Call On Me

by Angela Verdenius

  “Pass on the kissing with fangs, but I’m all for having a gander at the film. What time does it start?”

  Lori glanced at the clock on the wall above the kitchen bench. “In about ten minutes.”

  “Let’s go, then.”

  Curled up on the sofa with Minx snuggled up on her little blanket between them, the sisters were soon watching the TV show, but Ali had a hard time concentrating. Every now and again thoughts of Ghost moving behind her slid through her mind, just the memory of the sensation of him thrusting inside her making her heart pick up pace. When a person on the show mentioned that being a ‘vampire’ gave them power, she couldn’t help but recall the power with which Ghost took her, the dominant streak that had undeniably broken through his easy-going persona. The way he’d held her, positioned her, his hands strong and sure, his every move definite.

  Ghost had always been a man who knew what he wanted, going after it with dogged persistence, but she knew he hadn’t meant to go after her with any sexual slant on the situation. He’d gone from comforting to sex. How the hell that had happened she still didn’t know.

  With Lori caught up in the film and the tension-easing luxury of time having passed and her nerves calmed down, Ali was able to mull over the happenings with a clearer mind.

  Except regardless of how calm she was now, she still didn’t have a clue what exactly had changed between them, when it had changed. To be truthful, she wasn’t so sure it was pity sex. Ghost didn’t do anything intimate out of pity, she’d known him to break up with girlfriends even when they cried and begged. He’d been kind but firm, knowing when things weren’t going well between them. As he’d said to Ali, when the spark wasn’t there and things just weren’t moving forward, it was time to move on. To anyone else that might sound callous, but she knew that deep down he didn’t believe in stringing along girlfriends on false hopes. Once he recognised the relationship was going nowhere, it was time to break. Once his mind was made up, Ghost was rarely swayed, especially when it came to relationships.

  So what had changed between them to bring about the evenings events?

  Sure, she could go over and talk to him about it, he’d be more than open to that, but the problem was that she wasn’t ready to face him. Not because she was a coward, but because she needed to mull over the situation herself until she was ready to discuss it.

  Also, there was one big fear. Things had changed between them, it had to, there was no way they could go back to the easy-going friendship they had. The realisation had her heart suddenly fluttering, panic tightening her throat.

  “Ali?”

  She swung her gaze around to find Lori looking at her curiously, a touch of concern in her eyes. “What?”

  “Are you okay?”

  She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Sure, why?”

  “You just seem a bit distracted, and not in a good way.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Lori eyed her dubiously.

  “I’m just going to kick Chris’s arse when I see him next,” Ali joked, rather having Lori believe she was still a little upset about the disastrous date than know the truth.

  Cripes, how would it affect Lori to find out Ghost and she had had sex? Hot sex, over a car bonnet? Just the memory had heat pooling low in her loins.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re a little flushed.”

  “Am I?” Look cool, get a grip!

  “Maybe you’re coming down with something.” Lori settled back against the sofa, her hand gently stroking Minx’s back.

  “Maybe. I feel okay, though.” Ali glanced back at the TV. “Oh, look! Can you believe there are actually clubs for these so-called vampires?”

  “Hey, whatever turns them on.” Lori returned her attention to the program.

  Relieved that her sister was diverted, Ali sought to shove the troubling thoughts to the back of her mind. The last thing she wanted was for Lori to guess what was going on, not that she could ever really guess what had happened, but Lori could usually get to the bottom of things if she kept digging and she didn’t want to give her sister any hint of dirt to start that digging.

  With supreme effort she managed to focus on the film, even if at the back of her mind was the niggling lure to indulge in a little pleasure and remember how good it had felt to be at Ghost’s mercy, his – Stop! Taking a deep breath, she eased her feet up on the footstool and refocussed on the TV. Even if it killed her, she was not going to think about that passion-filled episode at the river. Not with Lori sitting right beside her. No way, no how. Just no. If she really had to torture herself, she could do it in bed.

  Somehow that thought didn’t produce quite the picture it had meant to and she had to bite her lip to stop the sudden nervous giggle that threatened to erupt.

  Besides, regardless, she was off men now. No more men, no more dates, no more chasing a husband-to-be. Men were off-limits, and right at that moment it included Ty ‘Ghost’ Sinclair. He was a worry for another day.

  Good intentions, but she gave herself a headache from concentrating so hard on the TV while trying to keep her thoughts under tight control. By the time she went to bed at midnight, she had to take two paracetamol to get the headache under control.

  Just went to show that men in general were trouble.

  ~*~

  Ghost was trouble. It had taken all her skill to avoid the man. Going to the city had helped but he’d been lurking in wait for their return. Holy cow, they’d just been pulling into the driveway when she saw his handsome face peeking through the curtains of his lounge room. Upon spotting them, he’d disappeared from the window.

  She had the car in reverse before he’d even come properly through his front door.

  Lori gawked at her as she’d practically torn out of the driveway. “What the hell, Ali?”

  “What?”

  “Where are we going and why are we in a hurry?”

  “I thought we’d buy tea and then we need to get back to check on Minx.”

  “Seriously?”

  “What?”

  “You came out of the driveway like a bat out of hell, I was just wondering.”

  “Sorry. My thoughts were elsewhere.”

  “You must really be hungry.”

  “Ha ha.”

  Shaking her head, Lori resumed gazing out of the window as they drove through town. Ali pulled up in front of the restaurant and turned to look expectantly at Lori, who was getting out of the car. When her sister bent down to peer in at her, Ali said, “I’ll have the Chinese special.”

  “Why aren’t you coming in?”

  “Now it’s my turn – seriously?”

  Lori frowned.

  “My humiliation is still pretty fresh in my mind. Burned into it like a freakin’ brand, in fact. I’m happy for you that you appear to have gotten over your only sister’s embarrassment.”

  Lori rolled her eyes. “I get it, I get it. Sheesh.”

  “Just reminding you.” Ali reached for her purse.

  “Forget it. My treat.” Lori straightened before bending down again to add, “My apologies for forgetting, even momentarily, your horrific episode.”

  “Thanks. Really.”

  Rolling her eyes again, Lori shut the door.

  Watching her sister walk into the restaurant, Ali tapped her fingertips on the steering wheel. Maybe they should have gone in to eat, sat down, wasted a few hours in the hope that Ghost would grow tired of waiting and go to bed. Or write. Or something. Watch a horror movie.

  Without her.

  That made her grimace and feel sad all at once. Cripes, her fun sessions moaning about his horror movies while sitting with him, enjoying his company, would surely be over now. Slumping down in the car seat, she started moping.

  Life wasn’t fair. Why did the only man who had made her orbit go out of, well, orbit, not be the right one? Best friends did not shag one another, it wasn’t done. It just wasn’t. If Chris hadn’t turned out to be such an arse, she might even now be
out with him laughing, admiring him and getting to know him, instead of basically wanting to punch his lights out.

  Men. She sighed.

  A thump on the door had her jumping and she looked around, one hand to her erratically thumping heart, to find Chris leaning down looking at her through the window.

  Oh goody. Just what she needed right now.

  “Alissa-” he began.

  She wound the window up.

  He followed it up, trying to talk. “I just wanted to apologise. I didn’t mean to upset you.” The last part was muffled due to the now closed window having cut him off completely.

  He tapped on the window. “Alissa?”

  She glared at him. “Go away.”

  “Alissa, please.”

  Jesus, couldn’t the man take a hint? Ali pointedly looked away, only to find herself gazing into the bemused eyes of Old Man Parker. She flushed. Oh goody.

  Tap tap tap on the window.

  Eyebrows shooting upwards, Parker looked from her to the man tapping on her window.

  Turning back to the window, Ali wound it down a crack. “I don’t want to talk to you, Chris. Now leave me alone.”

  “If I could explain-”

  Oh sweet baby Jesus! She was so not in the mood for this! Grabbing the key in the ignition, she started the car, put it into reverse and backed out of the parking bay, gratified beyond belief to see Chris leap out of the way. For good measure, she gunned the engine before taking off down the darkening street.

  Feeling better, if only a smidgen, she suddenly realised she’d left Lori at the restaurant. Damn it! Not wanting to go back to the restaurant and wait in case Chris Dickhead Smith was still lurking, she decided she’d phone her sister and tell her to call when she was ready, then she could swing by and pick her up. Cursing, she swung around the nearest corner and spun quickly into a parking bay. Reaching for the mobile in her bag, she caught sight in the rear-view mirror of the patrol car pulling in behind her. Adam Moor, old school friend, hopped out and ambled up to her window.

  “Hey,” she said as he leaned down, resting one brawny forearm on the windowsill.

  “Hey,” he drawled back in his easy-going, friendly manner. “You in a bit of a hurry, Ali?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Saw it all. Arguing with a man, almost running him over, tearing through town.” He nodded slowly. “Yep. Regular hoonish behaviour.”

  Her cheeks flushed. “Um…”

  “Hooning can cost you your car, Ali.”

  “Come on, Adam, surely-”

  “Reckless driving, public brawling-”

  “What? I was not publicly brawling!”

  “Disturbing the peace.”

  “Look, Moor-”

  “I could arrest you right now,” he continued, his tone lazy and measured, his eyes glinting wickedly.

  Ali glared at him.

  “What would you do if I asked you to step out of the car, Ms Mackay?”

  “Kick you in the nuts, probably.”

  “Threatening a police officer. My, you have fallen into criminal activities.”

  None of this was his fault even if he was enjoying himself at her expense. With a sigh, Ali opened her purse to retrieve her license.

  Before she could hand it to him, he reached in and closed his big hand gently over hers. “You put that away, Ali. I’m only teasing you.”

  “I’m sorry, Adam.” She tried to muster a smile but going by the gentle concern on his face, it wasn’t cutting the mustard. “I really am.”

  “It’s not okay to drive when you let anger take the steering wheel,” he admonished quietly.

  “I know.” Shame prickled through her.

  “I heard what happened last night,” he continued. “Saw what happened just now. Are you all right?”

  “Apart from being a hoon?” When he didn’t smile at her rejoinder, she said, “I’m fine. I just let my emotions get the better of me, that’s all. Stupid thing to do. I promise I’ll be careful. No more hoon behaviour.” She smiled again, hoping he’d smile in return.

  Nope, not one glimmer of a smile, just that slow, steady gaze into her eyes. Nothing romantic about it, simply a long look that had her wondering what he really saw.

  With a small nod, Adam looked back down the street. “Want me to have a word to Chris Smith?”

  “What? No!”

  This time there was a glint of humour in his eyes when his gaze shifted back to her. “I don’t mean threatening, Ali. Just a friendly word in his ear.”

  She dropped her purse back into her bag. “No, it’s all fine. I’ve handled it.”

  “Okay. You drive carefully now.” Straightening, he walked back to the patrol car.

  She waited until he’d pulled out and passed her before indicating and pulling out as well.

  Great, just great. She’d made an exhibition of herself in front of the restaurant, got warned off by a cop, and stranded her sister. The exhibition she’d just have to let the dimming of time take care of, the warning she tucked into her mortified mind, and her sister she’d face right now.

  Turning into the parking bay of the restaurant, she saw Lori waiting outside the closed door. Just standing there, the bag of takeaway in one hand, other hand in the pocket of her baggy shorts, face totally expressionless.

  Chewing her bottom lip, Ali watched her step off the footpath and cross to the car, opening the door and getting in without saying a word. The silence stretched as she clipped on the seatbelt and settled back in the seat.

  “So,” Ali finally said.

  “Do I want to know?” Lori asked.

  “You probably saw the whole thing, right?”

  “No, actually, but Old Man Parker had great relish in filling in the details.” She glanced sideways at Ali. “I was sort of curious why my sister ditched me.”

  “I came back for you.”

  “Or was it the Chinese food?”

  “Do I really have to answer that? ‘Cause you might get mad.”

  “True.”

  “I was sort of running.”

  “Sort of or was?”

  “Was.” She could feel her cheeks heat. “Ummm…did you hear anything else?”

  “No. Why, did something else happen?”

  “Not at all.” Ali put the car into reverse but before she could move, Mrs Swanson hurried out of the restaurant and waved at them.

  “Maybe she gave you the wrong change,” Ali murmured.

  “Nah, it was correct.” Lori wound down her window but Mrs Swanson came around to Ali’s instead.

  Curious, Ali looked out at her.

  Mrs Swanson, her hair in the usual tight curls haloing her head, leaned down to look directly at Ali. “Are you all right, sweetie?”

  “Absolutely,” Great, who else had seen Chris approach her? Curse her very first encounter with the jerk. “Look, it really doesn’t bother me-”

  “I hope Adam wasn’t too harsh with you,” Mrs Swanson cut in.

  “Adam?” Lori echoed.

  Keen to cut this particular subject off, Ali replied hastily, “Oh, it was nothing. It-”

  “Apparently he went after you, lights flashing, siren blaring,” Mrs Swanson continued with relish, the gleam of a true gossiper in her eyes warring with true sympathy.

  “Oh, gosh, it wasn’t anything like-”

  “I heard he forced you off the road into the parking bay. Adam doesn’t like hoons, you know.”

  “I’m not a hoon!” Catching Lori staring at her, she repeated fiercely, “I’m not. Sheesh.”

  “Dragged you out of the car,” Mrs Swanson declared. “Almost had you in handcuffs.”

  “Good grief! It didn’t-”

  “That boy takes his job seriously.” Reaching in, Mrs Swanson patted her arm comfortingly. “Too seriously. I remember smacking his bum myself when he was a kid and I caught him stealing chocolate from the grocery store when we owned it.”

  “Really?” Ali couldn’t help but ask before she caught herself. �
�I mean, never mind. Mrs Swanson, it didn’t happen like that, I swear. I-”

  “Now, now, dear, I understand.” She patted Ali’s arm again. “Embarrassing, I know. But it’s okay, dear, we all understand how torn up inside you must be after that episode with, you know, that new mechanic in town.”

  “Mrs Swanson, I swear-”

  “You just go home. Being arrested will shake the nerves up of any decent woman, hoon or not.”

  Sweet baby Jesus. This could not be happening.

  Straightening, Mrs Swanson stepped back. “Lori, you look after your sister, okay? Tuck her into bed with a nice cup of tea. I’ll speak to that Adam boy myself.”

  “What?” Ali was horrified. “No, Mrs Swanson, really, you have to listen to m-”

  Too late, Mrs Swanson was barrelling back to the restaurant with righteous indignation in every line of her lean frame. The door swung shut behind her. Great, just great. Knowing Mrs Swanson, she’d ring Adam up, give him an earful, and then ring her mates to tell them all about the not-quite-true happenings of the evening.

  Fingers gripping the steering wheel, Ali took several deep, calming breaths before putting the gear into reverse and backing out onto the deserted road.

  Lori remained quiet until they were halfway home. “Care to share?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, then.” Several second passed before she added, “I’ll find out tomorrow night at work anyway.” When Ali refused to answer, she continued smugly, “Nothing like the grapevine of a small town.”

  Ali cut her a narrow-eyed look to find her sister biting her lip to stop the laughter that was threatening to break through. Meeting her gaze, Lori mimed zipping her lips closed and throwing away the key. It didn’t stop her shoulders trembling now and again with suppressed amusement.

  Normally able to see humour in almost anything, Ali was instead annoyed. Now she would be the subject of gossip and her disastrous date with Chris would rear its head once more. And the cause of it. She just wanted this whole thing over, done and dusted, but the rate she was going it was going to be the major town buzz for a few days yet.

  Pulling into the driveway, she kept a watchful eye on Ghost’s house while Lori opened the garage door, but he didn’t appear. Even his front veranda light was turned off. A glance upwards showed the light on in his writing room, making her relax. If he was caught up writing, he’d probably forgotten all about her by now. She could only hope. The last thing she needed right now was Ghost coming over wanting to discuss the happenings at the river.