I’m meeting up with Christian today to go for a run because this has gone on for long enough. I thought it would be over by now, but it’s not. Ness texted me that Christian sent her mum flowers,which is a start. Look, I know Christian is a good guy, he’s just dealing with a situation shittily.
“Been a while since we’ve done this,” I say, greeting him.
“I’m sorry, man, I just …”
Don’t give me those damn puppy eyes, I can’t stay mad at him. “Come here and give me a kiss.” I plant a kiss right on his cheek. “I still love ya, even when you’re the biggest dickhead on the planet.”
“Yeah, I know.” Christian nods.
“Well, say you’re sorry and move on.”
Christian shakes his head. “I don’t think Ness is going to accept it.”
We start running and fall silent until we reach the top of the canyon. Christian doesn’t look so well, he’s bent over trying to catch his breath.
“You did good,” I say, trying to be encouraging because the man looks like shit. That’s what happens to you when you indulge in too many sins.
“How … the … hell … are … you … not … dead?”
I slap his ass, which makes him yelp. “I have been looking after myself, plus I have stamina. You have been partying too much lately,” I say, giving him a pointed look.
Christian ignores me and takes a seat as we look out over the hazy LA skyline. “Yeah, I know. Shit, I’m sorry, man.”
“No need to apologize to me, but I think you owe Ness a big one.” I grab my water bottle and take a sip.
“Yeah, I do. I spoke to Vanessa the other day.”
“Really?” She did not mention that when we spoke recently, all she said was that he sent flowers. Interesting.
“Yeah, she thanked me for the flowers I sent,” he explains, taking a large gulp of water.
“Well, that was nice. Ness was so worried about her mum. Thankfully, the operation was a success.” Christian nods. “So …what are you going to do about Ness?” I ask him because I’m not going to be dancing around this subject when I have him here.
“Slowly win her back,” he says.
No shit, but he’s really fucked up the mess he has created, and the things he has done are going to leave scars on Ness’ heart forever. “You’re going to have to get down on your knees at some point. I think she deserves that level of groveling.”
“I know, I fucked up, but I was hurt.”
“You know what? I don’t blame you.” Christian stares at me in surprise. “And if you tell Ness, I’ll deny it all. But I get why you’re pissed. From what Ness has told me, you two have been on and off since Sienna and I arrived in LA. And you two have been living together for years. You have worked together since day one, you lived together, traveled together, and took holidays together.” Christian keeps nodding at all my points. “You probably haven’t been any closer to anyone in your life?”
“No, maybe Axel, but he’s blood, so it doesn’t count.”
“And when the person you trusted over everyone else tells you you’re not what they want, it’s only natural you’re going to be pissed, hurt even. Imagine if the person you loved, you relied on, suddenly turned their back on you and purposely did things to break your heart.” Christian’s face falls because he’s getting what I’m putting down. “Imagine if the person you loved more than anything in the world, but was too scared to take a chance on, brought random girls home and tainted every surface, every memory you had there with that person. Imagine how that would feel?”
Christian’s shoulders slump over the weight of my words. “D …” he says, but hesitates as he takes another sip of water. “She’s never going to forgive me, is she?” he asks softly as he looks up at me, and I see that my words have hit the target.
“Honestly? I don’t know.” Panic crosses Christian’s face. “But … I think there’s enough history between you two that maybeyou can build back your friendship, anything more, I don’t know. I don’t know how she’s going to be able to forget the things she has seen.” I mean, I can’t, and I’m not fucking him.
“I can’t lose her, D. I’m going to make this right.” I can hear it in his voice, he means it, but it might be too little too late for him.
“Ness is stubborn, Chris, so don’t push her. I know you’re in a very different place now, just give her time to be in the same one, okay?”
“Okay, I promise I won’t push,” he agrees.
“Good, now come on. The last one to the bottom gets to be the bottom,” I tease him.
“Hey, how are things back home?” I ask Ness when I call her.
