Page 65 of Crashing Into You

“I’ll meet you there. And we can call him together.”

I start protesting, but she won’t take no for an answer. “Look. We’re doing this. Even if it’s just to say sorry, Claire. It should come from you, not me.”

She’s right. I don’t know if I can bear to hear Bryce’s voice again, but I need to do it.

“All right,” I say. “I’ll see you there.”

Bryce

I hate this stupid fucking party.

It’s a great party. Ocean’s Curl know how to put on a good spread. They’ve taken over one of those fancy yacht club places on the bay, a gleaming space of white and glass, huge windows open to the water, expensive boats bobbing at their moorings. The food is fantastic, drink is on tap, and there’s a shit-hot DJ spinning tunes. The crowd is good too; a few surfers I know, as well as the OC crew, who are all pretty great.

But I hate it because people keep asking me where Claire is. And she isn’t here.

There’s a huge Christmas tree in one corner of the room, hung with gold and silver baubles. I hate that too, because it reminds me of when I first met her. I lean against the bar, a cold beer in my hand, as beautiful women come and go in front of me. I don’t want the beer, or the women.

I just want Claire.

She is under my skin still; a splinter of pain and yearning I cannot get rid of, no matter how I try. I take a sip of the beer, then put it on the bar. I should just get out of here.

“Having fun?” Jeff leans on the bar next to me. Light gleams from the gold ring on his wedding finger; his husband, Brad, is over at the buffet, filling a couple of plates.

“Yeah, it’s a good party,” I say, trying to muster some enthusiasm.

“Really? So why do you look like your gran just died? Sorry.” He puts his hands up as I glare at him. “Seriously, though. You’ve got a face like a wet Wednesday.”

I don’t say anything.

“You know,” Jeff says, sounding thoughtful, “when I met Brad, we almost didn’t hook up.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. I thought he was with someone else, and he thought I wasn’t interested. I blocked his number, twice. Until he tracked me down at a club one night and told me, to my face, how he was feeling.”

I glance at him. I know what he’s trying to do.

“Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone face to face. You need to go after what you want, otherwise you’ll never know what could have happened.”

It’s working, though. He’s right. All of this shit between me and Claire is due to us not communicating properly. And while old me might have just blown things off and moved on to the next girl, new me doesn’t want to do that. Not anymore. Not while the stakes are so high.

“Right then.” I push myself off the bar. “See you later.”

“Leaving so soon?” There’s a smile on Jeff’s face, though.

“Yes, you wily bastard. That’s what you want, isn’t it? For me to go after her?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want.”

“Even if it’s good for business?”

He claps me on the shoulder. “All that matters is whether it’s good for you. And you’re the only one who can answer that question. I’ll make your excuses to the Ocean’s Curl team.”

“Thanks, mate.” I pause, then pull him in for a hug. “For everything.”

I leave him leaning against the bar, looking slightly stunned, and I head out.

I’m going to Claire. I only hope she doesn’t turn me away.