The Barmaid's Contract

12.

It was late Sunday morning and I haven't bothered getting up yet.

What Cally said had me thinking. Who is Chelsea? Was Avery in a relationship with her? Surely not, otherwise he wouldn't go with this whole stupid marriage thing.

I can't be liable for breaking up a couple, not that I had much choice. I had no choice. Finally, I rolled over to my phone and I wanted to ask Avery who Chelsea was, but as I opened my phone book, I realised, I didn't have his number.

Groaning, I kicked the blankets off me and went out to the hallway. I made my way to the kitchen, my phone in hand when I found Sebastian.

"Bash!" I greeted him. He turned as he heard my voice, smiling.

"You look like you just got up."

"I did."

Bash chuckled. "How lazy of you."

I grinned back at him. "I'm too lazy to think of anything for that."

"What may I help you with?" Bash smiled as he sat on the bar stool in the kitchen.

I looked at him sheepishly. "I've fucked up." I showed him my phone in my hands. "I've accidentally deleted half the numbers in my phone. I've been too lazy to remember Avery's off by heart. Can you give it to me please."

Bash just smiled as he told me Avery's number. "I don't know if you'll get him. You might. He will be boarding a plane soon."

I looked up at him. A plane? He said he will be back by the funeral. Did he go to New York? "That's okay. I'll try and if I miss him, I'll leave a message." I thanked Sebastian as I walked away, pressing the call button.

I made my way up to where I've been sleeping and closed the door, sitting in the bay window seat.

The phone finally stopped ringing.

"Hello? Avery Montgomery speaking." Came his voice.

"Avery." I greeted. "Quick question."

I heard Avery sighed. Maybe even mutter out a 'oh god'. "Yes, Alex? Ringing me to berate me some more? Or to try and knock me down with that silver tongue of yours?"

"Ha! You wish." I laughed at him. "Who is Chelsea?"

There was a good couple minutes silence.

"Don't worry about that."

"Unlike you, I need to know. Your sister is asking all sorts of questions."

I heard Avery hiss as I rolled my eyes. "You're the one that said she could stay."

"But she is only curious." I defended. "If I had a sister, I wouldn't throw her out to the streets, unlike the barbarian you are."

"Stay out of that Alex."

I sighed. "I'm not telepathic, Avery. I need to know."

"I can't talk right now."

Of course not. "So when?" I snapped. "After everything you want is blown up in your face? Don't think I'm that scared of the media."

There was another pause before Avery spoke again. "I'll see you at the funeral and afterwards, will talk about it."

"And this stupid contract." I reminded him.

"Yes."

I over heard an announcer talking, but the words were unclear. "Fine." I hung up and locked my phone.

I quickly pulled off my pyjamas and squeezed into another set of jeans and t-shirt as I wondered around. I found Bash in the lounge room, talking on his phone.