Linger Read online

  “So are you stopping for lunch soon?” he asked, glancing at his watch. I looked at mine and saw it was a little after noon.

  “Yes. I was going to stop at twelve thirty.”

  “Make it twelve fifteen. Go and clock off, or whatever you do.”

  I let my head fall back and considered arguing, but I knew it would be as futile as arguing with Maria. How could I say no to the guy that I’d been in love with since I was fourteen? Answer: I don’t.

  “Fine.” I exhaled. “Give me one minute.”

  I returned to James, trying to twirl my hair up into a clip. Most of it fell out because it was too short, so I just gave up.

  “Are we just going to the café?” I asked.

  “Actually, there’s a nice place not far from here I want to take you,” he replied, nodding towards the door.

  “James, I only have half an hour.”

  “I know, relax. I’ll have you back in time.”

  I took a slow step, almost regretting agreeing to lunch. All I could think about was getting fired, and Maria’s voice of disapproval over the reason behind it.

  “Alice,” he sighed. “Seriously, relax. It’s not far.”

  “Yep.”

  He shook his head and smiled, resting his hand so lightly on my lower back that I could barely feel it. I could only feel the heat radiating over my skin.

  The place wasn’t far. In fact, it was literally four doors down and took less than four minutes to walk there. I picked a table by the window for the best of both worlds – inside for me, with a view of outside for James. He smirked as we sat, and I picked up the menu, scanning quickly until I found the salad menu. There weren’t many that didn’t have some kind of animal product in them, so I decided on a generic garden salad that was on the sides menu.

  “So have you decided what you want?” he asked. His eyebrow lifted and it made his eyes glint.

  “I’m thinking salad.”

  He laughed. “I figured. Which one?”

  I closed the menu. “Garden salad.”

  “Is that it? That’s a side. Don’t you want something bigger?”

  “No, thanks. I don’t have a lot of time.”

  “Mm-hm.” He nodded, sliding off the chair. “What do you want to drink? Tea? Coffee?”

  “Water is fine.”

  “You’re a cheap date.”

  My eyebrows drew together as he went to the counter to order. I wasn’t sure whether to be offended or thrilled that he’d called our lunch a date. I hadn’t had enough time to process the two options before he was back with two glasses of water.

  “Don’t worry, I know the chef. It won’t be long,” he replied. “Not that there’s much cooking involved.”

  I shrugged. “That’s what I felt like.”

  “Good. So how’s your day been?”

  “Not bad. It’s the same as any other really. What about you?”

  “Good. Busy,” he answered, glancing out the window as a handful of children ran past with their mother screaming after them. They seemed to amuse him, and the hint of a smile lingered in the corner of his lips. I couldn’t help but smile too.

  “Something funny?” I asked.

  He chuckled. “That used to be me and Victoria. We used to drive our mum completely mad.”

  I felt my smile falter. “Really?”

  “Oh, completely. Don’t you remember going out with your—oh. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay.” I shrugged. “I don’t really remember her enough to miss her. She left when I was four.”

  He nodded. “It still must’ve sucked though.”

  “Yeah, well… I grew up without a mother, and I never want my kids to know the same,” I replied. “I want to have lots of kids, like, four or five if I can, so they’ll never be alone, and they can look after each other.”

  James chuckled. “You probably shouldn’t lead with that if you want to get a guy. It could scare him off.”

  “I don’t want a guy who is frightened by the idea of having children.”

  His gaze wandered back out the window. “Nice Mustang.”

  “Mustang,” I repeated, catching the taillights as they passed. It looked expensive, new, and very shiny. It was far too flashy for my lower middle-class taste.

  “One day I’d love to restore one,” James said.

  “A Mustang?”

  He nodded. “Maybe a 1970 model, black. I want to build it from the tyres up.”

  “So do it,” I replied. “What’s stopping you?”

  “I’m leaving soon, and it’s better to have someone to help so we can make a project out of it.”

  I bit my lip at the reminder of his limited time and then sat back as the waiter lowered two plates in front of us. It took me a moment to realise that the reason they hadn’t asked whose dish was whose was they were both the same.

  I shook my head. “You got a salad too?”

  “Yeah, I figured I’d see what the big deal was,” he said with a laugh.

  I smiled, but couldn’t hide the thrill.

  “Plus, we’ve only got half an hour, right?” he added, raising a brow.

  I glanced at my watch. “Actually, sixteen minutes, so eat fast.”

  **

  Lunch was pleasant, but time was not kind. Too soon, I glanced at my watch only to find that I had five and a half minutes left of my break.

  “I should get going,” I sighed, pushing my bowl forward. I sat back to pull my wallet from my pocket and James scoffed.

  “Lunch is on me. I owe you, remember?”

  “James, I can’t ask for that.”

  “You’re not.” He smiled, standing up. “Shall we get you back? I wouldn’t want you to be late.”

  “Right.” I nodded. “Yes.”

  I followed him out the door and he turned to wait for me to step to his side before continuing. It was chivalry that I was sure he was born with rather than taught.

  “Butler?” a voice called, sending my already pounding heart into a sprint.

  James’ smile vanished as he turned in the direction of the voice. I slowed and glanced towards where it had come from.

  “Hey, Hamilton. Times two,” James replied. “Bennett, how’s it going?”

  “Hey, James,” one of the two blond guys said.

  “James.” The brunette one nodded. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?”

  I didn’t like how they looked at me. It felt like I was standing in a display window.

  “Uh, this is Alice Potter,” James said with a smirk. “Alice, this is Greg Bennett, and Scott and Logan Hamilton.”

  I glanced around at the three people as James gestured towards them. Greg was the brunette guy, robust and tall-looking, with blue eyes that were a little darker than James’. He was dressed in a dark purple polo shirt with an iris emblem embroidered above the chest pocket. I deduced that he must work at Iris Cove Private Hospital. To Greg’s left sat one of the blonds, Scott, equally as strong-looking, with a chiselled jaw, hazel coloured eyes, and a similar smirk that I often found on James’ face. He wore a light grey business shirt that was unbuttoned down to his sternum, and he wore it well. Beside Scott was Logan, the other blond, who looked a little like Scott, but with slightly darker hair, and a friendlier smile. His eyes were a swirling green with spots of sky blue, and although he looked a little younger than the other two, he looked just as tall. He, like Scott, wore a business shirt, only his was light green and had a couple more buttons fastened.

  “Hi,” I said belatedly.

  “Nice to meet you.” Logan nodded.

  “Alice?” Scott asked. “Is this the girl you went to school with?”

  James ran his hand through his hair. “The one and only.”

  “The one and only girl you went to school with?” Greg laughed.

  “I think he means the one and only Alice,” Logan said with a dimpled smile.

  “Bro, he might look it, but Greg’s not that stupid,” Scott mumbled in his deep voice.r />
  James tipped his head. “I don’t know, he is a cleaner.”

  “I’m a Patient Care Assistant, not a cleaner; and I’m starting work in the finance department next week.” Greg groaned. “We can’t all be born with a silver spoon.”

  Scott chuckled to himself, but James rolled his eyes.

  “So how do you all know each other?” I asked, glancing around at the group. I didn’t recognise any from high school.

  “We went to SCU together,” James replied. “We’re all business majors, though Greg doubled in Healthcare Leadership, and Scott and Logan did—what? Commerce and Info Systems, or something?”

  “Yep, I did Info Systems, Scott did Commerce.” Logan nodded. “Scotty and I are looking into establishing our own software company.”

  I nodded. “You’re brothers?”

  “Did the golden good looks give it away?” Scott smirked.

  “Something like that.” I glanced at my watch. “I need to get back to work.”

  “I’ll walk you.” James nodded, taking a step in the direction. “I’ll see you lot later.”

  Scott lifted his head. “Catch you later, Butler. Don’t forget I’m out tonight.”

  James saluted. “Yep.”

  “Bye, Alice.” Greg grinned.

  “See you, Alice,” Logan said. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” I replied, raising a hand in a wave before turning to follow James, who had already begun to walk away. I jogged to catch up and the knee-high boots I wore rubbed against my calves in the heat. “So, they seem, um, nice.”

  James smirked. “They’re clowns.”

  “You went to uni together?”

  “Yep, and I live with Scott.”

  “Scott,” I repeated. “Oh, hence the note that he’s out tonight.”

  He sighed almost theatrically. “So I’ll be all alone.”

  “It’s not so bad, you get used to it after a while.”

  “Being alone is something that no-one should ever get used to. Actually, no, I was going to head to Orbit tonight with Greg. Do you want to come?”

  I frowned. “To the casino? No.”

  “Why not? Got better plans?”

  “No, I just don’t gamble.”

  James laughed. “I don’t gamble either, but Greg’s dragging me along. Please come, it’ll be a lot more bearable if there someone else is there.”

  I frowned. “Why? Don’t you two get along?”

  “We get along fine,” James answered with a roll of his eyes. “But he’s at the tables most of the time, so it can get pretty boring just hanging around.”

  I shook my head. “I’m keen on an early night.”

  “You can sleep anytime. I’m picking you up at eight.”

  We walked through the doors to the Red Chandelier and I exhaled. “James, I’m not coming.”

  “Give me one reason why not.”

  “I just told you.”

  “That’s an excuse, not a reason,” he replied. “And it’s not a very good one.”

  I shrugged. “It is to me.”

  “Alice,” he sighed, and my heart gave a squeeze.

  “I need to clock on.”

  “I’m not leaving until you agree.”

  “Okay, but we close at five.”

  James chuckled as I walked off to clock in. I was two minutes late. He was still there when I returned.

  “Just give me one good reason why you won’t come,” he pressed.

  I frowned. “I just don’t want to.”

  “Not good enough.”

  “James.”

  “Alice.”

  “James.”

  “Alice.”

  I drew in a breath. “I’m not that girl.”

  He looked to the side. “What girl?”

  “That girl who just… does stuff like randomly go to the casino,” I replied, throwing my hands up in the air.

  James made a face. “That’s pathetic, Alice.”

  “I know, but…” I sighed. Maybe honestly was best at this point.

  “But?”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Of what?”

  Of being alone with you, my brain answered. “Of people, of the casino. I really don’t like being in South Coast City after hours. It’s scary.”

  He smiled. “I’ll be there, I’ll protect you.”

  My brow lifted. “Oh, you’ll protect me?”

  “Sure.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

  “N-no.”

  “Great. I’ll see you at eight.”

  “No, James, I don’t want to come.”

  He sighed and leant against a child’s race-car bed. “Why not?”

  “I told you already.” I pouted. “I don’t want to.”

  James straightened and stepped towards me. I swallowed at his sudden proximity.

  “Alice, I will not leave your side, I promise. You’ll be safe with me, and Greg will be there too. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

  I looked down. “I’m still scared.”

  “You’ll be fine,” he whispered. “I’ll see you at eight.”

  I bit my lip. “Eight?”

  “Eight.”

  He smiled and stepped back, leaving me speechless as he departed.

  James was right. I was pathetic.

  Chapter 3

  (Re) Action

  “Are you ready, Alice?” James asked as I walked out my house at five past eight. His question had many answers. Sure, I was dressed, after I’d tried on everything in my closet and decided I had nothing to wear. Yes, I was prepared to leave the house and venture into the shadows of the city after hours. Okay, I was all set to go to Orbit, the casino, and spend the evening following Greg around and not gambling. But was I ready to spend an evening with James? That I couldn’t answer.

  “As I’ll ever be,” I replied, carefully stepping down the front step of my house to meet him. He was leaning against his car with his arms folded.

  “I’m surprised that I still remembered the way to your house actually,” he said. “It’s been a few years.”

  “You were still too chicken to come to the door though.”

  He grinned, opening the car door for me. “I didn’t want to get the wrong one.”

  “Mm-hm.” I nodded. “So, where’s Greg?”

  “He’s running late, so we’re going to hang at my place for a bit beforehand.”

  “What?”

  “He won’t be too long… I don’t think. Maybe an hour, maybe two. Then we can decide whether we’re still going to Orbit, or whether we just go into town.”

  This was all too much for me to comprehend. I had prepared myself for the casino. I had psyched myself up for that, not hanging out at his place alone, and definitely not going to any of the clubs in town. No, nope, not happening.

  I tried to stop myself from hyperventilating.

  I was successful.

  “When, um, when will we know?” I asked when I was sure my voice wouldn’t give away my nerves.

  “Not sure, he said he’d call,” James replied casually. He didn’t notice anything.

  “So, why the holdup?”

  James rolled his eyes. “He’s with his girlfriend, Kylie, and she has abandonment issues.”

  “Why doesn’t she just come?”

  James raised an eyebrow. “She’s only seventeen. She’s in Victoria’s class at South Coast High.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “And how old is Greg?”

  “He’s our age, twenty,” James answered, finding it hard not to smile too. “She’s a nice enough girl.”

  “They always are.”

  He laughed.

  “So what about the others?” I asked. “Do they have girlfriends?”

  “You mean the Hamilton boys? Yeah, Scott is seeing Kylie’s friend, Nina Allbright. She graduated last year, she’s eighteen. But, I don’t know, they’re not that serious.”

  “How long have they been together?”
/>   James shrugged. “About a year.”

  “That’s not serious?”

  James chuckled. “Logan is single, but I don’t think he’s your type.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s younger than us. I know you have a thing about younger guys.”

  I frowned. “How much younger?”

  James glanced in the rear-vision mirror. “Only a year.”

  “A year isn’t too bad.”

  “How much younger is that guy who’s keen on you?”

  I felt my cheeks flush. “A year.”

  He laughed. “Double standards.”

  “No, you’re right. I don’t like guys younger than me. I prefer to be looked after, not feel like I’m babysitting.”

  “I’ll be sure to let Greg know.” He smirked.

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s different for guys. Guys should be older. They’re the protectors.”

  He shook his head. “Double standards.”

  My eyebrows lifted, but I let it go. We were both as stubborn as the other was, and I didn’t want to start the evening bickering like an old married couple.

  “Can I get you a drink?” James asked when we got to his house. It was smaller than I imagined, but perhaps I just had an image of grandeur when I thought of James Butler since money had never been an issue for him. I looked around the clean and crisp two-bedroom apartment and admired the co-ordination. The furniture was white and matched the walls, and there were splashes of black in the accessories.

  “Alice,” James said. “Drink?”

  I looked up. “No, sorry. I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? I was going to make tea.”

  “Tea,” I repeated, trying to comprehend his words. “Um, no thanks.”

  “What’s up?” he asked over the boiling kettle. “You look confused.”

  I shook my head. “This isn’t what I thought it would be like.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s small and… clean.”

  James chuckled. “Thanks. I think.”

  I paced around the wooden-floored lounge room and tipped my head to see into one of the bedrooms. It was neat and orderly, everything had a place, and the bed was perfectly made. I looked towards the other one we’d passed on the way in, and it was the messy yin to the tidy yang. The wardrobe looked as if it had exploded, and the sheets were half hanging off the mattress. I resisted the urge to straighten it. James noticed me looking.