It was like Troy fucking Carson all over again.
I blinked to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
Both Andy and Jason had sent me the same grainy image from a gossip site which showed Saff locking lips with Scott Lincoln.
Except, when she’d been with Troy we were nothing.
My hangover kicked in with perfect timing as I glared at the picture, scanning the brief article beneath it. It speculated on the relationship between Scott and Saff, teasing whether something serious was going on between them. There was no mention of my name.
Jealousy and anger fought for the top spot as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. It took all of my willpower not to get on a train to Cardiff and demand to know what the fuck was going on.
By the time I got downstairs for breakfast, I was on the verge of making Uncle Col and I late.
Aunt Annie stood in the kitchen, pouring hot water into our mugs for tea. As she turned, I saw her mouth was set in a hard line.
“I knew she’d be no good for you,” she said, pushing the toaster button down with such force it was a wonder it didn’t shatter.
“What are you talking about?” I don’t know why I asked. I knew exactly what she meant.
“That… girl.” Aunt Annie shook her head and stirred the tea. “I’ve seen the picture of her and the other singer. All over each other they were, it’s disgusting. No way to treat you at all.”
I wished I had some explanation for it. Anything to take the blame away from Saff. But her lack of radio contact had to go some way to asserting her guilt. Otherwise she would have warned me about it, wouldn’t she?
Thoughts churning through my brain, I sat down at the table. At least I had something Aunt Annie would be happy to hear.
“Let’s not talk about Saff right now.” I changed the subject and reached for the cereal, pouring myself a healthy bowlful. “I’ve decided to meet my dad. Just to chat. I’m not promising we’re going to come out of it as best buddies or anything.”
“Oh, Tris, such wonderful news! I’m so glad you’ve decided to give him a chance.” She threw her arms around me and hugged me close to her. “I’m sure you’ll be able to work things out.”
I had no idea if we would be able to. But if it stopped him hassling me, then I was all for it.
Plus, it would stop me thinking about Saff.
Work dragged. We ended up being late in the end, not through any fault of mine. There was a horrible accident on the motorway and we were stationary for a good forty-five minutes. Shortly after we started work, we ran out of the paint we were using and the client hadn’t got any more. So I had to go to the nearest DIY store, desperately trying to find the exact match. The assistant wasn’t much use. I wished we’d been closer to home so Andy or Jason could have helped. He was attempting to convince me duck egg blue and eggshell blue were the same colour. Even though it was pretty hard to tell the difference, the client would know, and I wasn’t about to jeopardise any further work we might have with them. As I was about to pay, my phone rang. Expecting it to be Uncle Col wondering what was taking me so long, I went to answer it.
Saff’s name filled the screen.
I couldn’t risk talking to her now.
I didn’t want to hear about her and Scott Lincoln.
I didn’t want to hear how it was a drunken mistake.
I didn’t want to know I was nothing to her again.
Without answering, I put the phone back in my pocket.
It rang again a few minutes later while I was putting the paint tins in the van. She was persistent, obviously desperate to talk to me. I ignored her.
When it started one more time, I took a deep breath and stabbed the accept call button.
“What do you want?” I snapped.
“Is that any way to speak to your father?” Louis laughed. “I thought you were happy to meet me?”
“Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
“Expecting Saff to call you, were you? Not surprised after her behaviour; she ought to be begging for your forgiveness.”
