AGAIN || MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Charles

Now

An annoying ringtone interrupts my sleep. I glance at the clock on the bedside table; it's half past four in the morning. Trying not to wake Alex, I get up and head to the living room. The sound is definitely coming from Liam's phone. After the party, he slept over because he forgot his keys.

'Liam, the phone.'

I try to wake him while silencing the ringtone. My friend, however, remains undisturbed. Curious, I glance at the caller ID and am surprised to see Céline's name on the display. My finger hovers over the green button, but the call ends before I can answer.

'What are you doing, Charles?' Liam's groggy voice startles me. He's now awake, staring at me with half-closed eyes.

'Your phone was ringing. It must be important if someone's calling at this hour.' I reply, annoyed. I toss the phone to him and slump onto the couch.

'Call her back.'

When Liam checks the screen and sees the missed call, his expression shifts. He sits up and redials.

'Put it on speaker!' I demand. It's not a suggestion, and he's too tired to argue. Without hesitation, he complies, and we wait in tense silence. A few seconds pass before the speaker erupts with loud background music and shouting. We exchange bewildered looks, listening for any sign of Céline's voice.

'Kells, can you hear me?' She says, her voice faint amidst the chaos. Liam hesitates, unsure how to respond. It's clear she's dialed the wrong number, but something in her tone feels off. When no one answers, Céline continues.

'Kells, I don't feel very well. I think I drank too much.' Now we're both on high alert. Céline is at some club, drunk, and barely coherent.

'Céline, listen to me. It's Liam. Where are you?' He asks urgently, but she doesn't seem to hear him.

'I knew I couldn't handle it, Kelly. Seeing him after two years.' Her voice trails off. My chest tightens, and my eyes burn. It's gut-wrenching to hear how much I still affect her.

'He's moved on, he has a girlfriend, and...'

Liam glances at me, confused, but I can't focus on his reaction. It's not important right now. I snatch the phone from his hands and turn off the speaker.

'Lin? You're drunk, for Christ's sake! You didn't call Kelly!' My voice is sharp, frustration bubbling over.

'Liam?' She doesn't even recognize my voice. Tears sting my eyes. What did I do to her to deserve this?

'Come and get me, please. I'm at Twiga. I don't feel well.' She whispers. Her words are barely audible, and the vulnerability in her voice cuts deep. I want to run to her, hold her, and tell her everything will be okay. That tomorrow will be better. I want to make her smile again. But I can't. She's my ex, and Alex is asleep just a few feet away. I throw the phone back to Liam.

'Go. Get her. She's not okay.' I don't need to say it twice. He's already slipping on his shoes and grabbing his keys. 'Cha, you know I can't take her to mine.' He's right. Without his keys, he's locked out. I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Bringing her here isn't an option either. The only solution is one I know Céline won't like. We exchange a quick glance. Liam nods, understanding without words. Just as he's about to leave, I call out to him.

'I beg you, please, Lami.'

We share a brief laugh at the nickname before he disappears out the door. I return to the bedroom and lie down next to Alex. Pulling her closer, I try to banish the image of Céline from my mind. But it's no use. All I can picture is her in my arms, where she used to belong.