Page 47 of Crashing Into You

I’m giggling too. “You’re a tease.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” He winks at me. “And I believe we have an appointment with your dining table?” He gets in his car, winding down the window and leaning out. “I’ll give you a ten-minute head start.”

“Ten minutes?”

“Unless you think you’ll need longer?” His tone is all innocence, but his green eyes are starting to smoulder.

I hurriedly get in my car, fumbling with the ignition key before I can get it to start. I pull out, ignoring his cheery wave, giggling as I pull out onto the main road and head back towards my house. It’s amazing how he affects me, how he lifts my mood. A few minutes ago I was screaming at Simon. Now I’m driving towards my house, laughter bubbling in my chest, slick heat between my thighs. And it’s all because of him.

I’m falling for this boy.

Bryce

I’m fucking furious. Not with Claire, but with Simon. I hope I don’t run into him anytime soon, because I’m not sure what I’ll do to him if I see him. I knew Claire was upset as soon as I saw her, no matter how she tried to hide it. I wish I knew where the snivelling dickhead lived, so I could go and punch a hole through his front door. But that won’t help Claire at all. I think she needs to go to the police about it, and if she wants to do that, I’ll support her any way I can.

So I give her a ten-minute start because it’ll give me time to sort my head out. I don’t want to go to her angry. I don’t want to go to her in any way apart from totally focused on her and her pleasure. Just the thought of her soft curves, of her calm presence, is enough to lift my mood. And the fact that she trusts me enough to take this step with me.

I also need to call Mum. Just to check in, and also to let her know I’ll be bringing Claire down to see her. I’m torn, wondering whether I should go sooner, maybe tonight. Fuck, though. It’s not like Mum and Millie don’t have other people to help. Millie has a great recovery sponsor, as well as a counsellor and supportive friends. Mum has her sister and her own group of friends.

But I’m family. The man of the house– if you believe in that kind of shit– since Dad died. At the very least I should be taking some sort of responsibility.

I scroll through my phone and dial. It rings through to the message bank, and I hear Mum’s cheery voice. I leave a message.

“Mum, it’s Bryce. Just wanted to check in. Hope it’s all okay. I’ll come up the day after tomorrow, if you need me there. I’m also bringing Claire to meet you and Mil. Love you.” Frustrated, I hang up and stare at my phone, not sure what to do. I’m about to start the car when my phone rings. But it’s not mum, it’s Jeff. I answer.

“Hey man.”

“Bryce! How are things? Listen, we’ve been having some great engagement on the Ocean’s Curl stuff with you and Claire. Ocean’s Curl are really happy; in fact, they want you both at their Christmas party in Melbourne next week; are you up for it?”

That’s Jeff. No bullshit small talk, just straight in with the facts.

“And I’ve had a couple more potential sponsorship deals come through, so we need to catch up and talk about that. You getting a girlfriend, even if she isn’t real, is good for business.”

“Yeah, well, about that?—”

“Fucking hell, Bryce. Have you screwed this up already?” Jeff’s tone changes from breezy businessman to the friend I know.

I grin. “No. At least, I don’t think I have. It’s more that… we’re making it real now.”

There’s a moment of silence. “What? You’re fucking her already? Honestly, Bryce, is there anyone who won’t drop their knickers for you?”

“Don’t say that.” I snap it out, stung.

More silence. “Don’t tell me you’re catching feelings?” Jeff now sounds partway between incredulous and delighted.

“I don’t know. Maybe. Probably. Listen, I need to get going. And I’ll check with Claire about coming to your Melbourne thing.”

“How are things with your family?”

I pause. “It’s complicated. I think everything is all right, but I’m going up to see them again the day after tomorrow. Listen, I really do need to get going now, though.”

“All right, mate, take care of yourself. I’m here if you need me.”

I hang up and start the drive back to Claire’s place, my head spinning. Mum, Millie, the sponsorship stuff, Simon, all going around in my head like some sort of fucked-up soup. But as I near her driveway, it all coalesces into one thing. Claire.

She feels like a lodestone, like a beacon calling me home. Still, I take a moment when I get out of the car to breathe in the silence and the scent of eucalyptus, get my head into the right space. The big door at the back of the house is ajar, and I push it open, heading inside. Then I stop dead, all thoughts of Jeff, my family, everything else in the world leaving my head. Claire is perched on one end of the long table, leaning back on her hands, wearing just a pink lacy push-up bra and matching thong. Holy fuck. I think my dick just tried to poke a hole through my trousers. She licks her lips, tossing her hair, but I can hear a tremor in her voice when she speaks.

“This is how you wanted me, isn’t it?”