Geronimo (A Songbird Novel) (11 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Harry

I’d been living with Jane for just over a week and was thoroughly in love with it. I hated that I had to leave her again, but I couldn’t miss Nan’s birthday.

“We don’t know how many she has left. You, of all people, know the importance of making the most of these special moments, Harry.”

Mum’s reminder had turned my insides to mud. I’d already promised her I’d be there, but she obviously felt the need to really drive it home. She must have sensed how happy I was with Jane and started to worry I’d change my mind.

She had probable cause, I suppose. Being with Jane was everything I’d hoped it would be…and more.

Running a hand down my face, I tried to shake off the imminent dread of leaving her. What if something happened to her when I was gone?

It may have seemed like an over-the-top fear, but it was a niggle that lived inside me constantly. No one ever knew how much time they really had with someone, and I wanted to make the most of every second I could get with Jane.

I’d only be gone for a short time, but I had to be careful about my travel expenses. Living in LA wasn’t exactly cheap, and it didn’t help that I wanted to continually surprise Jane with expensive rental cars and nice dinners. She deserved it, and I wanted to be the guy to make her happy. But I wasn’t exactly rolling in cash, and I’d have to save to be able to afford to return after Nan’s birthday. And then when I did return, I’d only have a few months left until my visa ran out. I’d be forced back to England for a stint, unable to return until I met visa requirements again.

Was that what it would be like? Constantly having to say goodbye?

“Stop thinking so far ahead, you idiot,” I muttered, tapping the space bar and bringing my screen back to life.

If I wanted to earn enough money to come back at all, I couldn’t sit around pondering my fate. Squinting at the screen, I reread the job description and got to work on interpreting what the client wanted. By the end of the day, I’d managed to mock up something rather classy. I was about to email it to them with a triumphant little smirk when a key went into the lock.

My insides jumped with pleasant surprise…and a little confusion.

Jane had told me she’d have to stay late and catch up on some work.

“I can’t work with you here. You’re too distracting. I’ll just do a late night at school.”

I didn’t love that idea, but she was right. It was kind of hard to stay away from each other. I planned on working late too.

“Well, she hasn’t returned any of my calls, what am I supposed to do?” A female voice I didn’t recognize wafted through the crack in the door as it started to open. “She gave me a key for a reason, Justin. She won’t mind.”

I froze at the table, my eyes glued to the door as a couple who looked to be around my age walked in—a slender blonde with sparkly blue eyes and a guy with dark curly hair.

They both jerked to a stop when they noticed me, and all I could do was raise my hand and smile. “Hi. Uh, hello.”

They stood there for a moment, gaping at me, then looked at each other before frowning in unison and aiming two dark glares in my direction.

“W-who the hell are you?” the guy practically growled at me.

“Uh, I’m Harry.” I stood from the table and wiped my hand on my jeans before extending it to introduce myself. “Harry Tindal.”

The blonde continued to glare at me, crossing her arms and snapping, “What are doing in this apartment?”

“I’m staying here.” I pointed behind me, at the bed of all things. Granted, a thoughtless move.

The woman’s eyes bulged, her already milky skin paling further. “Who are you!” she yelled, flicking her hands in the air.

“I’m, um, well, I guess you could say I’m Jane’s boyfriend?”

“Her boyfriend?” the girl mimicked me. “Jane doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

“I beg to differ.” I pointed at the horrified couple and let out a breathy laugh that was killed by their unimpressed scowls. “She’s working late tonight and I promised not to disturb her, but I could give her a call if you like, straighten this out?”

I turned to reach for my phone, but the blonde stopped me with a snap of her fingers. “Don’t move. I’ll call her.”

Slipping my hands into my pockets, I tried to give the guy a friendly smile as the woman yanked her phone out of her bag and called Jane.

No dice.

He wasn’t having any of it.

I had no idea who these people were. Jane had mentioned a few friends, but we never got specific. No histories…never thought it would cause any kind of complications, but there they were in dark curls and blonde waves. Staring me down and making me feel like the world’s worst imposter.

Chapter Nineteen

Jane

The phone in my bag started ringing. I’d slipped it away so I couldn’t see it and be tempted to call Harry. I glanced down at my bag and wondered whether to ignore it.

But then he had promised not to call, so there was a good chance it wasn’t him…which probably meant it was my mother. I’d had a breezy conversation with her two days ago, telling her I couldn’t catch up for dinner on the weekend.

“You’re a busy girl this year, darling.”

“I’m just trying to make up for my bad start last year. Give me a few weeks and I’ll make myself available.”

I’d need the company after Harry left anyway.

I sighed and ignored the call, figuring I’d phone back on my way home.

Leaning toward my computer screen, I continued planning out my lessons for the following week when my phone started buzzing again.

I tipped my head to the ceiling. “Oh, come on.”

With a little huff, I pulled out my phone and noted Sarah’s number on the screen.

“Frick,” I muttered. I hadn’t spoken to my best friend since Harry arrived. If anyone was going to get the truth out of me, it’d be her, and for some reason, I didn’t want her knowing.

I didn’t understand why.

Maybe because she was married to Blake’s brother, or maybe because the four of us used to be inseparable and it felt weird bringing a new person into the mix. Whatever it was, I’d been avoiding her, and she’d obviously had enough.

Biting my lips together, I rubbed my thumb down the side of my phone, seriously considering ignoring her, but I didn’t want her to worry.

I held my breath and answered, making sure a smile was in place by the time the phone was pressed against my ear.

“Hey, Sparky. How’s it going?”

“There’s a man in your apartment. He says he’s your boyfriend. You have about thirty seconds to verify this or I’m calling the cops.”

I nearly dropped the phone. My heart jumped into my throat and started hammering, making it really hard to talk.

With a little splutter, I managed, “What—what are you doing in my apartment?”

“Really? That’s your question?” Sarah’s voice pitched high. “I just told you there’s a stranger in your house!”

“He’s…not a stranger,” I finished in a barely audible whisper. Clearing my throat, I tried for redirection again. “Why are you there?”

“Because you’re my best friend and I care about you! You’ve basically gone off-grid since you got back from Europe, and I wanted to pop by and make sure you were okay!”

“I am. I’m fine. I’m great.”

“You are in so much trouble right now,” she warned. “Seriously, how could you not tell me you had a boyfriend?”

“I…well, I just…”

“Get your butt home right now!”

“Why don’t we catch up this weekend and I can…”

“I am not leaving this guy alone in your apartment.”

Drooping my head with a sigh, I muttered, “Okay, fine. I’m coming. Just be nice until I get there. He’s a really great guy.”

Sarah responded by hanging up on me, a true sign of just how pissed she was.

Wincing with a hiss, I packed up my stuff, urging myself to hurry. Poor Harry was probably getting the cold stare from my bestie, and although she’s usually a happy ray of sunshine, she’s pretty good at the icy stare-down.

As I scrambled to pack away my things, I imagined the scenario. Harry squirming in his bare feet while Sarah clipped around him in some gorgeous pair of heels she’d probably found at some rare shoe shop while researching for her next wedding client.

Rushing to my car, I drove the fastest way home, only getting caught briefly in the tail end of rush-hour traffic. Thirty minutes later, I was walking in my apartment door, shocked to find Justin there as well.

Blake’s brother.

I wondered what he thought about all this.

From the grim look on his face, not much. In fact, he looked a mix of highly unimpressed and maybe a little wounded.

They all turned to look at me. Harry’s eyes rounded with a
get me the hell out of this
kind of plea. I gave him a weak smile and cleared my throat as I placed my bag on the floor.

“So, I take it you’ve met?” I inched across to him while scratching my forearm and avoiding eye contact.

Sarah’s icy blues were stripping me bare. “Yeah. We’ve met.”

I forced a smile but it didn’t quite rise. Sarah’s glare switched to dismay, matching her husband perfectly. “How could you not tell me about this?”

“I’m sorry. I…” I pointed at Harry then back to her. “We met while I was in England and he came with me to France and…”

“You told me you were traveling alone!”

“I didn’t think you’d be cool with the fact I was tripping around Europe with a guy I barely knew. You were dealing with your stuff.” I pointed between her and Justin, ignoring Harry’s confused expression. “And I was trying to deal with mine.”

Sarah’s lips spread into a stubborn line. “You should have told me.”

I looked away from her, my jaw working to the side before I managed to whisper, “How?”

Her eyes glassed with tears, and she blinked then looked across to Justin. He walked over to her, gently rubbing her shoulders and kissing the side of her head.

Harry still looked confused, and I didn’t have it in me to try to explain it all. I couldn’t go into Blake’s death and Justin and Sarah’s almost divorce. I didn’t want to relive it again.

An awkward, horrible silence descended on the room, and I wasn’t sure how to fix it.

I kind of wanted them to leave. I felt awful for thinking that, because Sarah was my best friend, but Harry hadn’t touched my past. He didn’t know about Blake. The only stories he knew were ones from my childhood—safe ones that caused laughter, not tears.

I didn’t want my past tainting what we had, but did that mean excluding people I cared about?

Sensing Harry’s gaze on me, I turned to him with a hopeless smile. He gave me a sad, closed-mouth grin. Then with his usual charm, he killed the silence.

His hands made a loud snap as they clapped together. Everyone flinched and stared at him.

“I don’t know about you guys, but this oppressive silence is getting kind of heavy. So, as awkward as it will no doubt be, why don’t you lovely people stay for dinner? I’ll even let you interrogate me so you can work out whether I’m good enough for your sweet Jane. Not sure which one of you is going to play bad cop, but I promise I’ll be as honest as I can be. No nastiness required.” He winked at Sarah, who was contemplating a bemused smile—I could tell by the wrinkling of her forehead.

Justin was still pretty reticent, but he finally gave in with a short nod and mumbled, “I’ll order Indian.”

“Fab. I love a good chicken tikka masala.” Harry grinned.

Justin gave him an odd look before pulling out his phone and turning away to order.

Sarah, although cautious, seemed to relax a little and shuffled over to the table. Pulling out one of the three chairs, she sat and gave me a pointed look.

I bit back my smile, finding her motherly glares somewhat amusing now that the tense fog had lifted. Taking a seat beside her, it occurred to me that we’d be one chair short. It made my throat restrict. Since moving in, I’d only ever had two visitors at a time—my parents or Justin and Sarah. Much to my depression, I’d never needed a fourth chair.

But right then, I did.

I couldn’t decide how I felt about that.

Harry closed his laptop and slipped it into his bag by the bed. Sarah watched him, her eyes darting to the bed before back to me.

Oh man, I had so much to tell her.

We used to talk about everything until Blake died and it all changed. I turned into a robot, she turned into a workaholic, and then all that shit went down between her and Justin, nearly killing their marriage. The last year had been nothing but a suck-fest. That was why I’d wanted the new year to be fresh and untainted.

I didn’t want the old to mar it, but I couldn’t just turn my back on Sarah, which meant the old would somehow have to find a place in my new life.

My heart hitched, my breathing growing rapid as Blake came to the forefront of my mind. I told him he’d be with me forever. But where’d he been the last week while I was making love to Harry and pretending like my soul mate didn’t matter anymore?

Confusion made me frown and I scratched at the tabletop, unsure what to say.

Justin slid the phone back into his pocket and walked to the table. Nudging Sarah’s arm, he quietly encouraged her to stand before slipping into her chair then nestling her on his knee. They shared a sweet look that I hadn’t seen in a long time. It had more depth now. Nearly losing each other had brought them to a stronger place, and I could see the bond between them.

“So, would anyone like a drink?” Harry hovered behind me, still sounding a little nervous. “Tea? Beer? Wine?”

“Wine,” Sarah and I said in unison.

We couldn’t help sharing a brief smile before I glanced over my shoulder and spoke to Harry. “I think there’s a red in the cupboard by the fridge.”

“Got it.” He puttered around behind me while I cautiously looked back at my friends.

We still weren’t talking and it felt weird. Chatting with Sarah was usually as easy as breathing, but that was before I’d gone behind her back and fallen in love with a guy she didn’t even know about.

Fallen in love.

Had I?

Was I?

Harry returned to the table, placing down a teacup and three wine glasses. He poured a generous amount into each glass then filled his teacup.

Lifting it, he proposed a quick toast. “To awkward conversations that will hopefully not end in my death or banishment.”

I snorted and started to laugh as I raised my glass and decided…

Yes, I had fallen in love.

Harry made it impossible not to.