Trace of Innocence | Sweet and Sour (Book 4)

Chapter 57

(No Control | Holding Me Ransom - 57 - The Seed's Sown)

Fuck. How much of that did she just hear? Did she hear me arguing with Callie? Have I just ruined everything?

"What's going on?" 

"I'm sorry," I mutter. I cast my eyes down to the floor, almost afraid to look at her.

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"I shouldn't have spoken to her like that," I apologise, lifting my head to look at Jess's face. She is frozen on the spot, her eyes wide, her face serious.

"What pressure is she supposedly putting on you?" she asks shrilly. "And what did you mean, you're trying to do the right thing?"

I glance at Callie to see if she is going to help me out at all here, but she is looking impassively at Jess. I'd bet the contents of my bank account that she is secretly enjoying watching me squirm.

"She thinks I'm going to hurt you again," I tell her, when it becomes clear that Callie isn't going to contribute anything to this conversation. "She won't let it go. I'm just trying to make you happy, but she doesn't trust me."

Callie lets out a rasp of disgust, and Jess finally tears her eyes from mine to Callie's.

"Well?" she demands. "Is this true?"

"Of course," Callie replies without missing a beat. "Just because you've forgiven him doesn't mean I have to."

An awkward silence descends. Callie makes no effort to fill it, and Jess stares back and forth between us as though waiting for one of us to elaborate. Eventually I speak.

"I should go. I'm due at the studios."

"I'll see you out," she mutters.

I follow her silently to the door, and once we're in the hallway she pulls Callie's front door closed. She's twisting her fingers together, a gesture I recognise as one she only does when she is nervous.

"Harry," she begins, her voice trembling a little. "Harry... what just happened in there?"

My stomach churns uncomfortably, and I play for time. "What do you mean?"

"I mean just then," she says, a little more clearly. "Why were you arguing with Callie in low voices?"

"She doesn't think I deserve you," I answer carefully. "I'm just getting fed up of it."

Her brow furrows in confusion. "Why, has she spoken to you about this before? Why didn't you tell me?"

This is why I don't lie. I'm just fucking hopeless at it. 

"I just mean it annoys me that she's so openly rude," I reply. "But she's upset, so it's fine. You should go and look after her; make sure she's alright."

She looks like she's about to question me further but I cut her off.  "Baby I really have to go, I'll be late to the studios." I pull her into my arms, glad she can't see my face as I let out a silent breath, my heart beating a little faster than normal, and plant a kiss on the top of her head. "I love you so much, you know that don't you?" 

"Yeah, I know," she sighs, and I relish the taste of her lips on mine before I reluctantly pull away.

"Sorry I was moody before. Go and... plait each other's hair, or whatever else you girls do at times like these," I attempt to joke. "She needs you. I was a dick for being selfish."

"It's OK," she smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Ring me later and let me know what you're doing," I request, but after experiencing Callie in the flesh I have no doubt that she will sabotage the entire evening, and I am unlikely to see Jess tonight.