“Heath?” He looked up at me. “I’m coming home with you, okay?” He gave me a half smile, nodded his head and flicked away his cigarette.
“You know, Pieces,” He leaned off the wall and strode up to me, “you don’t have to do that. I’m a grown man.”
“Yeah and you’ll be a grown man with cancer too, so I rather come home. I love you too much to see you struggle.”
“Yeah, well I love you, too.” His green eyes locked to mine. He put his hands on my shoulders and my pores raised instantly. He was way too close to me. God, I hope he didn’t realise that he made my skin prickle. I managed a smile and I looked back to make sure Jake didn’t see us. He knew how I feel, felt, feel – ugh whatever – about Heath. I didn’t want to make him feel insecure or hurt about us.
I eased away from Heath’s hold and told him that I’d be right back. I walked up to Jake who was busy reading something. “Jake?” He looked up and smiled when he saw me, took off his glasses and instantly took notice of my apologetic scowl.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“I, uh, I gotta go home.” I bent my head.
“Why?”
“Heath is going through something, I wanna be there for him.”
“Heath? Are you kidding me?”
“What do you mean, he is my best friend, you know.”
“Yes I do, I’m sorry but, I just… never mind. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“What? What were you going to say?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Oh, don’t forget we’re shooting after school tomorrow.” He replied and bent his head.
“Jake?” I pleaded.
“I just wanted to make sure you spend your birthday with me, is all. I have something really special for you.”
“Of course.” I smiled, wanting to kiss him so bad but we were in public. I just shook his hand and then walked up to Heath who was a few feet away talking to a girl named Grace who was in the film portraying Heath’s best friend, Emma.
Jake and Heath had a slightly odd exchange of stares when I approached him. I just ignored it and got into the car. What weirdness was transpiring? Heath was beginning to frighten me with his unusual behaviours.
We pulled out of the parking lot and were in route to home. I lowered the volume on the radio. “Heath?” He glanced over at me. “Is everything okay? What exactly is happening? Something happen with Caroline?”
“Pieces, you know how things with Caroline goes, there is never an okay moment. I just feel so alone all the time and now you’re always gone or on your phone. I feel miserable. And my dad is becoming a bloody pain in the arse!” He pounded his hand against his steering wheel angrily and made me jump.
“What do you mean?”
“He is so bloody wish-washy on things at times. You know that I usually do his graphic work for him, now I hear he is thinking of hiring someone to be his Creative Director. And if that happens, I’ll have to go back to the stationery store.”
“Oh boy. But I thought things were good between you two?”
“It is, I don’t understand what his bloody deal is.
“I’m sorry.” I scowled.
We pulled up in front of the house, got out the car and I plopped onto the sofa in the living room when we went inside.
“You hungry?” Heath asked me as he opened the fridge in the kitchen, scanning its contents.
“Whatcha gonna make?” I asked flicking through the channels on the TV.
“What you want?” He walked up to me with his hands on hips.
“Order a pizza?” I raised a brow.
“You speak my language, Pieces.” He winked and picked up the cordless house phone. He called Rizzoni’s and ordered a Family sized pizza. “I know you’re a bit greedy when it comes to pizza.”
“I’m greedy when it comes to food, regardless.” I laughed and he dropped down on the sofa beside me, put his arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek. The remote fell out my hand and I froze.
“I know, Pieces. You okay?” I managed a half smile and nodded my head and then laid it on his shoulder as we watched an entire episode of Hannibal. I inhaled deeply, just taking in his all familiar scent. The one that I’ve grown to love for over a year. Unusual thoughts began to rush through my head. My heart began to pound hard against my chest. I could hair the blood rushing. My skin prickling. I took a deep breath because I wanted to tell him. Tell him the truth. The way I really felt because I had to get it off my chest. “Heath.” I croaked. My voice barely audible. He looked down at me with those gorgeous emerald eyes. I opened my mouth, my voice lost, trying hard to formulate a sentence and again, I started breathing hard and closed my mouth. He watched me apprehensively.
“What is it, Pieces?” He asked, noticing my distress.
“I have something to tell you.” I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I opened them and finally geared up the courage and as I was about to tell him, there came a knock on the door. Great! Perfect timing! Ugh!
“Hold on.” He got up from the sofa and answered the door. A red-headed, blue-eyed boy in a blue jersey and red cap was holding our pizza. “Delivery.” He announced.
“Oh hey, thanks.” Heath pat the pockets of his dark jeans, pulled out twenty dollars and gave the boy, taking the pizza in return. “Keep the change.” He winked and closed the door. “Dinner.” He smiled at me.
“Awesome.” I mouthed feeling the world of disappointment. I no longer had the urge to tell him. He opened the box and pulled out a slice before he placed it down on the coffee table in front of us. “What were you saying?” He asked as he took a bite of his pizza.
“Uh, nothing. Don’t worry.” I replied and pulled out a slice, strings of gooey melted cheesy falling to the sides.
“You sure? You looked pretty upset.”
“Na, it’s good.” I lied. What was I thinking anyway? I’m with Jake, he’s with Caroline. Does he even like me that way? Was I really gonna dump Jake, and would he ever leave that bitch? So many questions. Find out next time on Dragon Balls Z! – just kidding.
I lost my marbles for a moment. I could never ever tell Heath. I shouldn’t. Firstly, because it would make things awkward between us, and secondly because a lot of other people would get hurt. When I’m with Jake, I feel so different anyway. I was beginning to fall for him and maybe, in due time, I would get over this petty crush I had for Heath. I didn’t want to lose my best friend though, but it’s one of those shitty moments where you love them so much it hurts knowing you could never have
them. It was driving me crazy.
Chapter 5
It was Friday, the day before my birthday, and the past week was majorly hectic with both school and Jake’s film. Not only was it torturous for Jake and me to not touch each other during school hours, and after, but we haven’t had the chance to fuck in a long time and I was tripping major ball-sack.
Since the Sunday I almost spilled my guts to Heath, I haven’t said much to him, I was scared. He was too busy with Caroline anyway. They were both acting really weird – weirder than usual.
All three of us were in Tang getting breakfast and of course Jake was in his usual seat, glasses on, reading a book, eating a bagel and drinking coffee. Tang really did have the best bagels, so I get the appeal. Heath gave me a weird, disproving look – I guess because I was only glancing back at Jake.
“Reese?” Caroline brought me back to her attention. “Heath and I planned something special for you.” She smiled.
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah, we were busy trying to arrange last minute reservations at Klaw.” She smiled, exposing her cute beaver teeth that surprisingly accentuated her beauty – ugh!
“Klaw? In Pasadena?”
“That’s the one.” She pepped. “We wanted to go to Rango’s in LA, but they were full.”
“Wow, thanks, you guys. That’s why you two have been so weird?” Heath nodded with a smirk.
“Um, wait. Did you say for tomorrow?”
“Yeah, tomorrow is your birthday, right? Is there something wrong?” Caroline asked looking back and forth between Heath and me. He just bent his head with a sigh. “What?” Caroline asked in perplexity.
“Nothing. You didn’t book the reservation for three did you?” I asked her.
“Yes I did. What’s wrong?”
“Heath, you didn’t tell her?” I smiled, raising a brow.
“Tell me what?” Caroline asked sounding frustrated. Heath and I exchanged glances. “Could you two stop with the back and forth? Tell me what?”
“You would need to bump that reservation up a notch, to say, about four people.”
“Four?” She mouthed. She looked at me, then Heath and her eyes widened. “Oh, you have a date?” She asked surprised. “I’m sorry. Yeah, I could make it four. I didn’t even know you were seeing anybody. Heath? How come you’ve never told me?” She asked through gritted teeth.
“It’s kind of a under low thing.” I interjected.
“How come?” I licked my lips and suppressed a giggle. I glanced at Heath and he raised a brow.
“My boyfriend is – how to put it – it could jeopardise a lot of things for him.”
“What, is he married?” She joked and I bent my head. “Oh my God, he is?” She asked in horror.
“Calm down, no. He’s…” I trailed off.
“Our teacher.” Heath continued inertly.
“What? Which one, Mr. Sampson?” She asked in disgust. What a bitch, she knew Jake but asked if it was the semi bald, potbellied forty-seven year old teacher?
“Mr. Sampson, Caroline, really?” I deadpanned.
“Yeah, Carr, the hell?” Heath laughed.
“I’ll be back.” I widened my eyes at them and then left. I strolled up to Jake.
Taken by Young Summer was playing over the café’s radio. He looked up at me and removed his glasses, a big smile spread across his face.
“Ms. Singh?” He raised his brows seductively.
“Mr. Cavanaugh.” I whispered coquettishly.
“Please,” He put his book down and gestured me to the chair, “Have a seat.”
“Thank you.” I sat down and craned my neck back at Caroline who was staring at me with her mouth wide open. I gave her a pretentious wave and turned back to Jake.
Caroline turned to Heath. “Him? Mr. Cavanaugh?” She asked him. Heath nodded and shrugged his shoulders. “What the hell? He’s like the hottest teacher, ever.” Heath rolled his eyes and slurped loudly on his straw.
“I missed you.” I whispered to Jake.
“I missed you, too.” He licked his lips. “Hey, we on for tomorrow? I cancelled shooting tomorrow just for you.”
“About that…”
“What?” He asked, looking helplessly at me.
“Um, Heath and his girlfriend arranged for me to have dinner with them at Klaw.”
“Oh? Reign check then?” He frowned.
“Actually, I was wondering if you’d come?”
“Oh!” He pepped. “Sure, it’s in Pasadena, away from prying eyes. Of course.” I flashed a broad smile at him. “By the way, I could pick you all up, if that’s okay.”
“With Sven?”
“Duh.” He teased. I rolled my eyes.
“Thank you. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.” He bit on his lip.
I rose up from his table and walked back to Heath and Caroline. She sized me and her eyebrows furrowed in astonishment. “Jake Cavanaugh is your boyfriend?”
“Shhh! And yes, pretty much.” The look on her face gave me the utmost satisfaction. He was what the other girls in my class referred to as a God amongst men with those striking looks and I nabbed him. I know I wasn’t competing or anything, but I felt pretty damn good to know I made Caroline jealous. “That’s not all.” I smirked. She watched me intently and gestured as if waiting to hear the rest. “He is actually really rich.”
“What? You’re joking right? He drives a Prius.”
“He doesn’t like it to be known. He said if it’s okay with you guys, he will have his driver pick us up tomorrow.” Ha! The look on Caroline’s face was priceless, like she was about to combust.
“Okay.” She croaked.
After school, we had to shoot a few more scenes for the movie at Jackson Lake. Jake and the other student crew members took us to the location and we began shooting the scene where I basically had to murder people and be covered in fake blood which was a lot of fun.
I researched a lot of serial killers for the role; admiring their patterns, quirks, persona – everything! I tried my best to get into their minds and feel what they felt. Especially when they acted as if they were normal-everyday-people in society, which is what my character does.
Once the scene was done, we cleaned up and moved on to the other scenes at the other side of the lake.
Heath and I never did our kiss scene, nor have we ever rehearsed it. I was dreading it so much because I know the way I felt about him and I was afraid of myself. Afraid of what I would do, how I would react, would it make me fall even more in love with him? It was scary and I wasn’t ready for it.
Heath and I jumped into his car after we wrapped up for the day, and headed home. “Only a few more days of shooting to go, Pieces.” He smiled.
“Yeah, I am very aware. Believe me.”
“You okay?” He glanced over at me.
“Heck yeah, movie?”
“Netflix?”
“Read my mind.” I blushed. Netflix and chill? I’m down with that!
“We’ll stop at the Quick Shop for popcorn and then at Al’s for barbecue.” I nodded in agreement. “You know, Pieces, you were excellent today.” I looked up at him.
“I was?”
“Yes! If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were really Genesis. You really did your research and are taking method acting to a whole other level. I knew you had it in you.”
“Wow. Thanks Heath. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
We stopped at the Quick Shop and got a few snacks, popcorn and a case of beers, followed by a stop at Al’s for two racks of barbecue ribs and portions of fries.
Soon enough, we were back at home. We both cleaned up ourselves and relaxed on the sofa in the living room to watch a movie on Netflix as we scarfed down our food and gulped down beer after beer.
Heath had the bowl of popcorn on his lap and his arm around me as I lay my head on his shoulder. Our eyes were glued to the screen as we took fistful after fistful of popcorn. This felt so good, just the two of us eating popcorn, drinking beer watching some kickass movie. I loved these moments I had with Heath, it’s what made me fall so hard for him, apart from his green eyes, awesome personality, brown hair, Aussie accent, six foot figure and deep ass voice.
Before the movie was even over, I fell asleep right there on his shoulder. When Heath realised, he took off the movie and placed the bowl of popcorn beside him. He then scooped me up in his arms and took me up to my room, laid me on the bed gently and my eyes fluttered open as he was making me comfortable. “Heath.” I whispered.
“Pieces, you fell asleep. I didn’t want to wake you.” His face was close to mine, I could feel the warmth of his breath.
“Don’t go.” I palmed his cheek. I felt a little dizzy from all the alcohol and my impulses were strong. I wanted him with me and I wasn’t afraid to ask. He nodded his head in response and laid next to me, wrapping his arms around me, snuggling up to my body. This was so wrong but I think both of us were a little buzzed and didn’t care much. He was someone that I had loved for over a year with no reprieve and I just wanted it to stop.
“Happy Birthday, Pieces.” He whispered and kissed the back of my neck and every strand of hair on my body shot up. I just pursed my lips and closed my eyes tight. My heart wanted to fall out of my chest – his arms being around me like that – but I tried my best to ignore it.
We both fell asleep and I was awoken by a knock on the door downstairs, feeling a bit woozy from
the beers. Heath’s arm was still around me, his lips pressed against my neck. I gently eased away and looked out my window to see who it was.
Of course! Caroline has arrived. I woke Heath up and told him she was downstairs.
After I freshened up, I jogged downstairs and slowed my pace when I entered the kitchen. “Happy Birthday, Reese.” Caroline announced and gave me a peck on the cheek before sitting down beside Heath at the breakfast bar.
“Thanks Carr.” I responded. Well that wasn’t fake as hell. I sat beside them both to have breakfast. Caroline had brought Caramel lattes for Heath and me – our favourite, along with a couple Paninis.
How awkward was it for Heath and I to fall asleep together like that, and then for her to come in the nick of time before we had a chance to talk about it. We just watched each other, unspoken words, only remorseful stares of discomfort as we ate.
“So,” Caroline began, “Reese, ready for your dinner later. It’s gonna be awesome. Our first double date.” I watched Heath and then turned to her.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be really awesome.”
That’s it! That moment last night with Heath – it’s time I totally stay away from him. This would kill my relationship with Jake and I couldn’t allow that. Holy Shit – Jake! I totally forgot my phone upstairs.
“Excuse me.” I told them and ran upstairs. I had to search all over my room for my phone. When I finally found it, I had thirteen WhatsApp messages and twenty-one missed calls from Jake. “Shit.” I whispered. Just as I was about to call him, my phone began to ring. It was Jake of course. “Hey.” I answered.
“Happy Birthday, princess.” He replied. “What’s up, just woke up?”
“Uh, yeah. Sort of. Was having breakfast with Heath and Caroline downstairs. And thank you.”
“Sounds awesome. If you were here, I’d have brought you breakfast in bed.”
“That sounds so tempting.” I laughed as I paced my room idly. “I miss you.”
In The Spur of Heath (The Spur Series Book 1) Page 10