Looking back once more at Seth, he wasn’t looking anywhere but at his shoes. Poor guy. I was going to have to think of something to cheer him up.
Two hours later and I was annoyed at Seth.
I’d gone home with my brother and Warner, not letting my phone out of my sight waiting for Seth to call or message or something. But it remained stubbornly silent. After cooking dinner, I cleaned up the kitchen, had a shower, and went to bed. It was too late now. I didn’t want to talk to him. My pity had morphed into annoyance, and God help anyone who came near me right now.
Waking up to the alarm I didn’t remember setting wasn’t my ideal start to the week, but it was what it was. I was awake now, and I had no hope of getting back to sleep anytime soon. Climbing out of bed, I looked out the window. It was a miserable, windy, and overcast Monday – pretty much how I was feeling. Determined to shake off the Monday blues, I changed into my workout gear, borrowed Isaac’s car, and headed to the beach. Taking my frustrations out on my body seemed like as good of an idea as any.
Stepping onto the sand, my eyes swept over the waves involuntarily. I hated that I was looking for the lime green shorts, but they weren’t there. Disappointed, I slipped in my earbuds, pumped up the music, and took off down the beach.
An hour later, sweating and panting, my phone rang, and I dug it out of my bra.
“Hello?” I spluttered as I tried to suck in the deep breaths.
“Claire? Claire, are you okay?”
“F-fine…” I confirmed, knowing I sounded anything but. “Just out for a run.” I hastily added the explanation.
“Oh. Okay then. Look, Toby’s called in sick for his shift today, and I was wondering if you could cover…”
“I’m on this afternoon,” I reminded Isla.
“Yeah. Any chance you feel like doing a double?” Isla’s voice was full of hope, and I didn’t even have to consider my answer. Not only would this put more money in my very needy bank account, but Isla had been so good to me when I’d needed her, there was no way I could turn her down when she needed help.
“Sure. What time do you need me?”
“Ah…as soon as you could get here would be great.” I could hear something smash, then crashing, followed by some impressive swearing.
“Let me go home and shower, you don’t want me near your customers smelling like I do, then I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Claire. You’re a lifesaver!”
“See you in a bit.”
Hanging up, I stuffed my phone back in my bra and took off running back to the car park. From the sounds of it, Isla needed the help, and I needed the distraction.
* * *
I’d never done a double before.
I was never doing one again.
Everything ached. My feet. My back. I had the world’s worst headache and I was starving. Like I could eat a horse hungry. I was on my second slice of leftover lasagne when my phone chirped.
Seth:Hi
Hi? Hi? Seriously. What the fuck was that? I’d waited twenty-four hours for a hi? Well, screw him. Now he could wait.
