Page 39 of I Knew You Were Trouble

I realise, for once in his life, Cal doesn’t have an immediate response. ‘Fine,’ he mumbles eventually.

‘So will you talk me through what happened?’

‘Nothing happened. I mean… the gig was at Madison Square Garden. It was an after-party. She walked in, we talked for a bit, we kissed a few times before she racked off home. The next day our picture’s in the paper and bam, her tweet’s gone viral. End of story.’

‘Did you approach her that night, or did she come up to you?’

‘I don’t remember.’

‘Try to think back, Cal.’

He’s quiet for a moment. ‘I think I went over to her. She was with her mates; I offered to get ’em all drinks.’

‘But what made you single her out? Did you find her attractive?’

He goes quiet for a moment. ‘I mean, I’d watched her show. Knew who she was. Thought she was hot. And not just everyday hot, you know, like… a knockout. On another level gorgeous. Like, the kind of girl you’d walk over hot coals just to get to know properly.’

‘And do you think she felt the same way about you?’

‘You read the tweet, didn’t ya? I mean, obviously not.’

‘But you think she kissed you willingly?’

‘I’m a member of Rebel Heart, love, most girls kiss me willingly.’

‘So what made her different to the other girls you’ve kissed?’

He falters, shifting in his seat. ‘I dunno, we talked about shit. Seemed like we had a lot in common. Which is weird, you know, ’cause I’m this bogan from Bondi and she’s a hot New York princess, but somehow, we had a connection. I could feel it.’

‘Then why do you think she left without saying goodbye?’

‘How should I know? Said she felt guilty for not hanging out with her mates. I couldn’t find her. Next thing I know, we’re on the front page of the bloodyNew York Post.’

‘What was your reaction? To the tweet, when you read it?’

He runs one hand around the back of his neck. ‘Pissed off, you know? Felt like being in the damn playground again when I was a kid, the other kids making fun of my crazy hair’n shit. Okay, so she wasn’t attracted to me, I read the signals all wrong. But she didn’t have to say that, you know. What she said. It was a… a mean thing to say.’

‘What would you say to Bianca Lawson if you were ever to see her again?’

He’s quiet for another moment. ‘I wouldn’t say anything to that bitch. I wouldn’t even talk to her.’

‘Do you ever think about Bianca, Cal?’

His raises his head, his eyes flashing, as if I’ve overstepped the mark, before he rubs the bridge of his nose, muttering in a low tone, ‘Yeah, a bit. Prolly more than I should.’

When Cal is gone, Meredith, Duncan and I watch the last section of his interview on a laptop.

‘It’s really good,’ Meredith says with a grin, when I hit the pause button. ‘I meanreallygood. Caleb opening up about Bianca Lawson is… well, it’s unprecedented.’

‘I’d like to talk to her. Get her side of the story. Do you think you could try and get in touch with her, or her people?’

‘Oh my god. Do you wanna interview her?!’

‘If she’d agree to it. Maybe when the tour hits New York?’

‘I can definitely reach out.’

‘Just don’t tell anyone. And if she agrees, Caleb can never know.’

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