Our Wedding Band

Chapter Sixteen

Our Wedding Band

Chapter Sixteen

I didn’t want to get out of bed; I was in a state of depression knowing that he wasn’t coming home. What had happened in Australia was entirely my fault, I didn’t care is Callum wanted to blame himself because deep down it was a choice and I chose wrong.

A knock on my bedroom door caused me to peep my head out from beneath the covers. I knew who it was even though deep down I was hoping it was someone else.

“You have to come out eventually.” Callum pestered sitting down on the bed beside me. I felt sick as his hand lightly touched my body as he fell down beside me. How could I stand to look at him and not remember what I had done?

“You know he’ll be back soon.” He assured me, taking a bite from his toast, his words were meant to be reassuring but they didn’t have that effect on me at all.

“Just stop.” I pleaded, trying to be brave as I sat up to face him.

“Please stop pretending that it’s all okay.” Tears fell from my tired eyes. I ducked away from him as he tried to comfort me. It was wrong for me to take it out on him, yet it was ever so easy.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered adverting his gaze to the other side of the bedroom.

“No wait, I’m sorry.” I wiped my tears away with the edge of my sleeve before reaching over to hold his warm hand.

“When he’s ready to come home, I’m moving out.” He promised, gazing into my eyes. Usually I loved it when he did that, I loved the safe feeling his eyes brought to my stomach but not this time, this time I didn’t want him to look into my dried out eyes that were all raw from emotion. What girl in her right mind would want him looking at them when they looked bloody awful?

“Have you spoken to Lily?” I said while avoiding eye contact, letting go of his hand.

“No.”

“You should.”

“Why?” he sounded angry or maybe even hurt.

“Well I think she should know what really happened Callum.” I pointed out, tilting my head and staring up at him. A small cheeky smile appeared on his sleepy face but he shook his head as a response.

“She hasn’t asked me to explain myself.” He slowly answered finishing off his breakfast.

“But you know she wants one.”

“That’s beside the point and you know it.” With that he poked me right in the middle of my forehead as he jumped out of bed.

--- 

I called in sick for work for the entire week, Callum didn’t hound me too much for doing so because he wasn’t exactly hanging around the house much anyway " having a job of his own and all. Lily called to ask me where I was which really surprised me since I was under the impression that she hated me, turns out she doesn’t hold grudges and was coming over after work. I warned Callum so he had a chance to make other plans to avoid any further awkwardness.

            “You look awful.” She observed as I let her inside the apartment. Maybe it was because I hadn’t had a proper shower in two day, I had cried my eyes out every day since he left and no matter what painkilling drug I took nothing seemed to be hurting less.

            “I feel awful.” I admitted taking the bottle of gin from her hands. I hadn’t drunken any alcohol since I got pregnant two years ago but I thought this occasion was a great time to start again.

            “Where’s the boy?” she asked looking around, I guess by boy she meant Callum.

            “I don’t know, he’s never here much.” I told her taking a sip straight from the bottle.

            “Slow down girl, you don’t take alcohol well remember?” she sat down on the sofa and I did the same. It felt good as the liquid slipped down my throat, it felt good to have Lily here even though I’d had the worst week possible.

            “Can I tell you something Jayde?” she asked once she’d finished pulling my hair up into a messy ponytail.

            “Is it good?” I asked with a mouthful. She looked quite sceptical.

            “Not practically.” She couldn’t look me in the eyes.

            “Oh. Okay just spit it out Lil.” I was feeling better already with the liquor now in my system.

            “You know how I was late to do my maid of honour speech?” I nodded so she continued. “Well I was with Callum, and he told me something.” She didn’t look sure of herself so I gave her a funny ‘get on with it’ look.

            “He told me that he’s in love with you.” She winced as if expecting the worst. I couldn’t help myself so I started to laugh hysterically.

            “What’s funny?” she asked confused, the confusion on her face just made me laugh even harder, I laughed so hard my muscles started to ache, I could hardly sit up anymore I was laughing that hard. Lily cracked a smile but obviously couldn’t see the humorous side to all of this.

            “Jayde you silly goose.” She laughed at me but I just couldn’t stop, I didn’t even stop after I had fallen to my feet. I don’t know why I found it so funny that Harry was in love with me but at the time I thought it was the funniest thing in the world.

---

Callum walked in early that night after Lily had gone home; I was still lying on the sofa the empty bottle had fallen over on the floor. I only noticed his presence when his cold hands brushed against my neck, it wasn’t exactly the most wonderful way to wake up but I didn’t want to complain.

“You drunk a bit.” He said picking up the empty bottle. I tried to ignore the disapproving look on his face.

“Sorry MUM.” My head ached as I tried to sit up.

“Don’t get up on my account, I’ll go and get you some blankets.” He told me before rushing to find some bedding for me. My head felt like it was going to explode but It was my own fault.

“Hear from Braison yet?” he asked me when he returned to the room. I frown thinking about the question, while he shifted my head to add an extra pillow beneath my head.

“No,” closed my eyes not wanting to think about Louis at a time like this.

“He’ll call when he’s ready.” He told me for the billionth time that week, frankly I was growing sick of him saying that when it seemed ever so far from the truth.

“Harry.” I whispered, while he placed a dampened cloth upon my forehead.

“Yeah?” he answered unsuspecting.

“Are you in love with me?” I asked him and even with my eyes shut I could tell he’d changed in attitude.

“I think you’ve drunk too much.” He brushed me off, moving away from me slightly.

“No I haven’t Callum.” I stubbornly stated opening my eyes to find that he was staring at me.

“Did Lila say something?” he frowned down at me.

“No, well she did but it’s ok.” I grabbed hold of his arm.

“What do you mean? Of course it’s not okay you’re lying here after a night of drinking which you wouldn’t have been doing if I hadn’t stepped in.” He looked angry at himself.

“No Callum. Don’t. Please stop blaming yourself.” I tried to comfort him.

“Only if you stop blaming yourself.” He grinned at me awkwardly, a smile started to spread along my own face and the both of us started laughing.