Drawn to you (18 page)

THE BRIGHT SUN FLOODS
the room, making me squint. The smell of coffee wafts from a mug Finlay is holding as he sits on the side of the bed, fully dressed in a grey business suit. His gorgeous green eyes are glazed with lust, making my stomach clench. The sheet barely covering my naked body has his eyes traveling the length of me, drinking in every inch on display.

“You’re so beautiful. I could stay here looking at you forever.” He smiles his sexy half grin.

“Then why are you dressed? Role play?” I ask, raising my eyebrows in jest.

“Hmm, I wish. I have to go, Brad is waiting for me. We’re driving to the New York office. I’m going to be gone a few days.”

My stomach drops. “I’ll miss you.”

Finlay leaving is getting harder. My body yearns for him when he isn’t here.

“I miss you already and I haven’t left yet. If this wasn’t important I would stay. I’d love to take your parents to dinner and show them how much I love their amazing daughter.” He kisses my forehead then my nose, moving down to my lips. His soft, featherweight kisses have my stomach flipping over and my pulse hammering against my chest.

“I have to go. You’re too tempting. I love you. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay. I love you.”

I watch as he leaves, his body filling out his suit to perfection. He should be on a catwalk. I roll over to check the time. I have an hour before class, so rounding up my scattered clothes from last night, I slip them on and go back down to my apartment to change.

After a morning of classes I meet up with Gaby for lunch. Libby’s tags along even though she’s been complaining of a stomach ache all morning in class. As we walk into Giselle’s, Gaby’s already seated at a table. Giselle’s reminds me of the local pub back home. It has a warm, friendly atmosphere. The interior is all dark wood with a huge log fire as a focal point; warm orange walls add to the warmth. It’s small but serves the best pasta within a five-mile radius.

“Hey, sweetie. I already ordered for us.” Gaby beams

“Thanks, you’re a star. I hope it’s nothing to heavy. Libby is having stomach issues.” I send a raised eyebrow in Libby’s direction. “I keep telling her to stop late night snacking,” I add, nudging her as she takes the seat next to me.

“Hey, if we weren’t meant to late night snack then there wouldn’t be a light in the fridge!”

“True,” Gaby says.

“So, Gabe asked me out on a date!” Libby looks from me to Gaby.

“Why didn’t you say earlier? What did you say? Gabe is a total sweetheart.”

“I know, I said yes. We’re going out tomorrow night.” She giggles and Gaby does a little shimmy in her chair

“That’s exciting news, Lib, and you’ll need to text me after with the details. I want them all!”

She giggles again and nods. A cute pink flush has brightened her pale complexion.

“So, Gabs, any luck with Mike?” I cautiously ask.

“We’re talking again, which is a start, I suppose,” she replies with a timid smile.

“And Gavin?”

“We’ve sorted things. He’s been great, surprisingly.”

I offer a supportive smile and drop the subject.

I JUMP FROM MY
chair and open the front door.

“Hey!” I screech, embracing my mom in a vice grip. Daddy puts his arms around us both, cocooning us.

“How’s my princess?”

“I’m great, Daddy. I can’t breathe though.” I laugh as he eases his grip, allowing me to pull away. As I step back, I notice someone familiar standing just behind Mom, looking gorgeous with his wavy blond hair slightly dropping over his piercing blue eyes.

“James?” I breathe. “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”

“Let’s go inside, sweetheart.” Mom ushers me inside and we go straight to the couch. My head feels foggy. James is here with my parents. I haven’t seen him for six months.

They all sit around me, their faces etched with concern.

“Sweetheart, we came because we need to tell you something that couldn’t be said over the phone.”

My heart beat plummets to a deafening thud as different scenarios run through my mind.
Mom’s ill, or Daddy. Someone’s died.

I’m not prepared when Mom finally speaks.

“They caught him, sweetheart. The police made an arrest.”

My vision blurs as I try to focus on her words. Time passes; seconds, minutes. I’m not sure. James appears before me, handing me a glass of water and stroking my hair.

“Toni, drink some water. Take some deep breaths.”

His deep, soothing voice curls around me, offering me comfort I haven’t had from him in so long.

“When, Mom?”

“They came two days ago to tell us but we wanted to tell you in person. He was caught during another robbery and he confessed.”

James’ arms wrap around me. I’m numb

“Listen, sweetheart. They’ve asked that you come home and identify him.”

I can taste salty tears on my lips

“Why if he’s confessed?”

“The man in custody has mental health issues and doesn’t have intimate knowledge of the crime, which means it could be a false confession,” Daddy answers.

My breathing picks up speed at an uncontrollable rate; I think I’m going to pass out.

“Calm down. Just try and steady your breathing,” James says.

“Where are your pills, sweetie?” Mom asks.

I point to my bag and the next thing I know, Mom’s slipping a pill in my mouth and pouring water down my throat.

“If he confessed then it’s him, right? How will Toni even remember his face?” James asks.

Warm water covers my face and my sobs come uncontrollably.

Mom rubs my arm and her voice is strained with sadness. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. Everything’s going to be alright. If I could do this, I would, but because he attacked me from behind I didn’t get a good enough look at him so they won’t let me. I’m so sorry. I wish I could take this all away.” Seeing Mom’s tears hurts my soul.

“I’ll never forget his face. I’ll come home. Daddy, what will happen now?” I ask clearing my throat and wiping the tears still trickling down my cheeks; James releases me but keeps his hand on my knee.

“We take you home as soon as possible and you can make a positive I.D, then he will be charged. There are still a lot of the details we don’t know.”

He answers with anger and sorrow in his tone. I nod my head and try to clear my thoughts. Mom goes to the kitchen to make drinks. My head throbs. Everyone is looking around, talking about how good the apartment looks. A change of subject is their way of dealing so I answer their questions and try to smile but inside I’m reliving everything I went through. The man who haunts me when I close my eyes is a man of evil. He took so much from people that day and he can’t even remember crucial details.

My cell lights up with Finlay’s number. I take a deep breath and move away from everyone to answer it.

“Hey, baby. Are they there?” Finlay asks.

“Yes they got here about an hour go. Did you manage to get some work done?” I try to take the strain out of my voice with little success.

“What’s wrong? You sound upset.”

“Nothing. Everything’s fine. I just got myself upset seeing them. I miss you.” I can’t tell him the news over the phone

“I miss you too. I wish I were there with you. I’ll let you go and I’ll call you later when they’ve left. Are they sure they don’t want to use the apartment to stay in?”

“No, they already booked the hotel. I love you. Speak soon, bye.”

“Bye, baby. I love you.”

“Who was that?” Mom asks over my shoulder, startling me

“Actually, I need to speak to you about who that was. It was Finlay.”

“Gaby’s Finlay?” she asks, pulling her eyebrows together creating age lines on her forehead

“Actually, he’s my Finlay. We’re together.”

“What?” Daddy asks. James’ face drops, as does his body, forcing him to sit down on the couch.

“We’re in love,” I say.

“Love!” Mom spits, looking over to James who is rubbing his face. This is beyond awkward. I know Mom loves him and thought we would eventually find each other again but it has been over a year. We haven’t seen each other for ages. I moved across the world! It hurts that she backs him so much considering how he pulled away after the attack.

“Yes, Mom. Love. He’s a good man.”

“I know exactly what sort of person he is, Antonia. I’ve known him most of his life,” she retorts, and Daddy interrupts before I can ask her what she means because there’s a tone to her voice he doesn’t deserve. There’s nothing wrong with Finlay so I can’t see why she would try to imply there is.

“We can talk about this later. It’s been a long day. We came straight here from the airport so we need to go check in at the hotel. James can stay here with you, so you can talk. We’ll go get settled and be back to take you for dinner.”

“Okay.” I don’t bother telling them I spent the afternoon cooking for them, I just wanted them gone. As much as I missed them, everything all at once is too much. I kiss them goodbye and walk them to the door, sighing heavily as I close the door behind them.

“So tell me about this Finlay?” James asks walking with me to the kitchen where I pour a much-needed glass of wine.
He has such a cheek asking me questions. Why is he even here?

“What do you want to know, James? It’s good to see you but I’m confused about why you’re here.”

He comes closer, rubbing his hand down my arm “I wanted to see you. I tried calling, texting, emailing. I miss you like crazy, Toni. I didn’t realize how much until you left and I knew I wouldn’t see you again.”

“We never saw each other anyway, James. Your choice, remember? You can’t just travel here with my parents like nothing happened.”

“I didn’t travel here with them. I’m here with the band. We got signed, Toni, that’s why I wanted to talk to you. Then your mum called when the police . . .” he takes a deep breath and looks to the floor. I put my glass down and absorb what he’s just told me.

“You got signed? Oh my God! You got signed!” I scream.

I can’t contain my joy. I was a part of their band at one point and always supported everything they did.

A dazzling smile lights up James’ face.

“Yeah, I knew you would be happy. We’re supposed to be recording in New York but there’s a great studio here, Blue Studios, just ten minutes from your apartment so we’re here for a couple of days before we go there. We have a couple of gigs set up for us.”

I wrap my arms around him, squeezing him tight. His body relaxes into mine and he sighs and inhales my scent as he embraces me back.

“Congratulations. I’m so happy for you and the guys! I bet they’re stoked.”

“Yeah they are. They’re hoping to get together with you while we’re here. Are you still playing?” he asks pointing to the piano.

“When I can. I don’t play nearly enough as I’d like.” I smile weakly.

“Toni, I’m sorry things ended the way they did. Guilt ate at me like a cancer. I couldn’t move past it. I let you down when you needed me and for that, I’m sorry.”

“We’ve been over this. It wasn’t your fault. I never blamed you.” My voice is now a whisper

“I know. I know you didn’t, but I did. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for so much and it’s all too late. You’re with someone else. I hope he’s worthy of you.”

“He is,” I say, growing angry.
Why now?
He has no right to say that after the way things ended with us. I needed him and he pulled away and made me feel ashamed for being a victim, he doesn’t get a say in who is worthy of me.

I turn from his gaze, pouring another glass of wine. The liquid slides down, helping to calm my frayed nerves.

“That’s a good red. Do you mind if I have a glass?”

“Of course. Help yourself.”

James pours himself a glass then jesters towards the piano. “So, do you fancy playing?”

James and I always used to play together before we fell apart. It’s nostalgic to be here with him; the pull to play is strong.

“Okay,” I reply with a cheesy grin, my anger dissipating.

Later Mom called to say she and Dad were tired so they’ll see us tomorrow. I know she’s just giving James time with me I’m having fun, and forgetting the reason they came.

James and I spend hours playing and singing. It’s so refreshing to be around him like this; it’s like old times. The strain of what happened appears to have lifted between us.