Page 89 of Take Her On

Chapter Twenty-Five

Maya

The burn at the back of her throat felt good. But it wasn’t enough. The relentless voices in her head continued to chatter and tease. She downed her drink and flagged the bartender for another. She needed her fallback escape route, to not feel everything for a while. Nothing else was working.

The Globe’s sparse clientele minded their own business. It was only two in the afternoon, but the quiet chatter from the couple in the corner and the two middle-aged men at the end of the bar was comforting. Quiet indie music played through the speakers, and every few minutes came the smashing of pool balls ricocheting.

The world continued ticking over, no matter what happened. Maya found a strange bit of comfort in that. Things couldn’t be broken forever. Even when it felt like they would be.

But she didn’t want to think about Jamie. Or her dad. Whatever fucked-up stuff had happened last year. She didn’t want to think at all.

Her eyes caught on the balder of the two men at the end of the bar. His patchy stubble needed some TLC and his mate’s wasn’t much better. He shook his head at something on his phone, holding it up for his friend to see. Their voices raised; whatever was on the screen was obviously fuelling a negative reaction.

Everyone in the pub at two in the afternoon is probably harbouring their own problems.

Maya paid and sipped her double vodka coke. The fuzzy warmness of the alcohol enveloped her now, and she relaxed into her seat. Yes, she was missing her university lecture. Yes, she’d been avoiding Jamie’s texts—and Hannah’s for that matter—but she didn’t know where to start. Hannah would be mad at Maya for not confiding in her, but she felt pathetic. They’d lost their first game to the Harriers, and it was her fault. She didn’t want to think about anything anymore; she wasn’t equipped to deal with any of it.

That’s what drinking is for, though, right?

She smiled to herself and took another sip, letting out a satisfied breath that caught the attention of the two men at the end of the bar.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

The soft voice from behind her made Maya’s insides shrivel. Surely her imagination was playing a cruel trick on her, but she turned and looked into Carly’s blue eyes.

Carly took a seat next to her, eyed her drink, and gave her a heart-stopping smile. Maya’s gaze dropped down her simple black skater dress and generous cleavage before returning to her face.

Great. Just what I need.

She scanned the bar and let out a sigh of relief when she realised Luke wasn’t with her. That would have been the last nail in her coffin.

“Where’s Luke?” she asked anyway.

You’ve not seen her in months, and that’s the first thing you ask? She giggled, surprised at the sound leaving her mouth.

“How many have you had?” Carly laughed, nudging her, and the feeling tugged at her memories. All the nights they’d spent in their bedrooms. All the times they’d gossiped and joked and blurred the lines. All the feelings she’d had for her. She always showed up at the worst times.

“Just a couple.” She tucked her head into her shirt to avoid smelling Carly’s perfume. She didn’t want to remember those times. She just wanted to forget. Why wouldn’t people leave her alone?

Carly ordered a drink and turned to her, her gaze warming Maya’s cheeks. “You want to sit together and catch up?”

Maya swirled her ice cubes. “Not really.”

“Has something happened?”

“No.”

The bartender brought Carly’s vodka lime soda over, and she thanked him. She bumped Maya with her elbow. “Come on. Have a drink with me.” When Maya didn’t answer, she placed her hand over hers. “Please.”

Maya wanted to blame the alcohol for accepting her invitation. Or maybe it was boredom. Sitting at the bar drinking her sorrows away hadn’t been the relief she’d hoped. The ghosts of the last week still haunted her.

Who even was Jamie Mellor?

They sat at a corner table, away from the speaker. Maya started tearing up a beer mat. Neither of them spoke, but she felt Carly’s eyes on her.

“Why are you here, Carly? You always hated the Globe.”

Carly stiffened a little before righting herself. “Luke likes it. But we don’t need to talk about him.” She reached across the table, brushing her fingers against Maya’s. Maya gripped her glass tighter. “I want to talk about you.”