Breaking Point (Drew Ashley 1) (19 page)

Jazz looked concerned when I walked through the door. "Where've you been?"

"Out with Harvey." I hurried up the stairs to my room before I saw any of my mum's friends. Jazz followed.

Destiny was lying on my bed. She sat up when I burst into the room. "Where did you and Harvey go?" she asked.

I told them about Harvey's cottage and Destiny tossed her blond hair sassily. "Girl, if I had a man like Harvey wanting to get to know me, I wouldn't be crying on his shoulder about another man."

Jazz mm hmm-ed.

"Harvey is nothing but trouble," I told them.

"A little trouble can be good," Jazz said, winking.

These girls were not thinking straight. "Well, all I know is that today I had to force myself to think about Kale to keep my mind on the straight and narrow. So next time I'm about to go somewhere with Harvey, stop me!"

Chapter 11

I passed my driving test! I knew I'd driven pretty well, but there'd been times during my previous eight attempts that I'd thought I'd driven well and still failed. So I didn't want to get my hopes up. When I got back to the test centre, I just switched off the car and looked at the test officer expectantly, telling myself that if I hadn't passed, it'd be okay. I could deal with it. I'd just book another test.

When the test officer said, "Relax, you've passed," I'd felt like kissing him.

I didn't tell anybody about it because it didn't seem real. But the next morning, I told my mum as she was dressing up for work.

Her hand halted as she removed rollers from her hair. "What do you mean you passed your driving test?"

I waved my pass certificate at her, feeling pretty smug.

She snatched it from my hand. "When did you do it?"

"Yesterday morning."

"You didn't tell me!"

"I didn't tell anybody. I didn't want any pressure."

My mum pulled me into a hug. "This has been such a struggle for you. Well done, honey. You can use my car any time you want until you get your own."

"Thanks, mum." I was going to take her up on that because I started work on Monday.

I went to my room and called Jazz. Destiny was staying over at her house so they were together. I told them my news, then called Kale. He didn't know how much of a big deal it was because he didn't know how long I'd been trying to pass, but he said it called for dinner. He was busy with organising missionary football so Thursday was the only evening he was free this week. We made it a date. I considered calling Harvey, but talked myself out of it.

On Thursday evening, I was stepping into a pair of Nine Wests when my mum entered the room and sprayed me with her Chanel perfume. "You look lovely, Drew. Almost as nice as me."

"Thanks," I said, giggling.

I went to open the door when Kale arrived. My mum's eyes almost popped out when she saw him. I gave her a warning look. She'd better not say anything about his eyes.

Kale handed over a box of Ferrero Rocher. I winked at my mum to let her know she could have them when Kale and I left. She loved Ferrero Rocher, but even that didn't remove the worried look from her face.

Just then, Harvey's car pulled into the drive. What did he want now? "Did Harvey say he was coming over?" I asked my mum.

"Uh, yes actually," she mumbled.

Harvey got out of the car holding a huge bouquet of assorted pink flowers. My mum, Kale, and I all stared as he removed his shades and strode toward the house. His charcoal suit told me he'd come straight from work.

"H-Harvey," my mum stuttered.

Harvey grinned at the three of us. His eyes settled on Kale. "What's going on?"

My mum erupted into laughter. "I'm so sorry," she gasped, clutching her sides. "I didn't know that you and Kale were going out tonight," she told me. "I told Harvey you passed your driving test and he said to tell you he's picking you up at seven tonight."

I groaned inwardly. This was not happening.

"I forgot to tell you," my mum continued. "But when I got home and saw you dressed up, I thought you must have talked to him."

Great! This was awkward.

Harvey stepped forward, holding out the flowers. I accepted them with a forced smile. "Thanks, Harvey."

Now I had Kale's chocolates in one hand and Harvey's flowers in the other. To be honest I was more of a flowers girl.

My mum bursted into laughter again. "Maybe ya'll can have a threesome," she said in a really bad American accent.

Kale looked disgusted. It was time to administer damage control, but I had no idea how to go about it. With my mum in stitches over the whole thing, there wasn't much I could do until Kale and I got away someplace by ourselves.

"I came to take you out, Drew," Harvey said, digging his hands into his pockets adamantly. "I'm not leaving."

We were all quiet.

"I insist," Harvey said.

Kale's face was sour. "I'll leave."

I couldn't believe it when he started walking away. I followed him and got into his car with him. "Kale, I'm really sorry about this."

"What's going on, Drew?" he asked.

"You heard what my mum said. I knew nothing about this."

Kale's blue eyes were like chips of ice. He switched on his car. "I'll see you later."

"Okay." I got out of his car. If this was how he reacted to a misunderstanding, good riddance!

"Is Kale not willing to fight this out?" Harvey asked, catching my arm as I tried to enter the house. "If you'd rather go out with him, I'll leave."

The truth was I didn't feel like going out anymore. "No it's fine. I'll just put these flowers in water."

"He's getting out of his car," my mum said.

I didn't care. I went to the kitchen and dumped Harvey's flowers on the table. I wanted to shake Kale. This wasn't fair to Harvey, either. But Harvey wasn't throwing a tantrum. I started looking around for a vase.

Kale entered the kitchen a few moments later. Harvey and my mum followed. My mum looked like she was enjoying the whole exchange.

I eyed Kale and Harvey. Kale still looked annoyed, and Harvey looked like he was enjoying Kale's annoyance.

I removed a vase from the cupboard under the kitchen sink, filled it halfway with water, then put the flowers in. I was fed up. Being caught between two guys was horrible. They were both great guys, but I needed to know what God wanted. What was God saying?

"This has obviously been a misunderstanding," Harvey said after a few moments of charged silence. "Kale, can we be mature about this? A couple years ago I would have decked you, thrown Drew over my shoulder, and carried her away. But we're men, not boys, and we're Christians."

I was surprised. I didn't know Harvey regarded himself as a Christian now.

"Why don't we all go out together," Harvey suggested. "I've had a hard week so far and I could do with a nice meal and nice company. And you're invited too, Amelia."

"Ooh," my mother squealed. "A double date? I'll have you, Harvey. You're much more handsome."

I couldn't believe Harvey had proposed that. Talk about dysfunction!

"Where were you planning to take Drew?" Harvey asked Kale, removing a slip of paper from his pocket.

"Nandos," Kale replied, still sounding sulky.

I almost collapsed. I'd been envisioning a hot date at a glitzy restaurant in a trendy district, and I was wearing my best rags. And Kale had been planning Nandos all along!

My mother's eyes narrowed. I warned her with a look not to say anything. "Where were you planning?" she asked Harvey.

Harvey looked uncomfortable. My heart turned over as I realised that he didn't want to upstage Kale. He had a heart of pure gold.

"C'mon," my mum prompted. "Where?"

"I had reservations for some place." He said waving the paper. "But we can go to Nandos if that's where Drew and Kale like to eat."

"Does Drew look like she was getting ready for Nandos?" my mum snapped, snatching the paper out of Harvey's hands. Her eyes were wide when she looked at me. "Le Frasca. On the Thames!" She twirled. "Let me go and put something on."

"Be quick," I ordered.

My mum dashed out of the kitchen, leaving the rest of us in an uncomfortable silence. Harvey moved to the hallway, while Kale remained by the kitchen door silently. I sniffed my flowers. None of this was my fault and I wasn't going to let him make me feel like it was.

I had an instant headache when my mum returned. She was
dressed up!
Red mini dress, high heels, tousled hair, the works!

So off we went to celebrate my driver's license. My mother was looking prettier than I did, and my two non-boyfriends were there. Life was just great!

Kale sulked throughout the dinner, which really annoyed me. I tried to speak to him afterwards when he took me home, but he'd completely clammed up. I went straight to the kitchen when I got in. I needed coffee. With lots of sugar.

Harvey and my mum arrived a few minutes later. Harvey carried her into the living room. She was drunk as a skunk.

"Sorry about tonight," Harvey said, entering the kitchen as I was heaping sugar into a mug.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I kinda enjoyed it in the end. Is Kale okay?"

"Not really."

"Well, I've read about love your enemies and all that. That's the only reason I was civil with him tonight."

"Been reading the Bible?"

"I've been reading it for years. Anyway, do you want to know how you can make tonight up to me?" Harvey's lopsided grin completely stole my breath.

I looked at the mixture of coffee granules and sugar in my mug. "How?"

"Well, I've got this really boring business dinner thing that I have to go to for work."

"When?"

"Tomorrow. Come with me."

"I'm not sure. I don't want rumours circulating about us when I start work."

"This one isn't a News24 thing. I'm representing News24, but none of our people will be there. I wouldn't ask you to come if it wouldn't be okay."

I could feel Harvey's eyes on me as I poured hot water into my mug. I was stalling, trying to think of a reason to say no when I really wanted to say yes. I gave up. "Okay, I'll go."

***

Harvey was already downstairs when I finished dressing. He was early. I could hear him and my mum chatting. I took a last glance at my reflection, hoping I was dressed right. It was a work event, so I'd opted for a simple black dress.

Harvey whistled as I descended the stairs. "Girl, you looked nice yesterday, but everything was too perfect. This is much better."

"Thanks."

My mum was watching us, smiling. "Take your keys," she told me. "I'm going out."

I checked my bag. "Got them."

Harvey steered me out of the house and then dropped his keys into my hand. "You're driving."

"I am?"

"Yes. I'm going to show you how to pump gas and put air in tyres."

I was horrified. "I'm wearing Gucci!"

"If you don't know how to pump gas, your car will stop whether you're wearing Gucci that day or not."

I climbed into the driver's seat of his big, scary car, my heart palpitating with fear. "And if I crash your car?"

"You won't," Harvey said.

I adjusted his seat and his mirrors then drove really slowly to a nearby petrol station—so slowly that a long line of cars built up behind me and overtook me one at a time whenever the opportunity arose.

At the petrol station, Harvey watched while I filled the car with petrol. "You see, I didn't need any guidance," I told him. It wasn't rocket science.

Harvey went to pay for the petrol, then we moved over to the air pump. I worked that out, too.

Harvey clapped when I finished. "Well done."

"So where's this business dinner?" I asked.

"The Four Seasons. Do you know where it is?"

"Yes."

"Good. I don't."

The drive to the Four Seasons should have taken no more than twenty minutes, but I pulled into the parking lot thirty-five minutes later.

"Good driving," Harvey said.

I looked at him to see if he was teasing me.

"I'm serious. Is driving still a sore subject for you?" he asked. "You've passed now."

"I know." I got out of the car and checked my parking. I wasn't completely straight, but at least I was between the lines.

My phone rang as we walked to the hotel. "You might want to switch that off, or put it on silent," Harvey said.

I removed my phone from my bag. It was Kale. I hadn't heard from him since he dropped me back home yesterday. I switched the phone off.

For the first hour of the event, nothing happened. We were just supposed to mingle. Harvey transformed into all business. I watched him as he talked to influential people from other media corporations. From their conversation, I gleaned that this dinner marked the end of a week-long conference that had drawn delegates from all over the world.