Page 35 of Crazy in Love

“Well, Saylor has cancelled, and it would save me a headache for tomorrow. I already have a headache now, so might as well let them both make it worse, and let tomorrow be a new day,” I tell him as I start laughing.

“Let me know if you need me to bail you out.” David walks out of the office.

I grab my phone and ring Saylor, hoping she picks up the phone, but she doesn’t. I could ask Anika if she knows where she has gone.

Could I go over to see if she is okay? When the fuck did I become this man that worries about a girl when she says she can’t see me. When did Saylor become the only girl I can think about?

* * *

I tried calling Saylor a few times, but it kept ringing to her voicemail, then I thought she would see my missed calls and call me back. Still nothing.

Now, after not talking to Saylor all day, I don’t really fancy this dinner, which my mother has planned, but she has called me enough times. It was either I come over, or she will come to my house, and will come every day until I sit and have a full dinner with them.

I walk into the house and groan as I hear the Adams. Maybe I should have asked David to bail me out.

I see my dad talking to Rick. Well, at least Bruce isn’t here, so there is one plus to the night.

“Son, you made it.” My dad turns to me.

“Didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.” Taking the drink off my dad, saying hello to Rick, I look for my mum, so that she knows I’m here and can’t moan I was late.

I head into the kitchen and see that Cathy and Vic are both making themselves at home. “Mum, smells good in here.” I give her a kiss on the cheek, then turn to Vic and Cathy.

“Well, if you came home more, you would have a nice meal more often.” Didn’t take long for her to start making me feel bad. If the Adams were over less, then maybe I would come around more, but until she stops with me and Cathy, I’m not coming.

“I will be outside with Dad.” I leave as I already hear them saying that Cathy and I need to meet up to plan the casino night.

Rolling my eyes as I join my dad, he gives me a smirk. “You knew that this was going to be the night?” I whisper to him, and he starts laughing. “Thanks for the heads up.” I drink the rest of my whiskey and look over at Cathy setting up the table.

God, she is really sucking up to my mother. I let out a small chuckle to myself. If I brought Saylor here, my mother would rip her apart. For more than one reason; the age gap, mostly, but the fact that she’s not Cathy would be the biggest one of them.

“She’s has been giving me a headache for two weeks, I think I deserve a day off.” My dad pats me on the back and starts laughing at me, and Rick looks over at us, wondering what the joke is.

“I will give you the day off,” I tell him, and change the subject so Rick doesn’t ask what we are talking about.

I have to give it to my dad. No matter how much my mother nags him, is on his case about one thing or the other, sometimes pushes him to breaking point, he’s still with her, married, and I want to say happy for most part of it. He smiles every day, it must mean something.

“Dinner is ready,” Cathy tells us.

“I hope you’re staying for the whole dinner,” Rick utters as he walks past me.

I tut as I make my way over to the table. This is going to be one long dinner, if these are some of the comments coming my way. Without looking at my phone, I send it to voicemail. If it’s David, and it’s important he will call my other phone, and if it’s Saylor, I will call her later. It rings again, and I look at who is calling.

“I’m at mums,” I tell Lee as I answer the phone. I watch my mum walking around the table and take the phone from me.

“I don't know who this... Lee, it’s nice to know you’re still breathing... how are you?... I will give him the phone.” My mum taps me on the shoulder and hands me the phone. “Tell him he better come home soon.”

I give her a nod. “Mum said to come back home.” I tell him, and he starts laughing.

“How the fuck did you end up there for dinner?” Lee starts laughing. I look around the table as they all stare at me, waiting for me to leave, but today, I’m going to show my mother I can get through a dinner with them, unless Saylor calls me, then I’m out of here.

“Mum wanted me over to talk about a charity event that Rick and Vic want to do, so here I am.” I take my drink, as I listen to Mum and Vic talking at the same time.

“Cathy?” he asks.

“You know the answer to that.” I smile.

“I still have to see this girl of yours too,” Lee tells me. He called a few times, but she wasn’t with me then.

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