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“I know talent when I see it, Nat.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I couldn’t see myself being here much longer. Telesales wasn’t really my thing. Truth be told, I was missing the music industry.
“Well, thank you.”
“How about we go for a drink after work to celebrate?” I had to suppress a sigh. Why was I always getting into these situations?
“Oh, I’m sorry, Neil. I’m out with my friend tonight. Maybe some other time.” It was going to be fun keeping this guy at arm’s length.
I clocked off at five and walked to the pub to meet Liv. She was now working for a graphic design company not too far from the call center.
“Don’t hate me,” she pleaded as I wandered in and took a seat. Our drinks had been ordered and were already on the table in front of her. When she looked behind me, I turned, stunned to see David sat at the bar looking at me.
“You told him I was back?” I glared at her.
“I had to. You love him, Nat. Even Alex Harbour didn’t change that. You’ve been lost since you got back.”
Putting my face in my hands, I counted to ten. David wasn’t the reason I was lost, at the moment. “I don’t need this right now, Liv.”
“Well, that’s tough because I’m leaving you to it. David bought your drink. Make sure you thank him,” she grinned, kissing the top of my head before walking off.
“You don’t seem happy to see me,” David stated, taking a seat.
“I’m not really prepared for this, that’s all.” The pub was really quiet tonight. I felt as if everyone could listen in on our conversation.
“Why didn’t you call and tell me you were back?”
“I don’t know,” I sighed, playing with my wine glass. “We didn’t really end things well last time we saw each other.”
“Were you sleeping with him?”
“David!” I fumed. That was none of his business.
“I need to know what I’m up against! I’m not giving up on you, Nat. I’m in love with you.” The world fell down around me at his words. Davidlovedme? What the hell was going on? Was I in some parallel universe?
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Don’t make me say it again. It’s been hard enough.”
“You’ve really split up with Sarah?”
“Months ago. I want you, Nat. I never should have let you leave for LA. I was a fool.” Here I was being offered everything I’d ever wanted, and only one person came to mind—Alex.
“It’s not that simple.”
“Why? You want me, I want you. Let’s just see where it takes us. I could make you happy. I know I could.”
“Iwassleeping with Alex.” Hearing him gasp at my revelation, I dropped my eyes down at the table. “David, I don’t want to hurt you. Believe me, if you’d told me all this a year ago, things would be so different.”
“You fell for the rock star?” Sipping my wine, I nodded. “Fuck!” he muttered under his breath. “What are you doing back here then? If he’s so fucking perfect, why aren’t you with him?”
“He’sAlex Harbour. It would never have worked. I got out while I could.”
“Give us a chance then. Nat, I can make you happy. I won’t pressure you into anything, but give us a chance to get back what we had before.” Something in his eyes made me want to believe him. I’d wanted him once, so maybe I could learn to want him again. It was like Alex always used to say: the best way to get over someone was to spend time with someone else. A few dates with David wouldn’t do me any harm. It might keep Alex off my mind, too.
Chapter Twenty
When I was younger I was sure that I’d have my life sorted by the age of thirty, yet I was far from that. I’d been ‘seeing’ David for three months, but as much as he tried, our relationship was just about sex to me. The connection we once had was gone. There was no point in continuing our relationship, and if it weren't my birthday today, I would have broken it off with him.
“I’ll see you later for your birthday meal with your parents?” Leaning over the bed, he pecked my lips before slipping his jacket on. “We can talk seriously about you coming back to work for me, too.” Ugh, not this again. While I may have still been at the call center, I was a team leader now. It wasn’t my dream job, but things hadn’t exactly been easy for me. Alex had been thrust back into the spotlight because of his new album—which was a global success. I hadn’t seen this much hype about him since his Steel Roses days, and none of it had helped me to get over him. I still craved his touch. I still went to bed some nights alone and cried myself to sleep. I was still in love with him.
