Page 66 of Crashing Into You

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Bryce

The drive down the coast seems to take forever. But it’s still not enough time for me to work out exactly what I’m going to say to Claire. I’m still kind of pissed at her for not giving me the chance to explain, but at the same time, I get it.

I did stand her up after all, and she had no idea where I’d gone. What else was she supposed to think other than I’d ditched her? And then, when she blocked me, I tried to go around the boundary she set by calling her from another number, just like her dickhead of an ex.

In the end, I decide to go with what’s in my heart. I want her, and I want to be with her. I only hope she wants to be with me.

My phone rings and I glance at it. It’s Kylie. She doesn’t call me very often, and something twists in my chest. I answer the call.

“Kyles? Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, we’re fine,” she says. “Sorry to call you, but is there any chance you might want to come to the Inlet pub tonight?” She sounds a bit breathless.

“The Inlet pub? Now why would I want to go there?” I choose my words carefully, trying to ignore the little spurt of hope inside me.

“Uh, I’m just going there for a drink and thought you might want to come.”

“Oh yeah? And why would a pregnant lady be heading to the pub, Kyles?”

“I’m meeting a friend and…” She stops talking for a second. “Ah, I can’t do this shit.”

I grin, waiting. Kylie is no good at subterfuge.

“Listen, I saw Claire today. She’s broken up, mate. She thought that photo you posted on Instagram of Millie was a photo of your new girlfriend.That’swhy she cut you off. And she felt like absolute shit when I told her what was going on with you, just about passed out in the street.”

“She did?” I keep my voice calm, despite the leaping hope inside me.

“I had to hold her up. She tried to call you there and then, but couldn’t get through.”

Fuck. I was an idiot to block her. We’ve both been idiots.

“I offered to call you, but she said no. She rang me later. She wants to say sorry, Bryce, but I think she still… I don’t know. I hate putting my oar in, but you two idiots are perfect for each other and you know it. So I thought maybe, if you were coming to the pub tonight, you might just bump into each other on the way to the bar or something and?—”

“I’m already on my way down, Kyles.” Warmth blooms inside me. “Jeff got to me as well. Said sometimes you need to go find someone and tell them how you feel. I decided to take his advice.”

“Well, that’s just brilliant,” she says. “Because frankly, I am knackered and the last thing I feel like doing is going out. So go get her. And then you better bring her over for dinner. Not tonight, though.”

I laugh out loud. “Kyles, if I get her back tonight, we are not going to be spending time eating dinner at yours, that’s for fucking certain.”

“Eww, Bryce. I don’t need to know that.” She’s giggling, though. “Right, I’ll let you go. And good luck.”

“Thanks. For everything.”

I hang up, my mood lifting. I’m not far from Torquay, and soon I’m on the Great Ocean Road, heading along the winding curves towards Airey’s Inlet.

Towards Claire.

Claire

The pub is busy. I wish I was anywhere but here. Memories of Bryce are all around me. Leaning against the bar, winking at me, kissing me, protecting me. Making my heart pound every time he glances my way. Welcoming me and my friends into his group as though he’d always known us.

What a complete fucking idiot I’ve been.

I sip at my drink, half-heartedly. Joss and Sal have given up trying to talk to me. Instead, they keep exchanging worried glances, as though I’m not even sitting there.

“Sorry guys.” I’m close to tears. “I’m not very good company tonight.” I’d have gone home already, if it wasn’t for Kylie. She’s not here yet, and I don’t want to stand her up. But I’m ruining Joss and Sal’s evening, sitting here like a sad sack.