California Secrets

Chapter 7

"Yeah mum, I love it here" I talk into my laptop camera as I see my mums face relax over the Skype call.

"Met any friends? Oh and where's Catherine?" I look at the clock, my stomach rumbling as I wait for my pizza to arrive.

"She's on a date with a guy called Ash. I went on a double date with them and his brother Dylan about a week ago" I shrug, hoping my mum will think its no big deal and drop it. Yeah right. My mums face lights up, knowing that when I found out John had been cheating on me for most of out 8 months relationship I didn't want anything to do with guys.

"How did that go?" She asks with a soft smile.

"He said he would call. He didn't. Nothing knee there." I say quietly.

"Well, do you like him?" She pushes on and I sigh

"I hardly know him. But I thought he was sweet and nice and" I stop when the doorbell rings. I turn back to the laptop

"Gotta go, tell everyone I love them yeah?" My mum nods

"Of course sweetie, I love you" I can see the tears in her eyes and I feel some prick in mine. I end the Skype call, before rushing to answer the door. I open it and stop.

Dylan.

He looks up from his phone and stares at me. I smile slightly, not wanting him too see how much it bugged me that he didn't call like he said.

"Let me get the money" I say quietly, disappearing back into the room and grabbing my purse. I come back and give what I owe him, adding him an extra $5 because he was early. Dylan shakes his head

"Mary I'm sorry" he says quietly, handing me the tip money back. I look at him and clear my throat

"What for? You brought my food with 10 minutes to spear" I joke weakly, taking in what he's wearing. A red shirt, black trousers and a red and black hat. Pizza boy outfit?

"I said I would call. I didn't." He keeps his head down, having hardly looked at me. I dip my head down to meet his eyes and he sighs, looking up. I now know why he didn't want to look at me. Not because of the clothes I'm in, or what I look like, no. Dylan had a black eye. I bite my lip, stepping forward to run my fingertips over it ever so slightly. He pulls back and I shake my head

"Sorry, its none of my business. But have you put ice on that? Bruising cream?" I ask quietly and nod when he shakes his head.

"I can't" he says quietly, looking down. I shake my head

"Course you can." I check the time, seeing its just gone 8.

"When do you finish?" he shrugs

"I work for my dad, and he would be angry if I was late to a delivery." I bite my lip. Could his dad have done that to his eye?

"Come here when you've finished. I don't care what time it is, come back here. That's one nasty bruise" I point to his eye. He smiles slightly for a second

"I've been looking for an excuse to come around, but I didn't think this would be the way to get out." I smile slightly

"my door is always open. Unless I'm sleeping. Its shut then." I say with a small laugh and he laughs too.

"I'll be back" he promises me before heading quickly off down the hall to the elevator. I shut my door and shut down at the sofa, my mind screaming at me to not get involved. I open the box, shutting it when my appetite leaves me.