Rivers of Ink

by Julie Archer

  “You were busy with the shop. Always doing boring business stuff, spreadsheets, rosters… we never seemed to go out or do anything fun.”

  “So it’s my fault you cheated on me?”

  “I didn’t want to.”

  “Then why do it?”

  “Because I loved you. I wanted to make you jealous, jealous enough to fight for me at least. You didn’t do that though, you simply threw me out. Sided with Xander. You don’t know how much that hurt.”

  “That was a funny way to show it, Is.”

  She finally met his gaze, her blue eyes shiny with tears. “I still love you now.”

  Being best man at his best friend’s wedding, having his amazing new girlfriend with him and envisaging a future with her, then being presented with admissions from his ex, Callan’s emotions were all over the place.

  “No! You can’t tell me that. You can’t treat me like you did and expect to come waltzing back into my life with declarations of love.”

  “We were good together, Cal.” Isobel raised her hand and ran her fingers down Callan’s cheek.

  He brushed her off. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Please, can’t we try again? You know you want to.”

  Callan wanted anything but. He wanted her to get away from him and get the hell out of his life. It was clear that Isobel was intent on the opposite as she forced herself on him, kissing him deeply on the lips, her tongue probing. He didn’t see Alicia enter the room to witness what was going on, nor see her bring her hand to her mouth with a gasp as she saw them together, nor see her flee, tears running down her cheeks. With a forceful shove, he managed to disentangle himself from Isobel.

  “I said no, Isobel. What part of that don’t you understand? You cheated on me with my own brother. How can you possibly think that we could get back together after that?” His anger was bubbling under.

  He jumped up and walked back into the main part of the barn. Isobel followed him, trying to grab his arm as he scanned the room looking for Alicia. He spotted Jason at the bar and made a beeline for him. Isobel was a few steps behind him, tears streaming down her face.

  “Everything okay?” Jason frowned.

  Callan squared up to him. “You shouldn’t have brought her here this evening.” Callan grabbed the lapels of Jason’s jacket. “After everything she’s done, you should have known she wouldn’t be wanted.”

  Jason tried to brush off his boss’s grip, but Callan held firm. The simmering hatred directed at Isobel that he’d been trying to control came to the fore and without thinking, he threw a punch at Jason’s face, following it up with a rain of blows to his body. Jason gave as good as he got, and it wasn’t before long before the two of them were brawling.

  “Callan, stop!” Isobel tried to pull them apart and got caught in the crossfire, with Callan giving her a stray slap.

  The red mist that descended over Callan wasn’t showing any sign of dissipating as he and Jason fought. Horrified family and friends watched on as the pair continued their scuffle, hurriedly moving out of the way, not wanting to get caught up in the fray.

  Seeing nothing else except what was in front of him, Callan wasn’t aware that they were getting dangerously close to the cake table. The table with the beautiful three-tier wedding cake, decorated with lace icing and crafted flowers, that matched Wren’s colour theme exactly. Almost in slow motion, they barrelled towards it.

  “Callan!”

  Aidy’s voice cut through the fog, and Callan threw a misdirected punch in his direction, catching him square on the nose. The break gave Jason the opportunity to escape, though he stumbled, tried to grab onto the cake table, and fell. Wren’s scream was loudest as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. The table collapsed, crockery crashed to the floor, and the cake swiftly followed. Wren’s bridesmaids appeared, both trying to comfort her and pick up some of the mess at the same time.

  Callan felt himself being restrained, and he gave in as the two barmen led him away. The last thing he saw was Wren tending to the blood that stemmed from Aidy’s nose.

  16

  Alicia lay on her side, staring at the wall, the duvet pulled tight around her body. She had barely moved since she’d been home except to go to the bathroom. Her phone was switched off and buried in the drawer of her bedside table. Isobel. The name reverberated around her brain. It was always something to do with Isobel. She realised it now—that Callan had to be totally hung up on his ex. If she thought about how he had reacted to the guy at Aidy and Wren’s party, there must have still been something there for him to get so worked up. Then finding them together last night suddenly made sense. She had been stupid to think that he could get over her that easily, despite what she’d done to him.

  Nell had found her in her room that morning and tried to get some sense out of her. Alicia wasn’t ready to talk and refused all offers of food and drink.

  There was a tentative knock on the door. “Ali?” Nell’s head poked into the room. “I brought you some peppermint tea and plain biscuits. You really should try to eat something.”

  She propped herself up on her elbows. “It’s okay, you can come in.” Inadvertently, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror: puffy, red eyes; and a swollen complexion. That’s what came from sobbing your heart out over someone you thought you were in love with.

  Nell placed the tray on Alicia’s bed. As well as the tea and biscuits, there was a packet of crisps and some chocolate. “I brought everything, in case you fancied it,” she said.

  “Thank you, you’re the best.” Alicia tried to smile, but the tears started again.

  “Come on, hon, you need to tell me what happened. It’s not that I don’t mind you being here, I don’t see much of you these days since you pretty much moved in with Callan. I can’t say I wasn’t surprised to see you here this morning though. I thought you were staying at Stratfield Manor last night?” Nell sat down on the bed and leaned against the wall, helping herself to one of the biscuits.

  “Shit, all my stuff is still there.” Alicia rubbed her forehead. She’d have to get in touch with Wren or Aidy and ask if they could bring it over for her. That meant turning on her phone. The thought filled her with dread.

  “Where’s Callan then?” Nell asked. “Can’t he bring it back?”

  Alicia shook her head. “I don’t want to see him.”

  “Seriously, you have to tell me what’s going on.”

  “I found him kissing his ex.”

  The words hung in the air, and now she had said them aloud, Alicia knew she couldn’t take them back.

  “He was what?” Nell’s mouth formed an ‘o’ shape. “What was she doing there anyway?”

  “My thoughts exactly. She came with Jason, you know the guy who recently started at The Unbound Soul?”

  There was a knock on the front door, and Nell went to answer it. Alicia reached for the crisps and ripped open the packet. She selected a small one and put it in her mouth, letting it dissolve on her tongue, the saltiness helping her nausea.

  “You’ve got a visitor,” said Nell as she came back into Alicia’s bedroom.

  An iron fist gripped Alicia’s chest, and the crisp turned to cardboard. She didn’t want to see Callan, not right now. When Wren, not Callan, appeared, Alicia let out a hard breath. The redhead had her overnight bag clenched in her hands and pinched eyebrows.

  “Hey, how are you?”

  “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be on honeymoon by now?”

  “We don’t leave yet. I wanted to check you were okay.” Wren reached down and gave Alicia a small hug. She perched on the end of the bed while Nell hovered awkwardly in the doorway.

  “It’s okay, you can stay,” said Alicia. She patted the bed and her friend sat down beside her. “Thank you for bringing my stuff over. I’m sorry if I’ve put you out.” She thought about what Wren had just said. “And I’ll be fine, eventually. Thank you for coming over though.”

  “Oh, Ali,” sighed Wren. “You d
on’t know what happened after you left.”

  Alicia’s brows knotted together. “What do you mean?”

  “Callan and Jason got into a fight and Aidy was caught up in it.”

  “Sorry, what?” Alicia couldn’t believe Wren’s words. “When?”

  “We think it was shortly after you headed home. He was talking to Isobel about something and it all escalated out of control.”

  Isobel. That name again. She felt Nell’s hand rubbing her shoulder.

  “She always ruins things,” she whispered. Alicia met Wren’s eyes. “How’s Aidy?”

  “Thankfully we’d had the photographs done before Callan punched him, otherwise he’d have a swollen nose and black eyes to commemorate our big day.” While Wren tried to joke, Alicia couldn’t help but feel contrite.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Ali.” Wren sighed. “It wasn’t your fault, you should know that. There were so many other people that made bad decisions last night. You definitely weren’t one of them.”

  “Why would he hurt Jason though?”

  “Grief does strange things to people. Given that it’s hasn’t been long since he lost Xander and the history between him and Isobel, it’s no wonder he lashed out.”

  “You know Callan was kissing Isobel last night too?” Nell asked Wren.

  “If I know anything about Isobel, my guess is that it was the other way around. I know for a fact that Callan cares very deeply for you; he never felt for Isobel how he feels about you.” Alicia went to speak, but Wren stopped her. “Yes, I know that sounds like drunken-night-before-a-wedding talk, Aidy swears he was genuine. We spoke about it for hours last night when we should have been consummating our marriage.” Wren gave a wry smile.

  “I don’t know what to think.” Alicia was at a loss. Every time something felt wrong between her and Callan, it had something to do with Isobel. She wasn’t sure if she could go back to him and wait for it to happen again. She loved what she did at The Unbound Soul. Would she be able to continue working there if she wasn’t with Callan? She needed some time on her own to think. “I have my stuff over at Callan’s place. Would one of you go and pick it up?” Her voice came out very small and thin as she looked between Nell and Wren.

  “You should at least talk to him first,” said Wren. She cast a glance towards Nell.

  Nell returned Wren’s look. “Wren and I could go together?”

  “Please? Would you?” Alicia looked between her two friends. They didn’t really know each other although it looked like they would stick by her when she needed them the most.

  The two women nodded. “Of course,” they said in unison.

  Wren gave her a final hug, then headed off with Nell. Alicia sank down beneath the covers again and pulled the duvet around her, safe and cocooned. Whatever happened next, she knew she had good friends to support her.

  Callan lay prone on the bed and stared at the ceiling. His whole body hurt, especially the knuckles of his right hand. He hadn’t slept, the events of the previous evening swirling around his brain: how he’d hit both Jason and Aidy, the cake, Isobel, and where Alicia was. He pulled a pillow over his head and screwed up his eyes, wanting the pain to go away. The intercom buzzed incessantly, and for a moment, Callan wanted to ignore it. The thought that it might be Alicia propelled him out of bed to answer it.

  “Callan, it’s me. Can I come up?”

  “Sure.” He pressed the buzzer and went to the front door, leaving it open.

  He stood in the centre of his living room, clad in a pair of boxers, waiting. When Aidy walked in, Callan couldn’t help but be drawn to the blackening around his eyes and the small scab that had formed on the bridge of his nose.

  “Shit, Aidy, I’m…”

  Aidy held up his hand. “Wren’s grateful we’d had the photos done. We need to talk, but I can’t do that with you half-naked in front of me.”

  Callan nodded wordlessly. He went back into his bedroom and pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. At least Aidy still wanted to talk to him. He had no idea if Alicia did.

  When he got back into the living room, Aidy was standing in the kitchen area, spooning coffee into two mugs.

  “I thought you might need this,” he said. “I was going to bring bacon sandwiches, then I thought what an utter bastard you were yesterday, and I didn’t think you deserved it.”

  Callan sank down onto the sofa and put his head in his hands. He couldn’t argue. “I really am sorry for what happened. I didn’t mean for you to get involved or to ruin the cake.”

  Aidy rubbed his beard. “Yeah, I know you didn’t, mate. I had no idea Jason was planning to bring Isobel, and if I’d known, I would have politely asked him not to.” He reached for his own drink. “What the hell happened between you anyway? I’ve only heard Jason’s side of the story.”

  “Isobel wanted to make another go of things. I told her I’d moved on, then she launched herself at me.”

  “I had heard that bit.”

  “Who from? Jason? He wasn’t there when it happened.”

  “Alicia. Wren spoke to her this morning.”

  At the mention of her name, Callan’s head snapped up. His chest constricted. He had thought of little else all night. Had she seen what Isobel had done? Was that why she fled the wedding? He jumped up, grabbed his phone from where it was charging, and switched it on. There were several messages—at least three from Isobel—none of them from Alicia. He dialled her number and listened as it went straight to voicemail. The words he needed to say wouldn’t come, and he hung up without leaving a message.

  The intercom buzzed, interrupting his train of thought.

  “Callan? It’s Wren. I’m here with Ali…”

  Immediately he hit the button to let them in. If Alicia had come to see him, that must mean she cared. Or at least wanted to find out what had happened the previous evening. He tried to formulate the right thing to say to her, to explain everything. He opened the door and saw Wren standing with a blonde woman who looked a little familiar.

  Wren gave him a swift hug as she entered. “This is Nell, Alicia’s best friend.”

  “Hi, yes, I think I’ve seen you meet Ali for lunch a handful of times.” He looked out into the hallway. “Is she with you?”

  Nell shook her head. “She asked us to come and pick up her things.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “If by that you mean sobbing her heart out, not eating, and refusing to see you, then yes, she’s okay.” Nell’s tone was deservedly harsh. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  Unable to speak, he pointed to the door. He felt Aidy and Wren watching him. “I should go help Nell.” He found her pulling out clothes from drawers and wardrobes.

  “Is this what Alicia wants?” he asked.

  Nell faced him, her eyes blazing. “It’s what she needs right now.” She carried on searching through the cupboard, then turned back to him. “You’re an idiot, Callan. She’s in love with you and you spent last night making out with the ex you claim to have no feelings for. What is she supposed to think?”

  “Isobel kissed me! I don’t have any feelings for her and there’s no way I’d get back with her.”

  “Doesn’t sound like it from what Ali told me.”

  Nell pushed past him and headed into the bathroom. Callan followed her.

  “Can I come over and talk to her?”

  “No.” Nell stuffed the remainder of Alicia’s cosmetics into the bag and elbowed him out of the way.

  When he got back into the living room, the three of them were in quiet conversation.

  “Guys, what can I do to make this right?”

  “You need to decide what you want.” It was Wren who finally answered him. “I think you have a lot of making up to do with Alicia, right, Nell?”

  “Right.” Nell nodded in agreement.

  “And you need to cut all ties with Isobel. All the bad stuff seems to come back to her,” added Aidy. His tone was measured and had the most impact.

  There
weren’t any ties to cut, thought Callan. I have no feelings towards her anymore, at least not in that way.

  “We’re leaving now,” said Aidy. “Wren and I are going to find a cheap deal on a hotel in London and then we will have a slap-up dinner and get really, really drunk. You’re going to pay for it. It’s the least you can do. I’ll message you how much you owe me.” He embraced Callan briefly.

  Once they had left, Callan wandered around the flat looking for any trace of Alicia. Nell had done a thorough job—maybe not for the first time. It was as if Alicia had never been there. He sank down on the sofa and curled up into the foetal position, clutching his knees to his chest. The futility of the situation enveloped him, and he didn’t know what to do to change it.

  17

  It had been little over a week since the wedding and Alicia had spent almost the entire time hiding out in her room at Nell’s flat. She had switched her phone on occasionally, only to be bombarded by messages and voicemails—most of them silent—from Callan. Every attempt he made to contact her had been ignored or deleted. Nell had told Callan that Alicia wouldn’t be going back to work for the foreseeable future and to not come by the flat. So far, he had obeyed.

  Now she was back in the same situation she had been a few short weeks ago, unemployed and single. Maybe it had been a bad decision to work for a person she was—scratch that, had been—attracted to. It was time to decide what she was going to do next.

  Earlier that day, Alicia had received a message from someone she had previously worked with, saying there might be an opening in their London office if she was interested. She was seriously tempted to find out more.

  “Think about it though, Ali,” said Nell, “there’s either the commute or a stupid rent to pay. I’d miss you if you went.”

  Involuntarily, Alicia’s eyes filled with tears. Nell had been brilliant, leaving her alone when she needed space or being there when she needed company. Moving out would be horrible. They were bingeing on wine and noodles. Rory was working late, again, and Nell was pissed off with him, which gave her a good opportunity to rant.