by Amiee Louise
“Hey, babe,” she says brightly.
“Hey Rubes, what’s up?”
She laughs.
“Well...I was wondering if you wanted to meet for lunch? Maybe pick up a little something for the barbeque on Saturday, something that might bring a certain Mr. Newbolt to his knees? And I want to discuss something with you, me and Jax are having an engagement party…he popped the question.”
She squeals.
“OH-MY-GOD!”
I find myself screaming enthusiastically, and my heart slams against my ribcage, reminding me of when it was Sam and me celebrating our engagement.
“That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you, Ruby.”
She giggles. She actually giggles like a schoolgirl. My best friend getting married to Jackson Chase. Wow!
“I couldn’t wait to tell you! We’ll talk more about it when I see you, but I’ve got a surprise for you too, babe. You’ll love it, I promise. I’ll come to the shop around twelve thirty, I’ll bring Freddie, love ya.”
“Right back at ya, Rubes. See you later.”
“Byeeeee!” She says in a sing-song voice and hangs up.
I roll my eyes and smile to myself. I put my phone away and make my way back into the main vestibule of the shop. The film crew aren’t in today, but we’re still booked solid until the shop closes. I walk over to my workstation to get prepared and set up for the day ahead.
Today’s going to be a busy one.
My extremely busy morning of tattooing goes by quickly, and before I know it, the door to the shop is opening. The bell rings, and Ruby struts in, her heels clicking across the floor. At five feet eight with long shoulder length, jet-black hair, flawless olive skin, and dark hazel eyes, she looks like she could model for Vogue, even at almost six months pregnant. She is wearing a black t-shirt with white hand prints on which says, ‘Hands off the Bump’, a pair of loose black linen trousers, and four-inch heels.
“Hey Seb, hey babe,” she says in her familiar singsong voice.
She kisses me on the cheek, and I am suddenly filled with the sweet familiar scent of her Ed Hardy perfume and feel a calm confidence just from her presence.
“Hey babe, where’s Freddie?” I say in a panicked voice.
“Relax, babe, he’s totally fine. Dexter’s still at your place, and he told me he would look after him, so we could have some girl time.”
I instantly relax as I wipe down my station after my last tattoo of the morning. Ruby is practically bouncing with excitement.
“Hurry up.”
I roll my eyes and laugh at her impatience.
“Give me five minutes.”
I finish wiping my station, rush to the back of the shop, wash my hands, and dry them on a towel. I pull on my jacket and grab my bag. I go back out into the shop and Ruby rolls her eyes dramatically.
“About bloody time!”
I smirk as Ruby links my arm and we leave the shop. We walk down the high street to a quaint little bistro called Swingin’ Eli’s Bistro. This place was a regular haunt and a particular favourite of Ruby’s and mine. It is famous for its homemade, authentic Southern American food. The decor is old school swing, with paintings of old swing artists scattered on the walls. We are in there so often that we sit at the same table by the window and the owner, Eli, knows us by name as well as exactly what we’re going to order. Eli is a tall Southern American man in his mid-sixties, with coffee coloured skin, greying hair, and a wide infectious smile. His eyes are warm, brown, and friendly. We walk in and he has our drinks ready: a strawberry milkshake for Ruby, and a caramel hot chocolate for me.
“Good afternoon, Peyton, Ruby.”
He nods politely. He has written down our order and is smiling for us to take a seat at our usual table. We take our drinks from the counter and sit down opposite each other. I’m barely in my seat when Ruby practically squeals in my face.
“I’ve got so much to tell you, babe!” she says enthusiastically. “First, your surprise.”
She looks over to the door and beckons someone to come in. I can’t hide the shock on my face when I find myself looking into the familiar, deep hazel eyes of Remy Logan. The man who looked after me and my baby in the year I was gone. My rock, my first love. He looks so different to the way he did the day I left him. His long brown hair is now short and slicked back, his square jaw is stubbled, and he looks visibly thinner and more defined.
“Remy.”
He smiles, and I stand up pulling him in for a hug. He instantly embraces me, and it feels familiar and safe. I step back and take him in.
“Wow! You look...different.”
He smiles a boyish grin which lights up his whole face.
“Ah, it was time for a change, beaut,” he says nonchalantly.
He is wearing dark blue jeans which cling to his muscular thighs, a red dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and three buttons undone, and a pair of black Oxfords.
“Fuck me, Peyton Harper speechless, wow!”
He laughs, and I look up into his deep brown eyes. The love he feels for me clear in his eyes. I start to wonder what his reasons are for coming to England after he's built a life for himself back in the States.
“I came back for Ruby and Jackson's engagement party, just in case you were wondering. I booked the first available flight.”
I nod, and he winks, as if reading my mind. Ruby looks from me to Remy, taking in our reunion. An awkward silence passes as Remy pulls up a chair from the table next to us and goes to the counter to order a drink. I turn to Ruby and narrow my eyes at her.
I'm so fucking mad right now.
“What the fuck, Ruby? Why didn't you tell me he was coming here? A little warning would have been nice,” I snap in a hushed tone and she rolls her eyes dramatically.
“What, and give you a chance to make an excuse not to see him? He’s my brother! You had sex with him and then left the country, for fucks sake! It was you who put the ocean between you this time! He was coming back for our engagement party anyway, which is next weekend by the way. He's in love with you, Peyton. By the way you're looking at him, the feelings reciprocated. Now I know why you're not with Sam, it’s so obvious.”
I shake my head.
“No, it doesn't hide the fact that you fucking blindsided me! He was my first love, Ruby. He took my virginity, and I'll always have feelings for him, but it can’t happen with us. It was a one-time thing, never to be repeated.”
She takes a sip of her milkshake and regards me intently.
“Bullshit! You’re blushing, Peyton Leigh Harper. I do believe you’re in love with my brother.”
She claps her hands excitedly.
“Before you start planning the wedding, I’m still in love with Sam.”
She cocks her perfectly groomed eyebrows at me.
“If you truly loved him, you’d be with him. And by the way, we’re going to be discussing the two-page spread in today’s newspaper, and you’re going to give me all the gory details, you slut!”
We both laugh, and Remy puts his cup down and sits down to join us.
“So, how are my two favourite girls?”
His voice washes over me like a cool calming breeze as he looks at me with familiar hazel eyes. Eyes that he can’t take off me. I drop my gaze, and his mouth forms a straight line. Ruby stands up abruptly.
“I need to pee; fucking pregnancy is a nightmare. I’ll be right back,” she announces as she winks at me, and I silently curse her as she struts away.
Bitch.
Remy reaches for my hand, and I let him hold it. It feels warm, safe, familiar and everything I’ve missed.
“That look in your eyes worries me, beaut,” he says simply, and my eyes lock with his.
As I look into deep brown depths, my eyes fill with tears.
“Fuck me, come here.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I cling to him, as if he is a life raft.
“Rem,” I sob, and he runs his hands up my back, instantly soothing me.
<
br /> “Hey, shhh, it’s ok. I’ve got you. I’m here, beautiful.”
I nuzzle my face into his chest, and he squeezes me tighter.
“The place is so quiet without you and the little guy. Santa Monica misses you.”
I pull away and look up at him. He swipes his thumb underneath my eye, catching my tears.
“Coming back here was such a fucking mistake, Rem. Why didn’t I listen to you?”
He smirks wickedly.
“Because, I told you, no one ever listens to the cripple!”
I frown, and he smiles, smoothing the frown line between my eyes.
“Not funny, Rem.”
He rolls his eyes, and with that action, he reminds me so much of Ruby.
“We could have been happy. That night we spent together was one of the best nights of my life, then I woke up the next morning and you were gone. I knew exactly what you were doing, I have the ability to read you like a book, Peyton.”
My name leaves his lips like a prayer. A feeling of utter regret washes over me and threatens to drown me in it.
“I take it the reunion with a certain Mr. Newbolt didn’t go as planned then, beaut?”
I squeeze my eyes shut at the mention of Sam’s name.
“Don’t. It’s all such a fucking mess, Rem. I should have fucking listened to you, I never should have come back here.”
He moves his chair closer to mine. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and presses his forehead to mine.
“I lie awake at night longing to hear those words from your lips. Please, come back to Santa Monica with me, Peyton.”
He moves away from me and curses, “Fuck.”
My eyes widen at his question as Ruby chooses that moment to re-join us.
“Everything alright?” she asks, and I finish my drink in three mouthfuls.
I pull out my phone, pretending to tap the screen as I take out some money to cover my lunch. I place it on the table. I have to get out of here.
“I’m sorry, I have to get back to work, babe,” I lie, and she looks at me questioningly.
“We need to talk about the engagement party, I wanted to ask you to be my maid of honour.”
I take a deep breath.
“I’d be...wow, I’d be honoured, babe. Of course I’ll be your maid of honour, thank you.”
I smile, and she narrows her eyes, as if she knows something is wrong. But she doesn’t say anything, which I am grateful for.
“Seb just called, and a walk-in client has been asking for me. I need to go, come to the flat tonight, and we’ll talk more, I promise. I’m sorry.”
I kiss her cheek, and Remy gets to his feet.
“Beaut, please, don’t go,” Remy pleads with me to stay, but I don’t.
I just turn and rush out of the bistro as quickly as I can. Kai is standing next to his black 4x4 at the kerb.
“Everything ok, Miss Harper?”
I nod and try to catch my breath.
“Yeah, everything’s...brilliant Kai, thanks. I have to get back to work.”
He nods curtly, and I climb into the passenger seat. He gets in the driver’s seat and pulls smoothly out into the traffic. I get back to the shop in record time and all I can think about is the reappearance of Remy. Seeing him again bought back old feelings, and I had to get as far away from him as possible.
I do not need any more complications in my life.
The afternoon goes by in a flash, and before I know it, it is time for the shop to close. I am finishing up cleaning and wrapping up my last tattoo in cling film, when Seb comes over to join me.
“Babe?”
He looks at me questioningly. I smile at my last client, a young boy of around nineteen with sandy brown hair.
“Thank you so much,” he says enthusiastically, and I nod.
“You’re very welcome, honey. It was my pleasure.”
He stands up and shakes my hand.
“Harlowe will take care of you at the front desk.”
I take off my black rubber gloves and throw them into the bin. I begin to tidy and clean my workstation. Seb stops me.
“Babe, stop. I’ll take care of that.” He brushes my arm. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shake my head.
“I’ll be fine, Seb, honestly.”
He moves closer to me and towers over me. He tips my chin up so I am looking up into his worried eyes.
“Don’t give me that bullshit, babe. You know me better than that, I know when something’s bugging you.”
The doorbell of the shop sounds, and that signals the end of our day.
“I’ve got some vodka in the back.”
I smile. I love how Seb knows me so well.
“It’s in the top drawer of the filing cabinet. H, will you break down and clean Peyton’s workstation, please?” Seb asks Harlowe.
“Yes, boss,” she calls out.
I go into the back and wash my hands. I open the top drawer of the cabinet and take out the bottle of vodka. I take a long pull from the bottle. The fiery liquid burns, causing a delicious warmth in my stomach. I screw the lid back on and take my phone out of my bag.
Change of plans
Wenlock and Essex for a well-earned drink
No more nasty surprises! ;)
P xx
I text Ruby, and she texts back almost instantly.
Promise ;)
Sam’s coming over to take Freddie
Meet you @ 8
R xx
I smile to myself at the thought of Sam spending time with his son. Things might not be good between us, but he deserves to know his son. Seb comes into the back and wraps his arms around me.
“Now, do you want to tell me why you’re looking so sad?”
We sit down on the sofa with the vodka, and I begin to tell him all about my time in Santa Monica, J.D, Remy, my identity change, giving birth to Freddie, all up until I found out Sam had been kidnapped and stabbed by J.D. Seb listens intently, and by the time I have finished, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
“Fuck me, babe, I had no idea.”
His eyes widen, and he sinks back into his seat as he pulls me into his side.
“Why didn’t you tell me all of this sooner? I could have helped, I could have been there for you!”
He moves slightly away from me and scrubs his hands down his face.
“I haven’t been myself for this past year, Seb. It was my burden to carry, and I’ve had to be strong for my little boy.”
He shakes his head.
“That’s no reason why you shouldered all that on your own, babe. It wasn’t your call to make. This Remy bloke sounds like a...knight in shining fucking armour, and I’d love to shake the bloke by the hand.”
I laugh.
“Well you might be able to do just that, he’s back. That’s why I came back early from lunch. Ruby kind of just sprung it on me, he showed up at Eli’s.”
Seb’s eyes widen, and he smiles.
“Fuck me, it’s like a bloody soap opera!”
We both laugh.
“Do you want to join Ruby and me for drinks at the Wenlock? Bring Willow, it would be great to see her.”
He nods and looks at his watch.
“Yeah, we’d love to. I’ll give her a call.”
I get up from the sofa, pull on my coat, and grab my bag. In the time it takes me to get ready to leave, Seb has called Willow and they’re both going to meet us there at eight. I kiss Seb on the cheek, promising to see him in a little while, and leave the shop.
After getting back home to an empty flat and a note from Dexter in his familiar scrawl, which reads:
Peyton
Gone for that chat with Grace
Sam’s got Freddie
Wish me luck!
Don’t wait up sis!
Dex xx
I roll my eyes and smile to myself as I read his note which is stuck to the fridge with a fridge magnet. I shower in record time, tousle my short hair into l
oose waves, apply my usual natural make up, and opt for a short sleeveless purple dress, with leather panels running down either side. I team it with leather accessories, feather earrings, and my purple leopard print peep toe heels. I slick on some lip gloss and grab my skull clutch bag. I check my reflection one last time in the mirror before I head downstairs to meet Kai, who is waiting to drive me to the bar.
