Page 62 of Degrees of Control

Holly assumed a holier-than-thou expression. “George and I had an open relationship.”

“Yeah and neither of you knew about it.”

“Anyway,” Holly said loudly. “You should call this man and forgive him for whatever asshole thing he’s done. He seems really into you and he’s clearly wealthy. God knows after Psycho Dale you could really use a win.”

“Mmm.”

“At least just call him and tell him we all appreciate the food. He’s probably freaking out wondering what you’re thinking.”

Charlie looked down at the table. Amazingly, Holly was right. It wasn’t kind to let James stew. His gifts were sweet but they were clearly the actions of a man throwing money at a situation, unsure of what else to do. She walked out into the empty reception area, picked up her phone and called him. He answered after one ring. “Hey, Charlotte.”

“Hey, James.”

There was a long pause, like they were both considering what the hell they’d gotten themselves into.

“Thanks for lunch and the locks and the flowers,” she said. “That was really kind of you.”

“I’m glad you liked it. Not that it makes up for anything. Can I see you tonight?”

Charlie hesitated.

“Not for sex or anything, I swear, I just really want to talk. Explain myself. Apologise. I won’t talk about it now, I’ll wait ‘till we’re together. We could meet in public or I could come to your place. Whatever you want. Whatever you think is best.”

It was very strange to hear James rambling and floundering his words but it made the last of her reservations melt away. Whatever his motive for buying her so many things was, it wasn’t insincere and shedidwant to talk to him.

“I’ll meet you in Ruby’s at around eight o’clock?”

“Sounds good.” James sounded relieved. “Baby, about this morning…”

“Like you said, let’s talk about it in person.” She couldn’t start crying at work, her eyes would go all red and people would undoubtedly notice.

“All right. But for the record, those pancakes looked fucking amazing.”

Charlie was obviously sleep-deprived, because even those irrelevant words made her want to weep.

After work, she waited for James at her regular booth, pretending to write a lesson plan but really doodling in the margins thinking stupid, impossible, wonderful things. James Hunter had sent her flowers and fixed her apartment door, he’d spent the night and bought her whole studio lunch. Surely he wanted something more from her than to play landlord for a couple of weeks?

Easy, Bell, don’t get too ahead of yourself.

A man’s shadow fell over her table and a million butterflies took flight in Charlie’s belly. She looked up and her excitement melted away.

“I thought I’d find you here,” her ex sneered.

Charlie returned her attention to her notepad. “Hi, Dale.”

Dale had always been gorgeous with his wavy hair and intricate sleeve tattoos. It was strange to look at him now and feel nothing but weariness. He twirled a CD in his long, drummer’s fingers, the same fingers that once gripped her arm so hard it bruised. He’d thought she was flirting with the sound guy at one of his gigs and had dragged her outside in front of everyone to ask if she liked embarrassing him. It had been weeks since she’d seen him and she’d foolishly begun to hope the absence was permanent. Unfortunately, Ruby’s was always their hangout when they were together and the neutral territory afforded him endless opportunities to confront her.

Be cool, the sooner he says his piece the sooner he buggers off.

He placed the plastic square on top of her notepad, demanding Charlie’s attention. “I found this next to my spare bike chain. I wanted to bring it back for you.”

She stared down at the CD as though she could see her lesson plan through it. “Okay, cheers, man.” Clearly, returning his own copy ofMelon Collie and the Infinite Sadnesshad not been his primary motive for coming here. There was a long silence in which Charlie hoped her ex-boyfriend had dissolved.

“I heard you’re going out with someone else.”

She looked up and saw Dale’s face had twisted into the sneer that was always waiting behind his easy smile. “That’s none of your business.”

“It used to be my business, before you dumped me to go fuck total strangers.”

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