No Control | Holding Me Ransom (Book 2)

65 - All Our Friends, You And Me

Callie was waiting for me at Heathrow when my flight landed, and flung her arms around me with an excited squeal.

"Thanks for picking me up," I said, pulling my collar tight around my neck and shivering as we headed out to the car park in the pouring rain, each holding a Costa coffee thanks to the cafe in Terminal 5 Arrivals.

"No problem," she smiled. "I bet this weather is a bit shitty compared to what you've been used to this past week."

"Well it wasn't hot in LA, but it was warmer than this," I said, lifting the boot of her car to throw my case in.

We jumped in the front and slammed the doors, and then giggled as we surveyed each other. We both looked like drowned rats.

"Sexy," I remarked, pulling down the sun visor in front of me to examine my reflection. My mascara had smudged down my cheeks and my hair was plastered to my head at the roots. I scooped it up into a ponytail as Callie backed out of the space and headed towards the exit.

"I need to think about getting my car fixed, or replaced, or something," I sighed, looking out the window at the rain bouncing off the pavement. "I don't know how I'm going to afford it. Christmas is only a month away and I just blew a chunk of money on my flight ticket home. And I haven't a clue what to get for Harry."

"Do you really need to sort your car out this month though?" Callie asked. "I mean, can't it wait until the new year? It's not like you drive to work, is it? You get the tube."

"I suppose," I grumbled.

"Wait until you've saved some money up," she shrugged. "Anyway, how was your holiday?"

"Amazing," I sighed, leaning my head back against my headrest and closing my eyes. "I feel like we grew even closer, spending that time together. It was just what we needed."

Callie eyed me for a moment, as we pulled up at some traffic lights. "He didn't fuck up, then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he always fucks up one way or another doesn't he? Things go great for a couple of weeks, and then he ruins it by being a prick and hurting you."

I stared at her. "Callie! Is that honestly what you think?"

"Well I'm only going from past experience," she explained. "I've seen you at your absolute worst over him, Jess. I hate seeing you so unhappy. I just don't want you to go through that again."

"I won't," I said, confidently. "Things are different this time. I feel like there's been a shift in our relationship. I think..." I trailed off, unsure about telling Callie about our conversation at the airport.

"You think what?"

I hesitated. "I think... I think he's The One, y'know?"

Callie slammed the brakes on as we approached another set of traffic lights and we were both thrown forward in our seats.

"Fucķ - what are you doing?!" I gasped.

"You think he's The One?!" she said, gaping at me.

"Yes," I replied, clutching my hand to my chest as my heart raced. "What's wrong with that?"

"What did he say to that?" she asked.

"He said it first," I said defensively.

She turned and stared at me. "Really?"

"Yes, really!" I snapped, losing patience. "Is it so hard to believe that someone could feel that way about me?"

"No of course not," she said, softly. "It just seems... I dunno... very sudden. You haven't known him all that long, and you've been through the mill with him, haven't you?"