“What is it?” I said.
He looked to the ceiling. “I’m going away again.”
“What? Fucking no, Cal! You’ve only just come back. What about the zoo? I thought it was permanent?” I banged my arm against the fridge as I was flailing it about. It would hurt later.
He shook his head. “It is permanent. The zoo wants me to go out to Kenya as part of a team to support the rangers out there in treating some of the animals.” He bit his lips together. “It’s over twelve weeks and it’s being filmed for television.”
I laughed. Partly with shock that he was going away again and also because Callum was inhumanly good looking. He already had his own YouTube channel and a huge following on Instagram. If I was one of the managers at the zoo, I’d have chosen Callum to go too.
“It isn’t funny, Ava. Mum’s going to kill me.”
Out of my four eldest siblings he was the only one who only ever referred to Marie as Mum and never as Marie. He didn’t remember his own mother and out of all seven of us, he was perhaps closest to our mum.
“She is,” I said. “But it’s only temporary. And I have a suggestion that might help.”
“What?” he asked cautiously.
“Buy a house. I’ve seen a reno which is structurally sound – it just needs redecorating and maybe a couple of walls coming down to make an open plan diner-kitchen and add an ensuite. There’s more you could do. If you buy something like that, it could be ready for when you get back. When’s it due to start?”
“Ages away. January. We’d probably fly out New Year’s Day.”
“You have quite a few details,” I said. “So this is likely to happen?”
He nodded. “Honestly, I don’t mind. I’ve worked in the area before and I know what to expect, but I wasn’t expecting to go away again.”
“Cal,” I said. “Why did you come back?”
“It was time. I’d been away from you lot for long enough.”
“That’s bullshit.”
He gave his odd half-laugh. “Yeah, well. I wanted to come home.”
“You’re not telling me any more?”
He shook his head. “Not at the moment. I don’t know what to tell you about it.”
“So there is an it. Is the it a she?”
“Don’t go there, Aves,” he said. “Not yet.”
I picked my coffee up and sipped at it. Callum always used piping hot milk and made mine milky like he had done when I was little. I had never seen him cut up over a girl, but I had the feeling that this was what it was.
“How’s Eli treating you?”
I remembered my reaction when Payton had asked me the same question. Eli was amazing but if I admitted that I’d start to question my own motivations. “He’s good. He’s a really decent guy.” Plus he was as hot as sin and knew exactly what to do with his cock and his fingers and his mouth.
“He is,” Callum said. “Drink up. I need to go back to work.” He checked his phone. “Yep, I need to go back. I’m needed. By an elephant.”
I laughed and nearly spluttered coffee. “At least you’re needed.”
He nodded. “By an elephant.”
Even across a crowded room I could feel Payton’s eyes digging into me. I gave her a slight smile and dodged the daggers she was sending, instead trying to focus on Victoria and Vanessa who were talking about weddings and swapping ideas. I was strangely content that Max and Vic were engaged: it felt right, as if the pieces of the jigsaw were finally clicking into the right places. Victoria was elated, continually glancing at the small rock Max had chosen and I caught the glances he kept throwing her way and the soft smiles she gave him. It was obvious they were counting the minutes to when they could be on their own. But it was Payton and Seph’s birthday party, combined with a celebration for Maxwell’s engagement, so there was no chance of anyone being on their own for some time.
I made my way over to where Payton was standing next to Owen, his arm round her waist. My efforts at luring Payton over to Cases the night before had been successful and the two of them were back together and Owen owed me, which might help stop my upcoming demise.
“Happy birthday, bigger sister,” I said, tentatively holding my arms out to give her a hug.
