Page 59 of Crashing Into You

“Yeah? Man, I’m pleased for you.”

“Thanks. So, do you mind checking in on her? Or seeing if Kylie can find her at the shop? It’s just, I can’t seem to reach her.”

“What the fuck? What’s going on?”

I tell him everything. About Claire, about how things have changed, how I had to leave her suddenly. I explain about the unsent message and Simon’s fuckshit. “In a way, I hope she’s blocked me. I’d rather that than having that dickhead anywhere near her.”

“Fuck, I know that dude! He’s a total tosser. Mate, I’ll get all the boys on it. He won’t get near her place. And I’ll ask Kylie to check in on Claire.”

I don’t say anything, my need hot within me.

“You want me to do it now and call you back?”

“If you could.”

“On it.” Matt hangs up the phone and I stare at it, as though I can will Claire to call me. Mum is bustling around downstairs, and I catch a whiff of fresh coffee. I need to get up– we have an appointment with Millie’s doctor this morning to discuss treatment. But instead, I keep staring atmy phone, then realise I’m being an idiot. I go and shower, my mind a tangle of Millie and Claire, stress like a weight in my stomach. I’m dressed and downstairs, drinking coffee, too sick to eat anything, before my phone rings again. It’s Matt.

“Yeah?”

“Claire’s at work. Kylie just saw her– she came in to get coffee. She said yesterday morning she was glowing, bright and bubbly, but this morning she didn’t have much to say. She figured it was because you’d worn her out. But if you’ve been in Melbourne?—”

“Then she’s fucking blocked me. Fuck! Over an unsent message.” Anger burns in my chest. “Fucking hell!”

“Mate, calm it.” Matt knows my temper. “You like this girl, right?”

“Yeah. More than like her. At least I thought I did.”

“Right. Well, right now she thinks you’ve stood her up, and she doesn’t have anything really to go on, except your reputation. You didn’t tell her about Millie, did you?”

“I didn’t.”

“And you’ve just kind of landed in her life and turned it all upside down, right? She probably thinks you blew out as fast as you blew in.”

“We had a deal. For a month.”

“Which ended when you fucked her. Sex changes things, mate. And even the mighty Bryce Maylands isn’t immune.”

“Fuck! What am I supposed to do?”

“You need to focus on Millie at the moment. Kylie and I will keep an eye on Claire. You can always try and call Claire using a different phone or something.”

“What if she tells me to fuck off?”

“Can you blame her? Sort your family shit out, then give Claire a call. If she still wants to see you, she’s yours. If she doesn’t, she never was.”

We finish the conversation and I hang up, feeling slightly better. Matt always cheers me up. He’s right. I do need to help Mum sort out what’s going on with Millie. But I’m not sure he’s right about Claire. There’s a nagging pain in my chest, a feeling as though I need to call her, now, before I do anything else. I’ll take his advice, though. Sort out my family first.

I want her, though. Want to hear her voice. Want to kiss her. Want her near me.

Oh, I am well and truly gone on this girl.

And the fact I might have lost her is killing me.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Bryce

Isit back in yet another plastic chair, leaning my head against the wall. Mum has gone to the bathroom with Millie. I hate that she has to do that, but Mum insists. This is delicate ground. We need to get Millie back into rehab, and away from Marco.