A Different Game: A Wrong Game Novel

by Matthews, Charlie M.

  “Poor girl.” Mel deadpanned. She wasn’t sorry at all.

  Our food and drinks arrived quickly after that. While Mel tucked into the pepperoni pizza and warm dough balls, I continued to fire questions at her which she happily answered between mouthfuls of food. She spoke about work, how Leanne was driving her insane and how she wished she could just quit. Honestly, I didn’t know how she did it. I couldn’t imagine working alongside someone who hated my guts. I hadn’t realised just how bad Leanne really was until Mel mentioned what had happened. I knew something was off with her when I was forced to take her out. I felt bad for leaving her, but I was glad I had. Mel wasn’t perfect by any means, but everyone deserved a second chance.

  Mel pushed her plate away from her and groaned. “Okay, I’m done. If I force myself to eat another bite I may go into a food coma.”

  “Good, though, right?”

  “So damn good,” she moaned, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.

  I chuckled and shook my head.

  “What?” She dabbed her mouth with the blue napkin.

  “Nothing.” I grinned against the bottle. I took a long swig and placed it back down.

  Mel sat in silence for the longest moment. I watched as the wheels turned in her head before horror flashed through her eyes and she frowned across at me.

  “What?” I frowned back, wondering what the hell had gotten into her. I looked back, thinking she’d seen someone she didn’t want to, but no one stood out to me.

  “You’re gonna do a runner and leave me to foot the bill, aren’t you?”

  Her eyes widened and I chucked my head back on a laugh. “Is that what you really think?” I laughed again, and only held it back when I noticed how serious she was.

  “Payback’s a bitch, right?” she said in that sarcastic tone of hers.

  Did she really think I would do that? So what if she’d made me play dress up like I was a damn Barbie doll?

  “You really think that little of me?” I asked, my lips curling into a grin.

  Mel shrugged and sipped her wine in silence.

  I shook my head and sighed. “Just relax. I’m not going to do anything.”

  “You’re not?”

  “No, Mel, I’m not. Now, sit back, drink your damn drink, and relax, okay?”

  “Okay.” She nodded, still unsure whether I was being honest or not.

  We sat in comfortable silence for what felt like the better part of an hour. In reality, it had only really been a few minutes before Mel lifted the glass to her lips. “For someone who's gone pro, you sure don’t speak about football much.”

  I shrugged. “Football isn’t everything. I do have a life outside of it.” Okay. That wasn't entirely true. Football was my life. I just needed to learn to live without it for now.

  “You could’ve fooled me,” she quipped, taking another sip of her drink.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Well...” She shrugged. “You’re here with me, right? That doesn’t sound like fun at all.”

  “Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re alright.”

  “Alright?” Her mouth hung open in shock.

  I rolled my eyes. “Okay, so you’re not actually that bad company.”

  “Gee… thanks. I think.” Mel shook her head and I wondered for a moment if I had pissed her off. It wasn’t like I said she was shit company or anything. I thought I’d been rather pleasant considering I had been pinned in a dress a little over an hour ago under false pretences.

  The tension started to grow thick and I found myself scanning the room for something to do. I thought I knew Mel pretty well. Now I had no idea where her head was at or what she even thought of me.

  “This is a little weird, don’t you think?” she said, cutting through the silence.

  My mouth hovered over the rim of the bottle as I was about to take a swig. “How so?”

  “You and me. Here. Together. It’s just…”

  “Weird?” I said, repeating her word.

  Her lips twisted. They eventually fell into a thin line. “Well, yeah. Don’t you think?”

  I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer. Was it weird? Not really. I mean, it didn’t feel weird or awkward.

  “This time last year we were…you know… and now we’re here. As friends?”

  “You sound surprised.” I chuckled.

  “I am. I mean, this is weird. Out for dinner and that, but… Us? I’ve never...”

  “You’ve never been out for dinner?”

  “Of course, I’ve been out for dinner, silly.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Oh, you mean out for dinner with a guy that’s a friend? Now I get it.”

  “No, not a friend.” Mel released a frustrated sigh. “I mean an actual… ah, forget it,” she said, waving her comment aside.

  Mel’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She looked devastatingly beautiful. Only when her eyes lifted to mine did I fully understand what she was saying. “You’ve never been out for dinner with a guy before?”

  She snorted and shook her head. “This is me we’re talking about. I don’t do real dates, remember?” She’s really never been on a date? How is that even possible? “Not that this is a date or anything,” she continued. “It’s not. A date, that is.” I tried to hold back a smirk and refrain from leaning forward. The urge to take her mouth in mine was beyond torture. The flustered look on her face made me want to pull her onto my lap and do bad things to her.

  I shook myself out of my own thoughts and raised a brow. “Mel?” I started, forcing her eyes on mine.

  “Yeah?” Her voice was a breathy whisper as she fidgeted with the napkin in her hand.

  “Firstly, it isn’t against the rules to take a girl friend out for dinner. And secondly, I can’t believe you’ve never been on a real date.”

  She shrugged again. “I mean, it’s not like I haven’t been asked or anything. Of course I have. I’m me, aren’t I?” she said with a smirk. “It’s just…”

  “You’ve never wanted to?”

  “No, I guess I haven’t.” She smiled up at me as though her mind had wandered elsewhere.

  I smiled back in bewilderment. “So, this is a first then?”

  “I guess it is.”

  I tipped the glass to my lips and nodded once. “Good to know.”

  Mel took another sip of wine before she pushed up from the table almost too abruptly. I thought she was about to leave until she spoke up. “I need to pee. I won’t be a second.”

  I turned my head and watched her leave. Her hips wiggled with each movement she made, and I wondered for a moment if that was for my benefit. Suddenly, she stopped dead and slowly turned back around, her lips twisting as though she was unsure about something.

  I figured she had no idea where the restrooms were, so I cupped my mouth and yelled, “Take a right at the end. Ladies on the left.”

  “I know where the toilets are. It’s just…”

  Ah, hell. I was such an arsehole.

  I closed my eyes and blew out a long breath. “Mel? I’m not going anywhere.”

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded silently before heading off in the right direction.

  Just as I was about to down the rest of my beer, Mel’s phone chimed on the table next to her purse. I knew I shouldn’t have looked, but I couldn’t help it. The urge was too strong.

  I peered down at the lit-up screen and frowned.

  Tony – Got any plans tonight? I’m in town for the night if you fancy hooking up?

  Tony? Who the fuck was Tony? I frowned down at the message as if it held the answers to the burning questions that raged inside of me. Was she seeing someone? Fucking someone? An unsettling feeling worked its way inside of me. I shouldn’t have read the damn message, and I definitely shouldn’t fucking care. We were friends. That was it. But I did care. I couldn’t fucking help it. I was attracted to her, sure. I’d never truly denied that. But getting to know her—really getting
to know her—had been great. We had tried for something else and it hadn’t worked. That alone should have told me something.

  I downed the remaining liquid and shook my head. I needed to get a fucking grip.

  I reached for Mel’s phone and purse, shoved my keys and phone into the back pocket of my jeans before making my way over to the waitress behind the cash register. I held out my debit card and entered my PIN number in the card machine. All the while my eyes were lingering in the direction Mel had disappeared.

  “Right. That’s all done for you, sir. Have a great night.” The waitress winked.

  “Thanks.” I nodded, ignoring her flirtatious grin.

  I leant against the bar, waiting for Mel to come back. When I spotted her heading over to the booth, I attempted to wave her over. She didn't see me. Instead, she stared down at the empty booth with a frown.

  She actually thought I’d done a runner on her. Fucking typical.

  I pushed my thumb and forefinger to my lips and whistled, causing all eyes to fall on me. I ignored them, and continued to watch the colour drain from her face while she stared down at nothing.

  I called out to her and her eyes finally found mine. A look of relief washed over her. Shit. How much of an arsehole did she think I was?

  “I was just settling the bill,” I told her when she finally came to my side.

  “Oh, I thought you—” Mel cut herself off with a wave of her hand and reached for her purse and phone in my outstretched hand.

  “Say it,” I demanded.

  “Say what?”

  “What you were just about to say but brushed it off like it was nothing.”

  “I don’t understand,” she lied.

  I raised both brows. “You thought I left without you…”

  “Don’t be silly. Of course I didn’t.”

  “Mel…”

  “Okay, alright. Maybe I did. For a fraction of a second, maybe.”

  My expression turned serious as I dipped my head to meet her eyes. “If we’re gonna be friends then eventually you’re gonna have to learn to trust me.”

  I turned to leave, knowing she’d follow me out.

  Mel scoffed behind me and I turned my head to meet her eyes briefly. “What was that?” I asked too loudly.

  “Nothing. Just a cough,” she said innocently and hurried to catch up.

  26

  Fridays were usually busy at Lillie’s with people finishing work early, out shopping to find the perfect outfit for the weekend. Unlike some, I didn’t get to finish early. Not ever. I usually didn’t mind so much. Work tended to keep me busy and out of trouble, so it was almost a godsend that Leanne insisted on running me ragged. Today, however, was ghastly quiet. I’d only served one customer during the whole four hours I’d been there. Leanne had said that it would pick up soon enough, but that was an hour ago and I had yet to serve anyone else. Despite her positive outlook, I knew it had nothing to do with the lack of people on the street and more to do with the new store that opened last week. There weren’t many outlets around our part of town. In general, you needed a hefty bank balance and three credit cards to enter most stores, so when the store opened down the street that supplied designer gear without the price tags, it was inevitable the more expensive stores would suffer.

  I sighed for what felt like the millionth time already and continued flicking through the fashion magazine behind the desk as I tried to appear as though I was busy. The bell above the door chimed, and I quickly turned my head. I wasn’t sure I could handle another five hours of boredom.

  I threw on a cheery smile to greet the new customer. Only, it wasn’t a customer at all. It was Jake. I tried to appear unaffected by his sudden appearance, but butterflies swarmed in my stomach at the thought that he might have stopped by to see me. The light smattering of stubble on his jawline made him appear more mature, and I decided there and then that three-day stubble really suited Jake. In fact, I wanted to rub my cheek up against it like a damn kitty. His brown eyes twinkled as they met mine, and a wide grin spread across his face. Jake pulled the baseball cap from his head and ran his fingers through his hair before placing it back on. When he moved to stand in front of the desk I was sitting at, I reached for the peak of his hat, pulled it off and tucked it behind the counter.

  “Hey.” He frowned and attempted to snatch it back.

  “Can’t you read?” I said, pointing to the sign above the door. “No hats allowed.” It wasn’t a lie. Hats really weren’t allowed to be worn in the store. Hats or hoodies. Lillie said they set a bad example and that her high-end clients wouldn’t dare step foot inside if they noticed or thought that Lillie allowed all sorts in.

  “Whatever.” He shrugged and I tossed it back to him. I was certain that Jake wasn’t included in that warning, anyway.

  “What brings you here? If you’re after Leanne, she’s on lunch. She shouldn’t be too much longer, though.” I grinned.

  Jake raised his brows and pulled the cap back on his head. “When’s she due back?”

  “Why? You thinking of sticking around until she returns?” I knew it was wrong of me to tease him. I couldn’t help it. I enjoyed watching him squirm.

  “Very funny,” he said, leaning forward on the counter. His aftershave met my nose and I held back a moan. Sandalwood and Jasmine was quickly becoming favourite smells of mine. God, I loved his scent. He was all masculine and fresh with a subtle hint of spice that wasn’t too overpowering. I wanted to breathe him in, bask in the aroma until he was all I could smell.

  “So, if you’re not here for Leanne, I gather you’re here for…? A new dress, maybe? Something a little subtler than the last one?” I teased.

  “You’re never gonna let me live it down, are ya?”

  “Nope,” I sang, popping the p.

  “Listen up, I don’t have long but I wanted to see what your plans were for tonight.”

  The bell chimed again and I looked away from Jake and towards the door. It was our delivery guy.

  “Hey, Pete.” I waved and pointed to the corner of the room. Pete nodded his head in acknowledgment and placed the box down in the corner. I waited until he went back out to the van for the rest of the order and turned back to Jake. “Tonight?” I frowned. “Washing my hair. Why? What are you doing?”

  “Fancied a movie night?” Jake asked, his eyes wandering to the entrance as if he was waiting for someone.

  “Sounds nice.” I smiled, trailing off as I continued to watch Pete unload more boxes from the van.

  “So you gonna come over and watch it with me?”

  I turned my gaze away from Pete and smirked at Jake. “Didn’t you just hear what I said?”

  “Sure, I did.” He shrugged and adjusted the cap on his head again. Was he nervous? That thought made my lips twitch at the sides.

  “Well, then, you have your answer.”

  “Ah, come on. Humour me,” he whined.

  Pete dumped the last box down and approached the counter. He held out the clipboard and invoice for me to sign. I double-checked the invoice against the number of boxes and squiggled my name at the bottom. “Don’t you have some balls to kick or something?” I asked, handing Pete the clipboard and tossing him a wink. When the shop door closed behind him, I flicked my eyes to Jake. His expression fell and I wondered for a moment If I’d upset him.

  “I’ll sort out the movie. You get the snacks?” he suggested, totally ignoring my previous question.

  I was meant to meet up with Frankie later. I’d rarely seen her over the last two weeks and I felt bad for deserting her. Since that night Jake and I had gone out for dinner, he’d stopped by to see me twice after that. How he knew where I would be was anyone’s guess. When he stopped by the warehouse Monday evening, I’d been alone. I’d only planned on staying there just long enough to feed Harry—who soon made a reappearance once he realised he wasn’t going to get his Frosties anywhere else—and sew the last few sequins onto the black fishtail evening dress I was so close to finishing. The
n Jake showed up with a fresh takeaway pizza from that restaurant he took me to and we ended up staying there until midnight. The second time he stopped by out of the blue was Wednesday. That was when I’d come to the conclusion that he must have been stalking me. I rarely spent my lunch breaks at the warehouse, so I’d found it strange that he would show up there at that time. Anyway, it just so happened that Bessy was stopping by with the new material that I’d needed for the sleeves I wanted to add to the dress, and I was beyond excited to see them. We were just tucking into one of Bessy’s chocolate fudge cakes when Jake came through the door. With one flash of a smile, Bessy was under the Jake spell. She’d called me every day since, asking if I’d seen him again. I told her we were just friends, to which she replied that I was insane if I really thought that. It was hard to convince someone as stubborn as Bessy that they were wrong, so I just ignored her prying questions. She had called me again last night.

  “Mel?” Jake said, waving a hand in front of my face. “Where did you go?” He chuckled.

  I shook my head. “Sorry? What?”

  “Tonight? Movie?” He grinned.

  How could I say no to that face?

  I sighed, feigning frustration. “If I say yes will you leave me the fuck alone so I can get some work done?”

  Jake leaned forward and cocked a dark brow. “Just say the word.”

  “Fine,” I sighed. “But not at yours. Not after the last time.” I shook my head and willed myself not to go back there. I wouldn’t think about the night that I’d made a complete twat of myself.

  “Unless you plan on slipping something in your Diet Coke, I’m sure you’ll be fine,” he teased.

  “Even so,” I said, shaking my head again. “I’d rather not. Come to mine instead?”

  “Are your parents still away?” He frowned.

  “They came back,” I told him. “They left again the next day.” I shrugged as though it hadn’t bothered me. Truth was, I wouldn’t have even known they’d come back at all if it hadn’t of been for Alice informing me. They hadn’t even called to let me know they were coming home. Not that they ever did, but still, it would’ve been nice to know.