Broken Truth (29 page)

Charlie rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Jack... Stop trying to get into her good books,” she teased, sticking out her tongue at him.

Amelia leaned forwards to where Jack was sat opposite on one of the pull down seats in the cab. “My baby doesn’t need to get into my good books,” she winked, pressing her lips firmly against his.

“Okay... That’s enough!” Charlie called out after more than a minute of them exchanging saliva in front of her. “Please leave all of
that
for the bedroom,” she said, gesturing animatedly towards their kissing embrace. “And by bedroom, I mean your bedroom at
his
place!”

Jack grinned as he placed a swift kiss against Amelia’s lips. “We’ll finish this off later,” he murmured.

Amelia giggled as she fell backwards onto the padded back seat. “Promise?” she replied with a girlish pout.

Charlie wrinkled her nose. “I think I’m going to vom,” she announced as the passenger door opened and a light gust of evening breeze filled the space around them.

“My bad,” Xavier apologised as he pulled down the seat next to Jack and closed the cab door. “My Mum was just giving me my usual lecture before a night out drinking.”

“No worries, you’re here now. What lectures was she giving you?” Charlie asked as she tried to ignore the whispering exchange of filthy promises she could hear between Jack and Amelia.

“Just the usual... If I’m giving it out then I need to wear protection, and if I’m receiving it then I need to make sure he’s got protection,” Xavier replied. He turned and stared out of the window as the cab made a U turn and headed back out of the cul-de-sac.

Charlie looked at Amelia who was now sporting a rather large grin. “Thanks for that little lesson, Avi,” she smiled.

“Shit!” Jack started to cough and splutter into his hand following Xavier’s admission. It wasn’t very often that everyone got together, so for Jack, it was still a learning curve being around Xavier’s unique and carefree personality.

Turning his attention away from the window, Xavier focused on Charlie. “Why weren’t you in work today?” he asked, eyeing her curiously.

Charlie pressed her lips together as she tried to fabricate a believable story. She hadn’t actually told Xavier that she was going to meet Claire because she couldn’t deal with the hassle and drama that would have followed. She hated to lie, but she couldn’t think of any other choice at this moment.

“She had to take some time off work to come and get my arse from the dentist,” Amelia quickly answered on Charlie’s behalf. “I ended up having a damn root canal, so I needed her to come with me and drive my car home afterwards,” Amelia said, taking hold of Charlie’s hand.

 “Oh...Okay,” Xavier nodded, turning to stare back out of the window.

Charlie let out a quick breath as she squeezed Amelia’s hand in thanks.

“We are here,” Jack announced as the taxi came to a stop outside of Zachary’s.

It was a bittersweet reunion for Charlie as they exited the car outside of her favourite bar. She shuddered realising that it was her first time venturing out since that unforgettable night at Vision with Callum and Jay. The memory of the bloodied body lying on the floor along with Callum’s adrenaline fuelled rage had been enough to keep her locked away for a while as she tried to recover from the guilt that wracked and tortured her conscious at every waking moment.

“We could go somewhere else?” Amelia whispered into her ear as she took in her obvious discomfort.

Charlie knew that Zachary’s was also Callum’s favourite place to relax when he was in the city and more than likely the place where she would find him lurking.

As she scanned the long line of people waiting to be let inside, her eyes landed on Big Jeremy who was guarding the entrance. She noticed that he was watching her carefully, his large and bulky arms folded tightly across his chest.

“It’s ok,” Charlie swallowed, heading towards the large bouncer. “I mean... he may not even be here, right?”

“Who,” Xavier asked, sliding his arm around Charlie’s shoulder.

“Callum...” Amelia replied.

“He won’t show up if he knows what’s good for him,” Jack muttered, pulling Amelia closer into his body. “Besides, Lucy and Ollie have been here for a while, so they would have said something if they had seen him. Keep your chin up, Charlie,” Jack said, shooting her a reassuring smile.

“Miss Harris,” Jeremy nodded as she approached. He stepped to the side to let the four of them pass through with ease into the bar area.

“They are upstairs in our usual suite,” Jack said, gesturing to the overhead balconies. “Don’t worry,” he smiled, taking in the puzzled expression across her face. “Callum isn’t the only one with money you know.”

Charlie flushed at his reply, feeling a tad embarrassed that she had thought about questioning him. Of course Jack and Ollie had put together to make sure they had their usual suite tonight. It had always been a ritual at Zachary’s which they looked to be continuing with or without Callum.

“Come on,” Jack hollered as he approached the VIP hostess for the night.

“Shots! Shots! Shots!”

Charlie grimaced as she picked up her fourth shot in a row. She eyed the sickly green apple alcohol with disgust as her stomach started to turn nauseously. “I don’t want to drink it,” she whined. 

“Charlie! Get the fucking shot down your throat now.” Lucy banged her fist forcefully on the table, making the surrounding glasses rattle and shake in unison.

“Jesus, okay,” she laughed, lifting the shot glass to her lips. Opening her mouth, she emptied the contents of her glass. “Ugh!” she heaved, feeling the sweet alcohol unsettling the acid in her stomach.

Xavier slapped her back. “You are such a lightweight,” he mocked.

She shot him a death glare, which much to her frustration, he liked.

He cocked his head to the side and grinned merrily in her direction as he lifted a shot of Sambuca to his lips. “Bottoms up!” he declared, knocking it back in one swift motion.

“I know I’m usually the one begging for shots, but can we not take it easy?” Amelia asked as she flicked a glance at the large platter filled with multiple shot glasses. “Clearly you have all forgotten that we actually have to go to work tomorrow?”  

“Not me!” Charlie squealed as she waved her arms in the air.

“And why is that?” Xavier looked at her and narrowed his eyes.

Charlie clamped her lips shut realising what she had just said. “Shit,” she mumbled under her breath as she diverted her eyes to look anywhere but at him.

“Come on...” Xavier pressed.

Catching Amelia’s eye from where she was perched comfortably on Jack’s lap, Charlie raised her eyes in silent question. She wasn’t sure what best to do now that she had dug herself into this gigantic hole.

“It’s up to you?” Amelia mouthed across quickly while nobody was looking.

A swarm of nerves fluttered and swirled uncomfortably around Charlie’s stomach.

“Okay, okay, okay!” she said, picking up a shot glass from the tray. “I have something to tell you guys...” She watched as everyone in the small suite turned to focus on her. 

“Do we need to get a drink?” Ollie asked as he gestured to the shot in her hand.

Charlie nodded and waited for everyone to grab a shot before she continued. “Okay, so I wanted you guys to be the first ones to know, which is why I asked you all to come out for drinks tonight.”

“She’s up the duff!” Jack coughed discreetly into Amelia’s shoulder.

Charlie laughed as her best friend smacked her boyfriend around the head. “Yeah right, so that’s why she has a shot in her hand and has been drinking all night,” she challenged.

“Hey!” Jack protested as he rubbed the back of his now tender head. “I was only joking. I know she isn’t pregnant. There isn’t any need to take it out on the head,” he sulked, sticking out his bottom lip.

“Silly, baby!” Amelia cooed as she sucked Jack’s protruding lip into her mouth.

A chorus of groans echoed around the small suite as the two of them started to get heated.

Charlie hollered and stamped her foot in an attempt at breaking the pair apart. “Hey!” she yelled as their kisses continued.

Xavier grunted noisily at the sight of Jack and Amelia practically eating each other alive. “Fuck this shit!” he snapped, forcing his hands in between their bodies to prise them both apart. “I want to hear what Charlie’s got to say, so pack it in.”

Amelia blushed and turned towards Charlie. “Whoops,” she smirked as she smoothed her fingers over her swollen lips.

“I suppose I can carry on now that they’ve finished,” she laughed, flicking her head in the direction of Amelia and Jack. “Anyway, I wanted you all together so that you would all find out at the same time.” She sucked in a long and shaky breath. “I’m moving to Milan!” she squealed, thrusting her shot glass into the air before bringing it to her lips.

Putting the empty glass on the table in front of her, Charlie sat down in her seat and glanced across at the expressions surrounding her.

“Italy?” Lucy screeched as she clamoured across Ollie’s lap to sit next to her. “How did this come about? How long are you going for? Have you got a job?”

“My boss at work asked me if I wanted to go and work in our newly opened Milan boutique for the next six to twelve months. They think it will be great experience for me,” she beamed.

Lucy gripped her thigh. “I am so excited for you its unreal. You are going to learn so much from being out there. And you are going to be able to buy such amazing stuff!”

Ollie’s head appeared suddenly over the top of Lucy’s shoulder. “When do you go?”

“I told them today I wanted to go, so they have booked me on a flight for this Saturday!” Charlie exclaimed, looking around the suite to gauge their reactions. Her smile faltered instantly into sadness when she saw Xavier sitting quietly by himself.

“Avi!”

He lifted his head at the sound of his name.

“Got a minute,” Charlie asked, gesturing towards the hallway.

“Are you alright?” She approached him cautiously when they were out of earshot from the others.

Casually leaning back with his foot propped against the wall, Xavier roughly thrust a hand through his hair in exasperation. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me!” he cried. “What am I going to do without you?”

Charlie’s face crumpled as she saw the hurt and pain reflected in Xavier’s eyes.  She always knew that witnessing his reaction first hand was going to be difficult. No matter how much she had mentally tried to prepare herself beforehand, she knew that nothing would compare to the sight of his utterly broken expression.

“I’m sorry,” she choked. “I just couldn’t say no to this opportunity. I want you to be happy for me. Please be happy for me.” She looked into his eyes and pleaded with him to understand.

Moisture sprung at the corners of her eyes at the sight of a small tear escaping down Xavier’s cheek. “I am happy for you. I just…” He trailed off with a sigh as he shifted his gaze to the floor. “I’ll miss you. You’re like my best friend,” he sniffed, stuffing his hands into the front pockets of his skinny jeans.

“You’re such a weirdo,” she laughed, wiping her finger under both of her eyelids.

His eyes snapped up to meet her stare. “That’s it, just kick me while I’m down,” he pouted, sticking his tongue out with a sly yet cocky smile.

“Give me a cuddle,” she demanded, opening her arms and beckoning him closer.

Placing his foot back on the floor to steady himself, Xavier closed the space between them and wrapped his arms around her waist. Charlie pressed her face into his chest and breathed in his usually reassuring scent. Instantly her nostrils recognised that something wasn’t quite right when the smell of spiced vanilla and amber infiltrated her senses.

Suddenly alarmed, Charlie lifted her hands and pushed Xavier away from her. “That smell...” She dipped her head so that she could sniff the front of her dress that had been pressed against his chest.

“What’s wrong?”

Charlie’s eyes widened with abrupt realisation. She recognised the smell, but knew that it wasn’t Xavier’s usual aftershave. “Why are you wearing that?” she accused as the familiar and comforting memories of Callum rushed to the front of her mind.