The Subcrawl (A Romantic Comedy)

Chapter 24

Hillhead

Liam

I hadn't realised immediately that Tasha had followed Chloe to the loos. Probably for the best as I couldn't exactly go in there for back-up.

In fact, it only hits me about twenty seconds before Tasha storms past me, muttering "fuck you, Liam" under her breath and marching straight for the door. Michael, who has seemingly been forgotten, looks bewildered as he gives chase.

I can't help but glance towards the toilets anxiously but a moment or two later Chloe materialises beside me, flanked by Sandy of all people. "Are you okay?" I ask her. I'm worried Tasha could potentially have well and truly scared her off. She can be pretty terrifying when she wants to be.

She nods. "I'm fine. I had some moral support." She indicates Sandy.

"Not that she needed it," my phone friend adds. She smiles widely at me. "We just informed your ex of some home truths and I don't think she could handle it."

"I heard you've spent a lot of time today discussing me too." Chloe looks a bit smug as she shoots me a sidelong glance, and I feel my face heat up. What the hell has Sandy told her? Oh fuck it, whatever it was, it seems to have actually helped my case rather than hindered it so I'm all for that.

Chloe and Sandy proceed to fill me in on what happened in the bathroom. Tasha is even more of a piece of work than I realised.

"She said you'd boasted to her about ruining one of my favourite films, and you told her I was socially anxious." Chloe bites her lip and I shake my head immediately in protest.

"I can 100 percent promise you, Chloe, I've never mentioned anything about you to that girl," I insist. Nothing insulting or complimentary. I would never put her in Tasha's crosshairs by mentioning her in any capacity.

"Yeah, I got it all instead," Sandy mutters under her breath. I ignore that and press on.

"I didn't even know you were socially anxious or shy until today. You must have been hiding it well. Luke told me, said it was interesting that you seemed to be a different person with me," I admit. "It's what made me think that I might actually have a chance with you after all."

"That's true," Sandy nods, turning to Chloe. "He told me all this."

"Sorry, Chloe, I think that was actually my fault." We all turn around to see Michael standing there, looking a bit shame-faced. I can't help but notice Tasha hasn't returned with him.

"What do you mean?" Chloe asks him, puzzled.

"Well, I think I've probably told Tasha quite a lot about you when we've spoken about exes." He indicates me. "You didn't get the most flattering description, by the way." He turns his gaze back to Chloe. "I definitely mentioned your social anxiety, not in a bad way but it did come up. And then, earlier today, she tried to suggest that you two might be together . . . I said that probably would never happen because you'd gotten into an argument on your first meeting and never seen eye to eye since."

Chloe sighs in relief. "That makes sense. I really didn't want to believe Liam was bitching about me to her."

"I wouldn't do that," I assure her, squeezing her arm.

I realise now that Michael is looking back and forth between us, slight disbelief pinching his eyebrows together. "She wasn't wrong though, was she?" He asks. "Tasha, I mean, when she said there was something going on. You two are . . .?"

Chloe winces. "We're still figuring things out. But yeah."

He blinks and puffs out a long breath. "If he makes you happy, then I'm glad," he adds. He seems sincere enough, to be fair.

"And what about you and Tasha?" Chloe asks.

He shrugs. "I caught up with her there. She basically told me what I was already starting to suspect, that she'd been here for Liam." He actually doesn't look that gutted. "I think we might have split up."

"She was a right wee cow anyway," Sandy suddenly speaks up, sidling up beside Michael and winking suggestively at him. She seems to have slightly sobered up since earlier; maybe her group did take my advice and forcefeed her a bit of water. "You're well shot of her. Why don't I buy you a drink to celebrate?"

He looks surprised but nods. "Okay. Why not?" They move to the bar. Chloe and I both start to laugh. Surely those two aren't going to hit it off?

But then again, I didn't ever imagine I'd end up with Chloe so who really knows!

Chloe leans into me, filling my senses with her sweet smelling hair again. "I'm kinda done with this subcrawl now," she confesses. "I could really do with getting the hell out of here."

I'm with her on that. I turn around to Luke who is listening to Becky talking about her call with Lola. Apparently Colin has already forgiven her. "Listen guys, do you think it would be okay if me and Chloe head off now?" I interrupt them to ask.

Becky smiles widely. "Go for it." She nods at her cousin. "This one has probably beaten some sort of record for lasting on a night out."

Chloe laughs as we say goodbye to everyone and leave the pub. "What now?" She asks, looking at me curiously.

I press a kiss to her forehead before I slide an arm around her. "I'm thinking maybe it's time for our first date? We could go grab dinner somewhere?" I suggest hopefully. "If you've got the energy left for that."

She smiles again, her pretty hazel eyes sparkling. "For you, I'll make the energy," she says softly. "On one condition."

I shoot her a questioning look, and she starts giggling as she points across the road to the Italian restaurant mentioned earlier. "Don't you dare take me to you and Tasha's first date restaurant."

I grin and steer her in the opposite direction, hoping that this first date will be the first of many. "I think I can manage that."

I hope you are enjoying the story! Please like, comment and share if you do. 💜