Page 48 of Elijah
We’d had more than a couple of drinks with the guys and while Sam hadn’t exactly thawed around me, he was certainly being a little friendlier than when he’d first arrived. It still didn’t stop my stomach churning when we found ourselves alone – Marty, Bob, and Anthony having left to go and get an Indian take away, Rachel in the ladies and Elijah at the bar.
I looked around the club, trying to find something that I could appear to be interested in, but it was a sea of people dancing or drinking, nothing remarkable at all. It was such hard work trying to find something to fill the silence with, that I had decided I might escape to the loo myself when Sam finally spoke.
“It hurt us all you know,” he said, pushing his beer bottle into the middle of the table.
I turned to face him. “Sorry.”
“When you left without even talking to him; it hurt all of us. Mum and Dad were devastated, you were like a daughter to them, despite the fact that they never really showed you. I,” he said, poking a finger at his chest, “I lost my friend, so you didn’t only leave him, you left us all.”
My eyes dropped to the floor, examining my black studded ankle boots. I’d never, ever considered what my actions had done to everyone else; but had Elijah either?
“My family were gutted too, Sam,” I finally said, glancing over my shoulder to check Elijah wasn’t coming back. “What happened hurt them, especially Matty, he adored Eli.”
“He says he didn’t do it, Amy,” Sam breathed out, his tone a little softer than it had been. “And you know, knowing how he felt about you, how…well, let’s just say, I believe him.”
“I saw them, Sam,” I protested. “With my own eyes.”
He nodded. “I know, but I can’t help thinking that there was more to it. I doubt he could have held his head up, he was that pissed, never mind his cock.”
I couldn’t help but smile. It was typical of Sam to try and find some humour in any situation.
“It’s in the past,” I replied. “He’s moved on and he seems happy now.”
Recognising that fact hurt more than I cared to admit, but what did I expect, that he’d wait for me until I calmed down and decided to let him explain things?
Sam paused the beer bottle at his lips and shrugged. “And that remains to be seen, Amy.”
I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but knew it wasn’t my place. We were having a friendly drink to celebrate finishing what had been a busy few weeks working alongside each other, that was all this was and I had to accept that.
“Here you go.” A tattooed arm reached around me and placed a couple of drinks on the table.
I turned and smiled up at Elijah. “Thank you, but you didn’t need to.”
“I wanted to congratulate you on a job well done, so yes, I really did. Oh and FYI Sam, Hannah Brown just walked in.”
Sam groaned. “Oh fuck, that’s all I need.”
“You’re not still after her are you?” I asked, giggling. “You were trying to get into her knickers at-.” I stopped speaking because it’d been the night of the dreaded party.
Elijah shifted at my side and placed a bottle in front of his brother. “I don’t think he’s feeling it any more, are you Sam?”
I breathed out on a shaky smile. “Why is that?” I asked, thankful for Elijah half changing the subject.
“She wants a husband and I’m not willing, apart from which she talks about her bloody dog all the time.”
We all started to laugh and conversation was a little easier by the time Rachel re-joined us.
* * *
“So, what’s your next job?” Elijah asked, as we distractedly watched Sam dancing with a tall, blonde girl. Rachel was standing with some friends from her work, chatting animatedly to them, leaving Elijah and I alone.
“Scotland, would you believe.”
Elijah’s eyes widened. “Scotland. How long for?”
I thought I detected disappointment in his voice but was probably imagining it. Maybe it was wishful thinking.
“A month. It’s a hotel that is being refurbished.”
