Page 12

Chapter Eleven

T he whitewash cascaded up the wall painting the familiar rock face with all its beauty in the bright morning light. It was a visually impressive indication I was at the halfway point and it was time to turn back and head for home. I wasn’t going to be entering a marathon anytime soon, but a morning jog kept my waist trim and my mind clear. It was also part of my routine and while most people would describe my thirst for order as neurotic, I preferred practical and wise.

I scanned the horizon, the sun ascending with each minute for what was set to be a beautiful day in the city, and despite the depths of tranquility before me I found my mind again wandering back to the events of the weekend. Usually my feet pounding the pavement kept me in a steady stream of meaningless thoughts, but not today.

The rest of the match had been unexciting. Andy and the boys won easily, kicking away from their opposition in the second half and the girls enjoyed the game, but Marlee had appeared a little skittish.

Why – I couldn’t be sure. When I admitted I’d been thinking about her, I hadn’t been lying. She'd taken up residency in my days, filling any small gap and inserting herself at the most inopportune times. Like when I was speaking to Mum and very nearly mentioned taking Eva to the football to meet Marlee. Or whenever I entered my office and had to stop myself re-watching the footage just to see her dancing.

The fact I was thinking of the depth of those eyes or those long fucking legs at all told me my decision to ask her to dinner was the right one. And I wasn’t giving up easily. Nothing had taken my interest like she had and until she told me no, I was going to keep trying.

It would be stupid to stop now given how reckless my recent behaviours had been. I’d lied to Andy after he mentioned Arna and Marlee were going to the game and told him Eva was desperate to see a live match, knowing she couldn’t care less. I’d even considered creating a fucking Instagram account in an attempt to see if she had an online presence which was so out of character I could have scheduled an annual medical check-up just to be safe. It was worse that for someone who valued privacy and familiarity, I was spending a great amount of time wondering how I could see her again despite the fact she hadn’t reached out even once. Not to mention her reaction to that dickwad Lucas was a clear signal she came with some kind of past which would usually be the point my interest feigned.

Yet here I was, still trying to think of ways to accidentally bump into her.

Had I come off too strong? Too fast? Doubting myself wasn’t something I was well-versed in, but fuck, I really thought she was into me given her slow appraisal when we showed up and how she seemed almost relieved when she discovered Eva was my sister.

Maybe I was reading it all wrong, or maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough. Would Google be able to offer an insight into the mind of women? Was their some forum or something I could join to ask? There probably fucking should be.

Usually when I wanted something, I went for it wholeheartedly. But there was something which told me I needed to go slow with her, be careful not to overstep or fuck it up. With each step I thought about the way she had instantly known I wanted my sister to move to the city. I did want her to move here but I hadn’t said that to anyone because I never wanted to sway her decision or be the reason Mum didn’t have her daughter close. But she'd known and that was disconcerting in its own way. How she said it so casually as if there was nothing more obvious.

I picked up the pace when I remembered the uncertainty in her face when I asked her to have dinner with me. Was the apprehension because of me? Did she feel obligated because I was Andy’s mate? Or was there more I didn’t know?

Andy had mentioned Arna’s friend living with them for a few months now but he was a verbal acrobat if anyone asked questions, pivoting the conversation elsewhere with no explanation.

Now having seen the woman behind the name, many things were making sense. Specifically, why Arna wasn’t out as much lately when Andy came into Nexus and Andy always offered to come to us. But what did remain unclear was the reasoning behind it all. And I felt compelled to know what that was.

It was the desire to know that drove me to call Andy yesterday to invite myself over for dinner tonight. I felt ridiculous and pretty damn desperate, but if I just turned up, I would seem more of a stalker and that was the last thing I wanted.

Watching her so invested in the game before she noticed me arrive was incredible. Her foot mindlessly tapping the floor in front of her as she rocked from side to side. It was clear she genuinely cared about the Hearts and rode the emotions and nerves as only a true supporter could. She wasn’t there purely because Andy was her friend, she was passionate and I was enraptured, wanting to know what else could pull such emotion from the woman.

I also noticed the flicker of apprehension when she saw Eva. For a second I considered not telling her she was my sister but she flipped on a facade pretty quickly and I hated how distant and formal she became. I was grateful to Eva for her honesty, although adding I'd been hoping to see her was a move which saw me nearly strangle her with her new scarf. Arna had immediately smirked at me from behind Marlee and I could only assume that she also thought I wanted to bend her friend over the snack bar.

Which wasn’t entirely untrue.

On more than one occasion Marlee had made me laugh. And not a small laugh to please whoever I was talking to or maintain sociability. An actual, genuine yet unexpected laugh. No one did that.

And with that thought, I raced up the last of the stairs and unlocked my front door, heading straight for the shower. Thinking about her had the same effect it did every time and I was going to need to sort myself out before I went tonight or I would be sitting through dinner distracted by my need for her.

I’d been to Andy’s apartment plenty of times but in the last few months it looked less like a bachelor pad and more like a home.

This time, the addition of a bookshelf arranged into colours, took centre stage in the living room and a new armchair faced the balcony. Two small plants adorned the tv unit and photographs of him and Arna at their engagement party sat next to each. Dulcet tones fought for sensory dominance with a sweet smell as I followed Andy though his living room and onto the balcony.

“A view like this doesn’t get old,” I loved living near the beach, the sounds of the ocean and smell of salt were important to me but the city lights, and a huge jacuzzi, were pretty sweet. He had the penthouse apartment and while the mid-city location wasn’t for me, I could definitely see the appeal.

Andy handed me a beer, holding his own out towards mine. Clinking glasses, I nodded in thanks and we took a sip.

“Yeah, I love it here. Always have, but it’s even better these days.” He had his back to the city, looking in through the doors towards the kitchen where Arna was preparing dinner. The changes in him since he met her were striking. He was more sociable, actually provided interviews which were more than just a grunt or head nod and didn’t simply live and breathe football. At least one positive to come out of the media in his eyes.

“You are so far gone,” I was laughing as I said it, but there was no malice in my words. Andy had never been one to have a long term girlfriend. I’d seen him in the club with a partner here or there but never anything serious. When he first started seeing Arna, I was pleasantly surprised given it was the first time he had been photographed more than once with a woman.

I wanted to pay him out more, but that was only begging him to turn the tables and discuss the real reason I was here.

“Thanks for having me over for dinner though, appreciate it.” Turning away from watching his woman, Andy chuckled.

“Not like you gave me much choice. I'll definitely enjoy taking the extra money you're throwing down on the table this week though.” I knew Andy would have said yes to having me here even without my proposal, but I also knew he was flying interstate again this weekend so doubling the buy-in guaranteed it happened before his match, because waiting another two weeks before I saw her again was unthinkable.

It was never about the cash when we played, but the extra money in the kitty made the bragging that much sweeter when you won. Looking around at his jacuzzi, wall mounted television and outdoor shower that all sat on his spacious balcony, anyone could see he wasn’t desperate for funds. As the number one forward in the game, he was a wanted man and clubs and sponsors threw money at him for the skill and expertise he brought to the sport.

“Whatever! I could triple the amount and I would still take it all,” I said, ignoring the last time we met and he emptied my pockets. The smug look on his face made me smile as Arna opened the door calling us in for dinner.

“It smells delicious up in here,” Andy grabbed her and nuzzled into her neck from behind. She swatted him with her hand and instructed him to take the dishes she had lined on the bench to the table.

“Can you please ensure he does that correctly,” Arna directed at me. “I need to go and let Marls in, she forgot her key and the new doorman is hopeless. I miss Graham,” she whined.

At the mention of Marlee I became hyperaware. What if she didn’t want me here and I was being forceful in all the wrong ways? I’d pondered how she would look, how I would respond and whether I was embellishing my memories. I ached for the way her presence consumed my focus and cleared my mind. She seemed to see straight through me and her ability to read me was addictive.

I grabbed the tray of marinated meat and joined Andy in setting the table as instructed. I knew who the boss was around here and it definitely wasn’t the captain. He moved to set the cutlery at each place, but then paused, looking at me earnestly.

“What?”

“I know you, bro. You’re a good guy. But I need you to know that Marlee is really fucking important to Arns and if she hurts, Arns hurts, which means…” He shrugged, not finishing the sentence.

I knew what he was saying and I wanted to scoff, laugh off the absurdity of his assumptions but deep down I knew I should just tell him I was out of my depth. Admit that I had absolutely no idea what this pull was but it was compelling. Unsure on how to even begin to phrase this, I simply nodded.

Andy knew I would never go back on my word and now was no different, but I had to hope he had some insight into my current predicament given how he and Arna started dating. For a short while I enjoyed seeing him frustrated over a woman, rather than indifferent as he was to the usual hoard who followed him around desperately seeking his status to increase their own. But the blonde firecracker definitely made him work for it even if that was entirely his own fault.

“I just don’t want you to have to deal with an angry Arna. She is scary,” he huffed and I grinned.

“She threatened to bury me the night Marlee stayed at my place,” I said remembering her repeated threats with a smile and Andy laughed.

I heard her before I saw her and I savoured the sound of her laugh, inwardly smiling as I took a deep breath. I put the last dish of food on the table as she came around the corner, stopping suddenly and causing Arna to run into her back. Her eyes widening made it clear she wasn’t expecting me to be here, however, she quickly masked her shock with a grin.

“Seb, hey,” she came straight towards me, leaning up on her toes to kiss me on the cheek in greeting. There was an ease to her I hadn’t seen before and it instantly comforted any uncertainty I had at being here.

Briefly wrapping an arm around her shoulder, I returned the move, basking in the soft fragrance of almonds and coconut. Her hair was pulled away from her face and it fell down her back, dark against the white of her shirt. Her jeans hung low and loose on her hips, leaving a small glimpse of the smooth skin of her torso.

Fuck me – I needed another shower already.

It didn’t matter what she wore, everything about her was enticing and today was no different. I wondered where she had been today, before Andy returned and addressed the unspoken question for me.

“What’s up, Marls, how was your first day back at work?” Her face split into the biggest grin and it was instantly my new favourite version of her.

Tonight she was carefree. Light and unburdened – entirely different to the woman I had seen both at the club and the game and I wanted to spend more time with this Marlee. She high-fived Andy before answering and I was slightly jealous of the ease she displayed with him and wondered what I would need to do to gain this level of trust.

“Amazing! I had the best day. The kids are amazing, the place is amazing! Brad and Sofi were so happy to see me back and best of all, Gabriel was there and she spent the entire day following me around. I mean, I hoped she would have found her forever home by now, and she still hasn’t, but seeing her again filled my heart.” She was glowing and Arna and Andy were watching her with matching adoration. When no one spoke, her cheeks flamed and she mumbled something inaudible.

“Marlee Rose, that is the most I have heard you speak in months. This calls for a celebratory drink,” Arna’s voice was laced with excitement as she gave her a side hug, guiding her towards the kitchen. She whispered something in her ear and I really wished I could hear what she said as instead of responding, Marlee turned back towards me with a small smile.

I had so many questions. So many reasons to stay.

And at that moment I was really glad that I'd called Andy because for a second, I wondered if maybe she was happy to see me too.