Ahead of the Darkness Page 9

  “I’d like to live a lot, so please don’t kill me.”

  “I’m not going to kill ye. I was in every known driving school in Scotland. Ye can thank my granddaddy for that, so dinnae fret.” I guessed that was something.

  “Wait, why? Did he think you needed to go to all those schools?”

  “To keep me out of trouble.” It was all he said, but I sensed there was more to the story. “Why don’t ye know how to drive?”

  “I just ... don’t”

  “Ye don’t like being in cars, do ye?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Ye’ve been playing with ye seatbelt ever since ye got in.” Oh ...

  “No, I don’t like being in cars. It’s been a few years since I’ve been in one for any length of time. Sorry, it’s not personal.” I shrugged trying to pretend it wasn’t a thing, but when Drew stopped at a red light he turned to look at me. “I don’t even remember why ...”

  “Maman! He’s gaining on us.”

  “Is your seatbelt on, Amelia?”

  “Oui, Maman. Why is he chasing us? Maman!” I screamed as the car behind crashed into the rear of ours and we span out of control.

  “Amelia, bring your knees up, and cover your face. Immédiatement!” I did as I was told as the car skidded off the road and headlong into a tree.

  I couldn’t stop the flashback, my hand went to the invisible scars on my arms and I tried to rub the remembered pain away.

  “Maman? Maman, wake up. Maman?!”

  The gesture and shiver didn’t go unnoticed by Drew. “Are ye cold?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  He watched me a little longer until we were honked to move. We seemed lost in thought, no one saying anything until we were a flight of stairs away from Drew’s door. He finally broke the awkward silence with a revelation of his own.

  “My parents were killed by a drunk driver.” I didn’t see that coming, and faltered on the last step. “Sorry.”

  “Were you in the car? That’s the reason your grandfather put you in all those classes?”

  “Aye. I wouldnae get in another car.”

  Drew paused before he unlocked the door and reached for my chin, forcing me to release my bottom lip from the onslaught I hadn’t realised I had been inflicting. He stroked the edge, inspecting the damage.

  “It was a long time ago. Dinnae fret yer purdy wee face, aye?”

  “I ... I was five.” His eyebrows drew together in thought.

  “Aye? Just a wee bairn.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered a little longer, and he smiled.

  “Ye’re still wet.” I rolled my eyes at him, and he chuckled, withdrew his hand and let us in.

  “Can I have a quick shower?”

  “Ye know where everything is, aye?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll go after ye done. Dinnae use all the hot water.”

  “Did you want to ...” Join me? “... go first?” I could feel my face getting a little warm, and Drew raised his eyebrow. “I take it back. I’d rather risk your wrath than have a cold shower.” Though I might need one.

  “There’d be no wrath, mind. I’d just get in if ye take too long.” Oh, Lord. I bit my lip as I walked off to the bathroom, shaking my head. I heard Drew laugh once I’d closed the door. I locked it, just in case.

  I emerged less than ten minutes later with a towel wrapped around my hair and dress in my gym clothes. Thankfully, they were more conservative than last time, with yoga pants and a tank top. I was better prepared for the just-in-case.

  “Aye, that was quick.” The humour was still present in his tone.

  “I realised when I was in the shower that I had locked the door, and I thought it would be a crying shame if I used up all the hot water and you were stuck on the other side, sticky and cold.”

  He chuckled to himself as he entered the bathroom, mumbling about something being a damn shame.

  I used the time to peruse Drew’s impressive library and curled up in the plush chair after I’d found Catcher in the Rye.

  I was twenty pages in when the bathroom door opened. I looked up as Drew walked out, and my eyes went wide. All I could do was stare open-mouthed as he walked towards his the bedroom, towel-drying his hair, completely starkers. A clunk broke me out of my stupor before Drew saw my dumbfounded expression. I swore to myself as I hurried to pick up the book that had slipped to the floor. I heard the click of his bedroom door as I raised my head up. I closed my eyes. My mortification reached a newfound high as Drew’s muffled laughter came through the closed door.

  Oh, my Jesus! I wasn’t sure how I would recover from that. The image still burned behind my eyelids, and I snapped them open. I tried to compose myself before he came out and attempted to read the book again, but I couldn’t make head, nor tail of the words.

  “Ye book is upside-down.” Ah, baiser! I almost fell out of the chair, I jumped so high. I awkwardly got to my feet and fumbled with the book, unable to look at Drew.

  “I’ve already read it the traditional way ...”

  “I dinnae mean to startle ye.”

  “No, you didn’t. It’s fine. It’s your house, apartment, whatever. You can do whatever you want.” I couldn’t look up at him. Instead, I closed the book and turned to put it away.

  “I meant, just then.”

  “Oh ...”

  “And ye only left me with a hand towel. I cannae cover much with that.” He really couldn’t ... I blushed, again, removing the towel from around my head and turned around. Thankfully, he was fully clothed.

  “Sorry.” His hair was still damp and deliciously dishevelled. I itched to run my hands through it. “I should, I mean, we should get back to work.”

  “Aye, let’s grab a bite and head to the gym instead. We can multitask, and ye can tell me all ye ideas then.” He looked at my put-out face and smiled. “Come on, then, get ye duffel and I’ll get us some fresh towels, but ye going to have to get in the car with me again.” He walked off, chuckling to himself.

  “You get too much enjoyment out of torturing me.”

  “Ye have no idea.” What? He’d said it to himself, presumably thinking he was out of earshot, but I heard it.

  ~~~~~~

  “Why can’t we just do this at the club or gym and get it over with?” I complained as we got into the car. He was dragging it out longer than he needed to.

  “Because I’m hungry.”

  “You seem to always be hungry.”

  “Aye, I’m a strapping young lad. I need my strength.” I raised an eyebrow at him as he started the car.

  “Strapping is taking it a bit far. How does your ego fit in this car? I’m likely to suffocate. Where are we going, by the way?”

  “To get some decent food.”

  “Don’t you need to be getting back to the club and, you know, work?” He chuckled lightly at that.

  “Nope. Ye’re stuck with me. I did it all before ye arrived.” Oh ...

  I didn’t know what else to say, so I didn’t say anything and stared out the window as all the houses passed us by. We had been driving for a while in a sort of comfortable silence. Neither one of us felt the need to talk but Drew reached a hand out to stroke my arm lightly with his knuckles.

  “All right?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Ye’ve been quiet. Just checking ye hadn’t suffocated on my ego.” I chuckled lightly at that.

  “Still breathing, just.” And I was, strangely enough. I seemed to be okay in the car with Drew.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Where is there? I don’t recognise anything.”

  “We’re on the outskirts of town, Ah, here we are.” Drew stopped the car on the side of the street and I looked out the front window, confused.

  I turned to speak, but Drew had already exited the car. He’d come around to my side and opened the door. I stared at his outstretched hand, a little in shock, but recovered quickly and placed mine in his. I hadn’t
picked him for a gentleman.

  “What is ...?” And that’s when I saw the sign. Boulangerie et Pâtisserie.

  “Bon appétit.” I smiled. His French accent was ruined by the Scottish undertones. I lie, it was sexy as hell.

  “Pourquoi?” Why?

  “They make great baguettes.” He shrugged, as if it meant nothing that he drove for fifteen minutes to a French bakery. I tried to fight my smile. I didn’t want him to know how much it pleased me.

  “Bien.” Okay.

  “Come on, then.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and walked us in. He was being ... peculiar today.

  We seated ourselves at a little round table in front of the window, and were instantly met by a waiter.

  “Can I get you something to drink while you decide?” The young waiter had the slightest of French accent. It was almost imperceptible.

  “I’ll get the ham with the lot, and a Coke. Mia, do ye need a minute?”

  “Une baguette avec du jambon, du fromage et tomate s'il vous plaît.”

  “Ah, oui!” His face lit up when I ordered a simple ham, cheese and tomato baguette in French. I couldn’t help myself, and Drew rolled his eyes at me. “Et pour boire?”

  “Limonade, merci.”

  “Show off.” Drew muttered under his breath as the waiter left. “How’d ye know he spoke French, mind?”

  “I cannae help it, like.” I mocked. “Besides, you did bring me to a French eatery, and he had a slight accent.” I shrugged. It would have blown up in my face if he didn’t know French.

  “Aye, real cute, like. Dinnae mock me, woman. I’ll go all Scot on yer arse, and then ye’ll be buggered, like.” I laughed at how wrong that sentence was, and shook my head at him.

  “How did you find this place?”

  “I’ve been past here a couple of times with Jules, and thought ye’d like it.”

  “C'est super.”

  “Ye’re gonna need to teach me French if ye insist on talking in it. How will I know if yer flirting with the waiter or talking smack about me?” I laughed, and rolled my eyes.

  “You sure know how to ruin a girl’s fun.”

  “The wee prick has been staring at ye the whole time.”

  “He has?” I turned to look, and sure enough he was, with a bashful sort of grin on his face.

  “Dinnae look! Ye’ll give him the wrong idea.”

  “Which is?”

  “That yer interested.” He said it as if it as if I were daft for asking.

  “Oh, I’m not?” I kept a straight face, but I was laughing on the inside as Drew scowled at me.

  “Ye cannae be serious. He’s a wee bairn.”

  “Oh I don’t know, he could just look young for his age.” He had the face of a twelve year old, but I was too entertained by Drew to stop.

  “I thought ye preferred—” He cleared his throat and continued, his voice sounding deeper. “—the more manly type.” It took everything I had to keep a straight face and not burst out laughing.

  “I don’t know. What is it they say about the younger, the more eager to please?” I had to bite my lip this time as Drew’s eyes went wide, but before he could respond our wee waiter was back.

  “Can I get you anything else?” He directed the question at me, and me alone. Uh-oh.

  “No, merci.” I smiled a little too sweetly and Drew’s expression darken.

  “Aye, I’m fine, too.” The waiter didn’t notice Drew’s scorn, and walked off with a big smile on his face.

  “Don’t be an arse. It’s not his fault he finds me irresistible.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

  Drew mumbled something incoherent to himself, looking less than pleased, and dug into his lunch. I inspected my baguette to find it was full of brie and took a huge bite, moaning in pure bliss. It was heaven. Drew quirked his lip as he watched me devoured half of my baguette before he took one bite.

  “Can you stop watching me eat? It’s ... off-putting.”

  “Ye seem to be doing alright. It’s good, aye?” I nodded, continuing to devour it. “It’s nice to see ye eating, even if it is less than ladylike, but don’t stop. Ye’ll put off the wee lad.” I frowned and slowed down. I hadn’t been eating that fast. “So, ye do fancy the boy?”

  “What?” Ohhh. “Do you think I really turned him off?”

  Drew grumbled some more. “No. He’s still got that daft look on his face.”

  A devious plan came to mind.

  “Will you give him this for me?” I scrounged through my bag to find a piece of paper and pen. Drew watched, desperately trying to read the note I quickly scribbled out. I folded it up and handed it to him. “Here, pretend you’re going to the bathroom. Don’t be obvious.”

  Drew’s eyes widened as looked at me incredulously, but after a pause, took the note without a word and left the table. I schooled my expression when he turned back to me with an odd expression on his face. He looked almost ... hurt? I chewed on my bottom lip.

  My brilliant plan seemed to be about to blow up in my face. I had been counting on Drew reading the note, and not giving it to the boy. What I hadn’t counted on was Drew being a gentleman and handing him the note. Oh God! Drew continued on to the bathroom after he paused to slip the waiter my note. I felt like a complete twat, and had no idea how to recover from this.

  I held my breath, waiting for Drew to head back to the table. I couldn’t look at either of them for fear of what I would find. My heart raced at a mile a minute. Shit!

  “I couldnae do it.” I jumped as Drew reappeared.

  “What do you mean?”

  Drew slipped me the piece of paper I had written on. I looked at Drew’s forlorn expression. I was dumbfounded, but recovered quickly to laugh. I didn’t know what else to do. I slid Drew the piece of paper as he looked at me like I’d just gone mad.

  “Read it.” He frowned at me, but took the note and opened it.

  You’re an idiot. I don’t want the boy.

  He looked at me a little confused, but his eyes were smiling. I was forgiven.

  “Wait, what did you slip him?”

  He looked at me sheepishly. “I tipped him ... and ... thanked him for being so nice to my girl.”

  My mouth dropped open in shock. He didn’t? He did. “You’re crazy.”

  “Aye, pot.”

  “Pot?”

  “Aye. Pot calling the kettle black. Ye know ye’re crazy, too.”

  “I was just having a little fun. You’re always scaring me, or laughing at me.” I shrugged. It was well and truly my turn.

  “Fair call. Ye ready?” I looked at my empty plate. I hadn’t even realised I’d eaten it all.

  “I’m not going to be able to move after that. It’s possibly not the best idea to go to the gym. I’d be likely to puke.”

  “Ye’ll be fine. We can work on weights instead of running.” What? He got up and headed to the register.

  “What, where are you going? Drew, you’re not paying, here.” I tried to hand him my share, but he shooed me off.

  “My girl cannae pay. What kind of man would I be?” He winked, and walked off.

  “The kind that isn’t mine,” I muttered to no one in particular.

  “Merci, au revoir,” I said goodbye to our waiter as Drew finished paying and walked up, putting his arm around my shoulders.

  “Aye, thanks mate.”

  I put my hand around his waist and pinched his sided as we walked out. “You’re such a shit.”

  He chuckled. “That’s going to leave a mark.”

  I elbowed him, ducking out from under his arm. “You could have at least given the boy some false hope. Wouldn’t the what if be better than disappointment?”

  “I dinnae know. Do you do the what if a lot?” He looked at me intently, and I bit my lip in thought.

  “I stopped living in the past a long time ago. What if is just that, I guess: living in the past, because you wished your future could have been different.”

  It seemed to be human nature
to want what you couldn’t have, to dream about what it could have been like, but what if only ever hurt more than the truth. I looked at Drew from the corner of my eye to see him also deep in thought, and we walked back to the car in a heavy silence.

  It seemed neither one of us really felt like going to the gym after that. I made some poor excuse about needing to buy some food before the shops closed, and Drew didn’t protest.

  “We can sort out the cocktail list later. Wednesday night, aye?”

  “Okay.” We pulled up out the front of Drew’s apartment building and exited the car. “Thank you for lunch. It was ... delicious.” And weird.

  “Aye, anytime.” And with that, we parted ways, Drew heading up to his apartment, and I headed off down the street. I turned back to find Drew watching me with a strange expression on his face but it was gone in an instant, replace by a small smile as he entered the building.

  I spent the next few hours wandering around the supermarket aimlessly, wondering what all of that was about, more confused than ever.

  Chapter Nine

  I didn’t go to the gym the next day, or for the rest of the week. It was stupid, I know but I really didn’t want to bump into Drew, and it would have been just my luck that I would. But I was already restless ...

  “What’s troubling you, dear?” I looked up from the bowl of cereal I’d been pushing around for the past twenty minutes.

  “I guess I’m not hungry.” I got up from the table and dumped the soggy mess into the bin.

  “Tea, dear?”

  “Please.” Anne turned on the kettle, and I sat watching her prepare the cups.

  “Not working today?”

  “How did you know I had a job?”

  “I ran into an old friend of my late husband, Angus?” Ahhh. “He was telling me all about how this lovely new girl had wowed the locals with her impressive cocktail-making at this bar called ...

  “... Cascade’s.”

  “Yes, that’s it. Gave the young man who owns the place a run for his money, he said. Angus was very taken with you, dear.” Oh¸ joy. Anne sounded like that wasn’t an easy feat.

  “Does everyone know everyone here?” I couldn’t help thinking the town was becoming smaller every day. So much for blending in.