money was good and there were opportunities to work my way up the secretarial ladder, if that was what I wanted.
When I turned twenty, I was earning enough money to be able to move out of my grandparents’ place, allowing them to finally move from the huge four bedroomed detached home that they’d raised us in and buy their dream home in the Suffolk countryside. I, in the meantime, rented a brand spanking new flat in London’s Limehouse with Sasha, who was also working in the city. There was just a ten-minute walk separating our offices, and our new East of the city living location opened up a whole new world for us. No more rushing for trains and an hour and a half commute. We could leave home and be at our desks just twenty minutes later. The bars and night clubs that were filled with investment bankers and traders were now our locals. For two years, we wined, dined, clubbed, and partied our way through life in the city. We had fun, but it wasn’t home. I missed the familiarity of walking into a pub and knowing at least half the people in there, including the bar staff. So when Sasha applied and got a job as an office manager back in our old home town and decided to move back, I knew that life on my own in the city wasn’t what I wanted. I was a homebody. Life in London was fun but on my own, I knew I’d get lonely. I decided to follow Sash, and with the experience I’d gained working for a high-profile company, I quickly landed myself a job as the secretary and personal assistant to the boss of a large car dealership. The money wasn’t as good as I was used to but the rent was a quarter of what we had been paying in London, meaning we were able to afford a three bedroomed house, instead of just a pokey little flat.
Making my return to my hometown complete, just two weeks after we moved into our new place, I received an email from my brother, telling me he was coming home.
Shortly after arriving in Australia, he’d met up with someone in a bar in Sydney whose family had a company that recruited staff for the Australian mining industry. Luke had quickly settled into the Australian way of life and had remained there for four years on a work-sponsored visa. He’d made the trip home just twice in that time, and I’d missed him desperately but totally understood his need to escape, break free and do his own thing without having to worry about me.
But he’d finally returned home to set up his own agency that would recruit British and European engineers looking to move to, or to work in, Australia.
He’d been back for just over a month then, and we had all settled into life back in our old home town. He had stayed in the spare room at my and Sash’s house for the first few weeks. Once he had the kitchen and bathroom in working order at his own place, he’d moved out.
His time away hadn’t changed the bond we shared. He was still my favourite person in the world, and that was why I had spent the last ten days running around like a headless chicken getting everything set up and organised for this surprise thirtieth birthday/welcome home party for him.
“Fuck me, Sares, he’s hot.”
I had just been about to take a sneaky glance over at Mr Blue Eyed Starry Bloke, when Sasha’s words stopped me, and instead I followed her gaze.
Will was walking towards us.
My brother’s best friend andmyfirst crush.
I felt heat rise up my chest and neck, setting my cheeks on fire. I got over my crush when I was thirteen and realised what man whores both he and my brother were, but for some reason, my body still reacted with a blush whenever I saw him.
Will was no more than another big brother to me nowadays. Always there looking out for me, just like most of my real brother’s mates. I didn’t have a mum or dad, so having extra older “brothers” at every turn was both cool and a complete pain in the arse, but I loved them all dearly. Except Deck, like I said, there was just something off with him.
I watched with a certain amount of pride as Will approached us. He was tall and slim, with dark, almost jet-black hair and striking blue eyes. He was wearing the suit I’d gone with him to buy last weekend and strutted towards us like he was on a catwalk, which, given his good looks, could most definitely have been an option.
He pulled me in and kissed the top of my head. “Sarah Sunshine, you’re looking especially gorgeous tonight.”
My blush deepened as he addressed me by the nickname that my brother had given me so long ago I couldn’t actually remember a time when I didn’t have it.
“Sasha,” he said with a nod towards my friend, “stunning as ever.”
“Will, looking good. Love the suit,” she replied.
He looked down at me and smiled. “Sunshine here helped me choose.”
“She chose well.”
“Can I get you girls a drink?” he asked while looking between us. “I just spoke to Cal, they’re still in the pub, but he’s aiming to get your brother here before midnight. I wanna get all but the bar lights up here switched off so he can’t make out any of the faces. I’ll get the lights switched on once he’s in the middle of the room and everyone can do their thing.”
I looked around the room as Will explained his plans for when Luke arrived. There were so many faces I hadn’t seen for years. Since my bother was eight years older than me, I was only vaguely familiar with most of his friends, but that was okay. This was Luke’s night, not mine. I just hoped that he’d be happy with all of the guests Will, Cal, and Deck insisted he would want there. I was about to ask Will about Mr Blue Eyed Starry Bloke when I heard a loud laugh from behind me. Actually, it wasn’t a laugh, it was a cackle, and I knew exactly the witch it had come from, Melanie Thompson.
I turned my head slowly in her direction, pissed off by the fact that she had her back to me and wouldn’t get to witness the incredibly amazing dirty look I was giving her. Will didn’t miss it, though.
“Play nice, Sunshine,” he warned.
“Why is that troll here?” I questioned. “I don’t remember inviting her.”
“I invited her.”
“Nice move, dick head. Why the fuck would you do that?” Sasha asked him before I could.
He looked between us before letting out a long sigh.
“You need to let it go, girls. Luke moved on years ago, you two need to kiss and make up with her, too.”
“Get fucked.” I heard from Sasha, causing me to laugh. “I know how many cocks her lips have been around, so there’s no way I’ll be kissing them any time ever. I can smell her cum breath from here, she’s swallowed so much of the stuff it actually seeps from her pores.”
