Page 36 of Crashing Into You

I shrug. “I guess. I dunno. We’re just going to see where it goes.”

“‘See where it goes’?” Matt laughs out loud. “Mate, it usually goes to bed when it comes to you.”

“Hey!” I can’t deny I’m a bit stung by their response, though I suppose they have cause. It’s pretty much been a revolving door of women for me over the past few years. Probably always has been, to be honest. There have been a few people I’ve dated for a while, but no one who’s stuck. No one who’s ever made me feel the way Claire does. I’ve only known her for a week, but it feels as though my life has changed irrevocably in some way, and things will never be the same again.

“What’s the plan then?” Kylie glares at Matt, who’s still chuckling into his beer. “You taking her out somewhere?”

“Yeah. She has to work tomorrow, then we’re going for dinner. I thought maybe that Greek place might be nice.” Claire blushed when I asked her, then threw her arms around my neck to kiss me again once she’d said yes. It was a wrench to leave her at her house, to be quite fucking honest. But I want to do this properly, fuck knows why.

“Yeah, it’s lovely. Matt and I went there for our anniversary. Good food. Quite romantic as well.” Kylie winks at me. She goes to lift the heavy saucepan full of water and potatoes, and both Matt and I lunge towards her. “Pssht, out of the way you two,” she says, elbowing past us to the sink where she tips the pan, letting the potatoes roll into a metal colander. “I can lift a saucepan.”

“Kyles.”

“Matt.” She turns her head and gives him a kiss. “As I told Uncle Bryce here, I’m pregnant, not made of porcelain. I’m not at a point where I need help lifting things yet.”

“Furniture,” I say.

Matt and Kylie both look at me like I’ve grown an extra head.

“You shouldn’t be moving furniture around. I’ve heard pregnant women do stuff like that, some sort of nesting instinct.”

Kylie bursts out laughing. “Bryce, my love, if I need a fucking chair moved, I’ll call you, all right? Now, go and get that meat off the BBQ and we can eat.”

Matt and I both grab plates and head outside. The sausages look good– browned and crispy with their skin starting to split. But as I go to pick them up, Matt stops me.

“Any news?” His blue gaze is serious, now. He knows my shit, knows it better than anyone.

“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck with one hand. “Mum reckons things are okay, but you know what she’s like. I don’t know. She seemed to think it was all good, but I’m going to go back up there. I’ll take Claire with me, too, so she can meet them.”

“Yeah, you need to check on her yourself.” Matt is silent for a moment. “I’ll come with you, if you need me to.” He was there when we moved Millie out of her old place, and I still remember the tears in his eyes when he saw how she’d been living, the broken-down furniture, the dried food stuck to plates in the sink, the drug paraphernalia everywhere.

“Thanks, brother.”

He says nothing, but claps me on the shoulder. Then we collect the sausages and head inside.

Claire

How can it only be lunchtime?

I swear to god this is the longest day ever. The shop has been busy, customers collecting orders as well as making purchases. I checked my phone during a lull, sure it must be almost lunch time. But it was only half ten. I had two messages. One from Joss, confirming I was going to meet her and Sal for lunch, and the other from Bryce.

Can’t wait to see you. Meet you at the shop at 6.

I can’twait to see him, either. Which is why this day seems to be taking twice as long as normal. Plus I don’t know what I’m going to say at lunch. I’ve decided to go with a white lie. After all, Bryce and I are kind of legitimately seeing each other now. No one needs to know it started as some sort of dating deal.

At noon I lock the door, putting the little sign in place saying I’ll be back at one. Then I hurry down the street to the café where I’ve agreed to meet Joss. Sal isn’t here in person, as it’s too far to drive for lunch, but apparently this is so important she’s decided to dial in, her cheery face waiting on Joss’s phone when I get to the table. Joss has already ordered, cheese toasties and lattes in takeaway cups, plus a basket of fries sitting on the table.

“Hey, Sal.” I sit down, stuffing a fry in my mouth while I gather my thoughts. “Thanks, Joss, you’re a legend.”

Joss leans in, an uncharacteristically serious look on her face. “Tell. Us. Everything.”

“We need updates,” Sal chips in, from the phone. “Have you done the deed, yet?”

“Sal!” I squeal.

Joss starts giggling, and my tension eases. I love these girls so much. And I’m glad I don’t really have to lie to them anymore. If things work between Bryce and I, then we’ll probably keep seeing each other beyond the end of the month. And if they don’t, we’ll part ways just as we agreed. My chest feels tight at the thought of the second option, though.

“Still no cherries popped,” I say, taking a bite of my toastie. It’s excellent, the toast buttery, cheese oozing between the slices. “We’re just getting to know each other,” I continue, once I can speak.