Page 40 of Set Me On Fire

“No, I’ve got other plans,” I told him, “but have a good one yourself, Boss.”

Everyone went home for Christmas,and while I didn’t know where Millie lived now, I did know where her parents’ house was. My family home was only streets away. Instead of dropping in to see Mum and Dad, I put on a nice shirt, scrapedmy hair back from my face, and sprayed on what was probably too much aftershave. Staring into the mirror, I could still see him, that skinny kid who let every bastard push him around, but with a blink, I knew I wasn’t him anymore. Maybe we could start again. Maybe Millie only meant to block Charlie. Maybe we could pretend none of that shit happened, at either party.

There comes a time when the pain of staying where you are outweighs the pain of moving forward, that was what my personal trainer had said to me, and that’s where I was now. I picked up the massive bouquet of flowers and the box of chocolates I’d grabbed last minute and then headed for the door.

I want to say I headed straight to Millie’s parents front door when I arrived, but I didn’t. Nut up or shut up, it sounded so simple, but none of those words took into account the fucking fear coursing through my veins. It was do or die time. Today I would know whether she cared at all for me or had left all that shit behind in high school. That had me forcing my car door open and then walking up their front path. My hand lifted of its own accord, all that adrenaline having to go somewhere, and I knocked on the door.

My pulse beat even faster as I heard footsteps, but I held my ground. I’d been through tougher shit than this. I could handle rejection, the look of confusion, then distress in Millie’s eyes. If she wasn’t into me, I’d just turn around and?—

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Hayden, or was it Hunter, looked me up and down with the same disgust on his face from all those years ago.

“Who the…?” The other twin appeared, and his brows jerked down as his hands turned to fists. “Oh, nah, no fucking way.”

“I need to see Millie,” I said, because things were different. I wasn’t a dumb kid anymore, and the ferocious reputation of theMcDonald twins was nothing to me. They were nothing to me. “I just want to talk?—”

“I think you’ve done enough, don’t you?” one of them snarled as they both walked out of the door.

I didn’t want to give ground, not one inch, but it was either that or cause a fight on Millie’s parents front lawn on Christmas Day. I backed off enough to let them face me down, then straightened to my full height. Watching them forced to look up at me was worth the price of admission, but getting revenge was not part of my plan.

“I just want to give her these, and if she doesn’t want me around, then I’ll go.”

They looked at the flowers then the chocolates, as if seeing them for the first time, then moved as one. Each item was snatched from my grip, bringing back memories I never willingly thought about. My bag ripped from my shoulder; my books knocked out of my hands… I shook them off and focussed on them.

“We’ll make sure Mills gets them,” one of the twins sneered, both of them backing off abruptly, and that’s when I made my mistake. I was squaring up, ready to fight the pricks, but they were beating a hasty retreat. The door was wrenched open and they were back inside in seconds. “Now piss off before we call the cops.”

I rushed forward, but the door was slammed in my face.

Nut up or shut up, I kept on hearing that in my head, my heart beating faster now due to anger, not fear. Millie was a grown woman. It was up to her if she wanted to give me the brush off, not her Neanderthal brothers. I stepped back from the house, scanning the facade, looking for signs of her, but not finding them.

Creating a scene on Christmas Day was no way to approach a woman, but what those idiots didn’t realise was there was a cardattached to the flowers. It had my contact details, a message, everything in there, but I wasn’t leaving it to fate to try and get through to Millie. I opened my contacts and tapped out a simple message, sending it to her without allowing myself second thoughts.

Can we talk?

I let out a long sigh. She’d either reply or she wouldn’t, and then I’d know. Nodding, I turned towards my car and got in, driving over to my parents’ place.

Chapter 23

Millie

Four weeks later

Christmas Day

“Heyy…” I said, coming in the back door to Mum and Dad’s with bags of groceries and presents.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re here.” Mum was all a flutter again. She rushed over and kissed my cheek. “I need you in the kitchen. Your father was supposed to help devein the prawns last night, but he ended up having one too many beers with the neighbours. I’ve got coleslaw and potato salad to make. Did you get the mayonnaise?”

“Yes, Mum…” I sighed.

She looked up and frowned, as if seeing me for the first time.

“You look pale and you’ve got big bags around your eyes.” She started reaching up to put her hand against my forehead, but I just jerked away.

“Um… thanks?”

“You look terrible.”

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