Page 42 of Wild Tonic
Nate winced. That was the last thing he needed to hear. “I found a solo for that song. Do you want to hear it?”
“Now?”
“Yeah, you wanna come over?”
“You’ve been smoking, haven’t you?”
He heard Alik say something to Caro, though he couldn’t make out the exact words.
“Sure, I’ll be over in a few.”
While he waited for Alik to come over, he rolled another joint and lit up. He blew smoke up at the ceiling as he held his phone in front of his face, willing Clem to call him back. He needed to explain that he would never do anything to hurt her. When Alik knocked, he was sitting in the same position.
“Thanks for coming over, mate.” Nate pulled open the door to let him in.
“When did you get back? I thought you were staying down in Westbourne Deane for a while?” Alik followed him into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Nate joined him.
“I was.” Nate stared at his shoes. He knew Alik’s feelings towards Clem and was suddenly overcome by a wave of nervousness. “Got back late this afternoon. I, um, Clem and I.” He stopped, not knowing what to say.
“You’re over?” There was a sympathetic tone to Alik’s voice that Nate hadn’t expected. Balloons and party poppers, yes, not sympathy.
“I think so.”
“What happened?”
“God, it sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.” Nate brought up his head, so he could see Alik’s expression.
“Tell me. I promise not to judge.”
As Nate explained the whole fiasco with Anastasia, Alik listened, staying silent as he’d promised. He let Nate finish before passing comment.
“She’s clearly got an issue with this Anastasia person and overreacted. I’ve known you a long time, Nate, and I know you wouldn’t do anything like that.” He paused. “Despite what you may have got up to on the last tour. I know I’ve not spent enough time with Clem to know what she’s really like, I admit that, but she obviously means a lot to you. I don’t think I’ve seen you like this in a long, long time.”
Hearing those words, Nate sat up straighter. It was good to know that Alik was seemingly changing his mind about Clem. He hadn’t brought his best friend here to make him do that. “She means everything to me.” As he spoke the words, he realised that was the truth.
“Then you can’t leave it like this. Where is she now?”
“I don’t know. She could be at her flat, with her brother, anywhere. No-one will tell me.”
“You need to find her, tell her how you feel. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Easier said than done, thought Nate. He couldn’t give up now though.
The following afternoon, Nate was on his way to Clem’s mother’s place. He had contacted Leona and badgered her for that information, persuading her that he needed to put it right and wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Despite her protestations, she had finally caved.
The sat nav took him to a sprawling country pile, something akin to the properties featured inHomes & Gardens. It reminded him just how different he and Clem actually were. His heart banged in his chest. Was he making a mistake?
Nate reached for the massive bunch of flowers he’d picked up from an exclusive florist in North Ridge that Caro recommended to him, plus a small jewellery bag that contained a pair of earrings from a boutique in North Ridge that he knew Clem had been coveting for a while. He also had a bottle of champagne for good measure.
He hoped he would actually get to speak to her.
When Dean answered the door, a look of shock crossing his features, Nate knew that he instantly recognised who he was.
“Dean, good to see you again,” he said, keeping his tone even.
“Nate, hi. This is… unexpected.”
“Is Clem here?”
