Page 72 of Under Your Spell

‘Oh, right.’ I try harder to get a grip on reality, and then I pull my phone out of my pocket and answer it without looking at the screen.

‘Hello?’ My voice is all breathless and husky. Theo combs his fingers through his rumpled hair. I watch his arm flex. His mouth is pink, his lips swollen.

‘Clemmie?’ a man’s voice says.

‘Yes?’ I don’t immediately recognize the voice and I pull the phone away to look at the number, but it’s not in my contacts.

‘I thought you weren’t going to answer,’ the man says, his voice low, almost a purr. ‘I’m glad you did. I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.’

And that’s when I catch up, that’s when I realize who it is, whose voice is in my ear.

‘Sam?’ I croak, and across from me Theo freezes.

‘Yeah, it’s me. I got your number off Ripp, been trying to work up the courage to call you, and then I saw your sister post about your birthday on Instagram and it seemed like a sign from the universe, you know?’

I swallow. Theo reaches out, cups his hand around my elbow.

‘Why are you calling?’ I ask.

Sam chuckles, and I hate that I remember that sound, that I used to love it, find it sexy and charming. Now it makes my stomach turn.

‘It was just really great running into you,’ Sam says, and his tone is intimate, cajoling. ‘And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. You looked good, Clemmie, really good, and it got me thinking about the way things were with us. I know it was a long time ago, but I just instantly felt that spark, you know? I felt twenty again, and I wondered if I could take you out… see if we were as good together as I remember. I think we could have a lot of fun.’

‘You… you’re calling to ask me out?’ Theo’s fingers tighten on my elbow but I barely register it, because I am busy being consumed by a burning-white fury. There’s a moment of silence before I combust. ‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ I spit.

There’s another pause. ‘Wait… what?’ Sam says, and I don’t know if he’s playing dumb or if he’s really that stupid and genuinely bemused.

‘You want to go out for a drink? See if shagging me is as good as it was when I was seventeen? Absolutely go fuck yourself, you toxic piece of shit. I hope you die alone and get eaten by cats. Actually, cats are way too good for you, I hope you get eaten by… by… slugs!’ I slam my finger down on the screen to end the call, and then I throw my phone across the room, letting out a roar of anger that comes from somewhere deep inside me.

I don’t think I even realize Theo is still in the room with me for several minutes. I feel like I have pins and needles all over my body, like I can’t get enough air in my lungs.

Then Theo’s arms are there, gently guiding me to the sofa, pushing me down so that I’m sitting. He disappears, and then returns moments later. He kneels down in front of me, brushes a few strands of hair gently away from my face, holds up a glass of water.

‘Take a deep breath,’ he says. ‘And drink this.’

I sip the water, realize that I’m shaking, feel myself start to settle back into my body.

‘I can’t believe that just happened,’ I say finally. ‘That did just happen, right?’

Theo is still on his knees, worry written all over his face. ‘Yes, that happened.’

‘He… he…’ I can’t finish the sentence, can’t believe that Sam has intruded here, here again in this house.

‘Clemmie,’ Theo says softly, taking the glass of water away, holding my cold hands between his and rubbing them gently. ‘It’s okay. You’re okay.’

‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘I’m okay. At least this time I managed to say how I really felt.’ I chuckle weakly.

There’s relief in Theo’s eyes as his mouth tips up. ‘Yeah, I don’t think you left much room for ambiguity there.’

‘Did I say I hoped he got eaten… by slugs?’

‘You did.’ Theo’s smile grows. ‘It was a very intimidating threat.’

‘I suppose it would be very slow,’ I agree.

‘So slow,’ Theo says solemnly. ‘And slimy too.’

‘Yeah,’ I exhale. ‘He deserves all the slime.’