Chapter Six
Tommy
Fuck. My head is pounding.
What was supposed to be a quiet drink with the lads last night ended up turning into a major piss up.
I take a seat at my breakfast bar with the coffee I had just picked up from the café downstairs. The stunning view of the River Severn and its backdrop of the Worcester Cathedral is the reason I bought this apartment. With the balcony doors open, the gentle swish of flowing water and the sounds of birds chirping bring me a sense of peace that I struggle to find elsewhere. Even on a miserable day like today, with grey clouds filling the sky, all I felt was bliss.
The apartment also offers the added benefit of being close enough to visit my parents, but far enough away for them not to pester me every moment.
This morning, I had opened my eyes, the light blinding me and sending a fresh wave of pain through my already fragile head, before beginningto uncurl my body from the strangely twisted way I had fallen asleep, only to immediately freeze when I felt somebody else’s leg brush against mine.
My mind began to race, trying its best to recover some forgotten memory from the night before. Had I brought someone home with me? I couldn’t recall even talking to any other women after Maya had left, but my memories were fuzzy. Glancing over at the body next to me, I immediately relaxed. It wasn’t a random woman, and it certainly wasn’t the woman I wished it could have been;
It was Max.
The fuzzy memories from the night before finally start to come back into focus, and I remember that I had told him to crash at my place last night. The lazy arse is still snoring away in my bed, which I wouldn’t mind, but I have three spare bedrooms here, and he still decided to get in with me. I roll over and check the time on the old vintage alarm clock. Even on the rare occasion I get a day off, I still wake at 6 am. Typical.
I laze around for a few minutes, hoping that I would drift back off, but soon realise it's a losing battle. Slipping out of bed, I begin my morning as I usually do, with a run along the river. The pounding of my feet and the rush of adrenaline helped to clear the last of the fog from my head.
When I got back to the apartment, Max was still snoring in bed, so I hopped in the shower,taking my time and enjoying the hot water, letting it relax my muscles and wash away the combination of grime from our night out and my morning run. After drying off, I headed to my local coffee shop, picking up one for myself and one for Max, certain he was going to need it more than me.
Sipping on the bitter deliciousness of my cappuccino, my mind can’t stop reeling over seeing Maya last night. How is it possible for her to be even more beautiful than the last time I saw her? Not that I would ever admit it to anyone but me, I had taken to checking her social media accounts, like the first-class stalker I am, trying my best to gain any titbit of information about her life that I could.
She hasn’t changed much. Her hair is still the same as it has always been, her eyes still that unique mix of blue and green. Even that shy smile she saves just for me is still there, so I can’t put my finger on what makes her look so different.
Maybe it’s the sexy womanly figure she has now or the way her confidence has grown. Or is it that she has always been this beautiful? It's just that I haven’t laid eyes on her for so long; it’s a shock to see her again.
The way she felt in my arms last night, the feel of the curves at her waist as we danced in the bar. It’s better than I could have ever imagined. It had been so long since I’d touched her that everyopportunity I got, I did just that. I felt like an uncontrollable teenager, needing to rearrange my crotch every five minutes. Maya is the only one who has ever been capable of doing this to me.
What I would give to feel her again.
When we were growing up, she never seemed to notice whenever I flirted with her. Little things gave away to her feelings, though; how her face would heat whenever we were close to each other and how she would stutter her words when we were alone.
Last night changed everything. I won’t be holding back this time.
I could feel the way she reacted to me, the way her breath would hitch when I pulled her in close and the way she gravitated closer each time we made eye contact. When she had held me close last night, just before she left, I hadn’t wanted to let her go. Her captivating floral scent drifted around me, enticing me closer. I swear I can still smell it in the air, driving me crazy
Why did she have to have a boyfriend? I hope to God she was being serious about getting rid of him. I had asked around after she had left, wondering who exactly it was that Maya had found worthy of dating. Finding out it was Jake Smith, the dick who owns a shitty little bar in our hometown, I began to worry. I’d heard horror stories of how he had treated women before; how the hell had Maya got mixed up with him?
“What did that paper cup ever do to you?” Maxchuckles as he walks over, taking the empty seat next to me and automatically reaching for the other coffee cup in front of me, knowing without me telling him that it was for him. Snapping me out of my thoughts, I look down at the coffee cup. Well shit. Thankfully, I had already finished the drink before turning into the Hulk and pulverising it.
“Nothing, just thinking about work is all,” I lie.
“Mhmm, okay. Have you heard from mum? She wants us at the house for dinner tonight,” he tells me whilst checking his phone, probably replying to our mother.
“No, my phone died last night. I only plugged it in before I left for my run earlier,” I reply, getting up and heading back to my room to grab it.
Walking through the hallway, I take in the space. It still feels so bare in here. I really need to go shopping for supplies to brighten the place up a bit. It still feels cold, not like a home. My cottage is nothing like this. Even in size, this apartment is tiny in comparison.
Grabbing my phone and turning the power on, I’m greeted by two messages.
Mum– Family dinner, our house. 4 pm. It is the only night you're all here, so please grace us with your presence.
She says that, like I wouldn’t show up. Not that she’d be wrong. I shoot a quick response, letting her know I’ll be there with Max and move on tothe next one.
Fallon– Hey. Sorry, I had to leave without saying goodbye. Something went down with Maya. See you at Mum's and Dad's later?
