13. C H E L S I E

THIRTEEN

C H E L S I E

“He did what now?” Ruby stands up from my bed, voice frantic as she clenches her fist by her side after I’ve just spent the last hour rehashing Simon’s not-so-pleasant visit to the bakery. “Oh, I’m going to kill him!”

She grinds her teeth against one another, clenching her fists till her knuckles turn stark white. “I’m going to grab him by the neck, slam him down, and repeatedly smack some God damn sense into him. Does he know who he’s messing with here? Huh? Does he?” she asks, cocking her head to the side. “Does he know that I’m a certified black belt when it comes to anyone who lays a hand on my sister?!”

I wince at the sight of her face turning into a fluorescent shade of red, reminding me of the reason my parents called her Ruby. They said she came out of the womb redder than a tomato—I guess some things never change.

“Are you done now?” I question, hopeful that we’re approaching the tail end of what I’m calling “Ruby’s rage”.

She has every right to be angry. Christ, I’m fuming myself. I just can’t bring myself to show it.

“No, I'm not done!” she protests. “I’m only just getting started,” she speaks, voice full of newfound confidence. “I’m gonna find this guy, Chelsie, and when I do, I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind.” She looks towards the door. “You know what? I’m gonna go find him now.”

“ Now? ”

“Yes, now.” She strides her way over to the bedroom door, only coming to a halt when I scream out her name.

“Ruby!” I plead—my mind and body far too exhausted to go after her. “Just come and sit back down with me. I just… I just need you to be here with me right now. Please .”

With her hand still clutched onto the doorknob, she slowly softens her shoulders, peering at me with a solemn look.

“ Please ,” I beg once more, voice breaking.

“Oh, Chels.” She quickly paces her way back over to my side and wraps me up in her warm embrace. “I’m so sorry,” she speaks into my hair. “Really, I’m so sorry.”

I peel myself back, voice weak as I speak. “For what?” I question, sniffing back my emotion. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

Ruby places the backside of her hands onto her cheeks in an attempt to cool herself down. “For so many things...” She slumps her shoulder. “Like for not being there when you needed me today. I should’ve just waited until after we closed shop to pick up those eggs.”

I shake my head. “How would you have known he was going to show up?” I ask. “Nobody could have predicted that. It’s not your fault, Ruby.”

She sighs. “Well, what’s the excuse for completely missing the signs that you were suffering? For not being a good big sister to you, huh? I feel terrible. It’s always been my job to protect you, and I dropped the ball. I messed up.”

“Stop.” Now I’m the one soothing her, reaching for her hands and demanding her attention. “You didn’t know, Ruby. No one knew what was going on between Simon and me. I made sure of it. And besides, you’ve always been the best big sister in the world to me. I mean, look at what you’re doing for me right now. You’re keeping me safe. You’re allowing me to start over. You’ve given me a place in your home.”

She joins me in wiping away a few tears, not only from her own face but from mine as well.

“Look at us.” She shakes her head, scoffing in laughter. “We’re a bunch of marde arses, crying like this. We’re strong.” She pinches onto the apple of my cheek. “ You’re strong .”

I lean into her palm, receptive to her words as she carries on. “It just kills me that you were dealing with this all alone, Chelsie. How come you didn’t tell me? You know I would’ve done something to help. You know I would’ve sorted this out.”

I sigh, shaking my head as she pulls back. This isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation, and still, even after much reflection, my answer hasn’t changed.

“I don’t know,” I admit, although I do. “I wanted to tell you, Ruby. I did. But I…” I fall back into my pillow. “I was just scared. You know what Simon’s family is like. You know what he’s like, and I thought that if I said anything, he would just make our lives miserable. I’m still afraid of that.”

She lies down beside me, planting a kiss on my forehead. “I don’t give a toss about Simon or his family. Let them make my life miserable. I don’t care. I’d rather have that than have your life be miserable instead. Have you stuck with that abusive dickhead.”

I turn to face her, watching as she flashes me a pained smile. “Everything will be okay,” she reassures me, brushing some hair away from my face. “I promise you, Chelsie. It will.”

I release a breath. Lying down beside Ruby reminds me of our childhood. We’ve always been close like this. She’s always been the person who’s been there for me, and truthfully, regardless of time, distance, or any tribulations, nothing has come in between the two of us.

Nothing .

“You don’t think he’ll tell Mum and Dad that I’m here with you, do you?” I can’t help but wonder what’s next on Simon’s list of irrational things to do. He’s already called my parents once. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does it again.

Ruby tightens her brows. “I don’t know, Chels, but if he does, I’ll just tell them that you were here visiting. I’ve got your back, little sis. I always will.”

I smile. Ruby’s always had a way of calming me down, and God, I love her for it.

“I love you, Ruby.” I lean my head against her shoulder, nestling in close.

She settles beside me. “I love you too, Chelsie.”

For a while, we lie in solitude, basking in the silence of a once frantic and tearful room until Ruby finally speaks up.

“Hey, Chels?” She forces me to lift my head up from leaning against her shoulder so that I peer into her eyes. I always thought it was funny that she got brown and I got blue.

“Yeah?” I ask suspiciously, given that those deep orbs now possess a look of mischief.

“Tell me, whatever happened to that guy?”

I narrow in my stare. “‘That guy?’” I repeat back to her. “What guy?”

“You know…” She nudges my shoulder. “The one that’s been coming by the shop every day this week?” She tightens her lip into a devious smirk. “Remind me of his name again? Gary Wilkinson was it?—”

“Alright, Miss. Nosy.” I sit up on my bed, interrupting the conversation. “It’s time for you to go now.”

“Hey!” she protests, sitting up alongside me with her arms folded in a huff. “Don’t I deserve to know? After all, all of this canoodling has been happening in my bakery.”

I stand up from the mattress, shaking my head in laughter as I work my way towards my dresser. “I wouldn’t call what has transpired this past week ‘canoodling’ by any means.”

“Then what would you call it, then?” She joins me by my side, leaning against my drawers before I can even open them up. “‘Cause it sure as hell looks like he likes you to me. I mean, flowers, books, drinks, a seranation?! The boy is practically whipped.”

“Ruby.” I flash her a stare, though the reminder of his generous gestures can’t help but bring a smile to my lips, one I shy away from. “ Stop .”

“What? Why?” She starts to pout. “You’ve got one of the hottest guys in town groveling at your feet, and you’re completely acting like you don’t care.”

“Of course I care,” I quickly protest. “It’s just… it’s complicated, Ruby. That’s all. There’s a lot on my mind.”

Ruby releases a breath, tucking herself back into my side. “Listen, take some advice from your big sister, okay? Never allow anyone to stand in the way of you finding your true happiness. You hear me?”

I meet her eyes, ones that continue to stare deep into my soul. “When did you become so philosophical, huh?”

She playfully purses her lips, releasing me. “When I saw that my little sister might be missing out on experiencing something special.”

We look at each other as I try to comprehend her words. Gary is special. I knew that from the moment he came banging on the bakery door, though I never would’ve thought we’d make it to this point. The point where I’d actually agree to go out on a date with him.

“Go. Get some rest.” Ruby seemingly drops Gary as the topic of conversation only just as it’s starting to pique my interest. “It’s been a long day, and you need to sleep.”

I allow her to pull back as she guides her way toward the bedroom door, but right before she’s about to leave, I reveal, “He’s taking me out tomorrow, you know…”

Ruby turns on her heels, eyes wide and full of delight as she flashes me a look of disbelief.

“What?” I smirk, walking back over to my bed with a clever look on my face. “Did I forget to mention that it was Gary who got Simon to leave?”

Her jaw drops.

“Chelsie!” She races back over to my side. “You’d better tell me everything. Every single detail. You hear me?”

“Fine,” I say as we lie back down, laughing as one. “Maybe I can stay awake a little bit longer.”

WILKS

“Wilks!” It’s Alf, the Assistant Coach of Crawfield FC, who rigorously shouts my name. Apparently it’s his turn to be on my case today since Coach granted him the liberty to run the remainder of practice—a practice that, mind you, has gone well over time. “Slow it down, lad,” he instructs. “You’re moving at a million miles a minute. Not everything needs to be so fast-paced.”

I huff out in frustration. I’m moving so quickly because, in my mind, it’s the only logical response to make this practice go by faster.

Coach, who now appears through the tunnel, seems to catch the tail end of Alf’s instructions, nodding his head in agreement. “You heard Alf,” he lectures, bringing his infamous whistle to his lips. “Let’s run the drill from the top. I want to see it again.”

The whole team bursts into a series of audible moans as Coach blows the whistle, though I seem to be the loudest as I’m last to join in on the drill.

“What’s going on with you, huh?” Coach looks right at me. “What are you groaning about?”

“I’m just ready for practice to be…” I find no sense of peace in carrying out the remainder of my sentence as I stare between both Coach and Alf’s unamused glares. “I’m just wondering what time it is, that’s all.” I change the question.

Alf’s the first to look down at his watch, ready to willingly grant me an answer, but it's Coach who stops him. “Why?” he asks. “Do you have somewhere more important that you’d rather be?”

Anxiety pulses its way through my chest. I know my answer should be, “No, of course not, Coach. Nothing is more important than being with the team right now.” But frankly, that’s not entirely true. Something else is just as important right now, if not more…

“Yeah, actually.” I regret my response the second it escapes my lips, but it’s too late now. I’ve already committed. “I do have somewhere I need to be.”

There’s a brief gap in conversation until Alf’s laughter breaks it. “Well, lookie here.” He peers up at Coach before he meets my eyes. “Let me guess, Wilks, you’ve got a hot date you can’t be late for?”

I sigh in defeat, watching as both Coach and Alf mutually shake their heads in amazement. I can’t blame them. This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve used a “date” as an excuse to get out of practice, but with full transparency, it’s the first time I’ve actually been so desperate to be on time.

I have to be .

I can’t let her down .

“It’s important,” I tell them both with a sense of sincerity. “I swear to you that I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t. Please.”

Coach assesses the look of urgency in my eyes, one that I can see reflected back at me through his eyes.

“ Please ,” I say once more.

He caves, chewing on his cheek as he momentarily peers down at his watch. “It’s half past five,” he tells me. “Slow it down like Alf asked you…” He looks back up. “And I’ll call it. Got it?”

I gulp, nodding my head. Coach can be a hard ass at times, but he’s nothing if not reasonable.

“Got it, Coach.”

Blowing into the whistle, he nods. “Right, boys,” he announces. “From the top!”

“Oi, Green. Hand me your deodorant!” I shout, frantically rushing my way into the changing room, a towel hardly secured around my waist as I try my best not to slip and fall.

“What?” He looks over at me in disgust. “I know we’re close, Wilks, but Christ mate, we’re not that close. Use your own deodorant!”

“Fuck off.” I run another towel through my wet hair. “I would if I could. I accidentally left mine at home. I’ll buy you a new one, I swear. Just let me use it!”

He huffs, rolling his eyes subsequently in frustration, yet tosses me his deodorant stick from across the room.

“Cheers.” I catch it in my hands, quickly rubbing it underneath my arms before I throw it into my duffle bag for safekeeping.

“Want to borrow our fucking underwear as well?” Hart chimes in with a snarkiness in his tone. “Jesus, Wilks, why are you in such a Goddamn hurry?”

I slip my shirt on over my head, searching for my underwear in my bag, one that, if I don’t find, Hart’s not-so-serious offer might actually come to fruition. There’s no way I’m showing up on a first date commando. That’s just asking for it to go terribly wrong.

“I have plans tonight,” I respond, scrummaging through my duffle bag. “Plans that I can’t be late for!”

Not only can I see Green and Hart look between themselves with piqued interest, but so do the other players who pile into the changing room.

“With who?” Green questions with a raise of his brow. “That birdie from the bar the other night?”

“She was fuckin’ fit, mate. You’re lucky you landed her,” Taylor, our team's keeper chimes in, prompting the others to mutually nod their head in agreement.

“No.” I disregard their interest in my love life, finally retrieving my underwear from my bag and slipping it on, in search of my trousers next. “Not her. Hell, I completely forgot she even existed until you just reminded me. I’m going out with someone else. Besides, why do you all care? ”

Hart flashes me a mischievous look. “Why are you so secretive? Usually, you’re the first one to gloat about whoever it is you’re seeing. And now you’re all tight-lipped? What’s that all about?”

The second I pull my trousers up and slip my socks over my feet, I reach for my shoes. I have no time to play these stupid little games despite being the first to instigate them whenever someone shares that they’ve got “big plans”.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

“I wonder who it is?” Green jumps back in, looking up in thought. “Is it that gymnast you were seeing? Or that Instagram model from a while back? Oh wait, maybe it’s that blondie who rejected you last week. Did she finally give you another chance?”

He hits the nail on the head, prompting me to halt in place.

Huge mistake.

Now, my stiff posture and silence is only that much more of an indicator that Green has guessed correctly…

“No way,” Hart laughs in delight. “Did you really manage to swing her? Fuck me …” he groans out, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. “I mean it. Tell her that I’d love her to?—”

“Shut the fuck up!” I shout, switching to tie the lace to my other shoe, yet they don’t. They just keep on going.

“Lads,” Green commands the attention of the room. “Listen up. When I tell you that this birdie was a solid ten, I’m not kidding. Even from across the street, you could see just how big her tits?—”

I clutch onto the collar of Green's jersey, pulling him in. “I said, shut the fuck up,” I grumble beneath my breath. “ Got it? ”

The changing room falls silent until I release Green’s shirt, and he stumbles back. “Relax, boyo,” he scoffs, raising both hands in defense. “We’re just messing about. Take it easy.”

“Yeah,” Hart agrees. “You need to calm down. No one wants to go on a date with something that snaps at the slightest thing. Get your shit together.”

I shoot them both daggering death glares. They both become the absolute worst combination in the very few instances that they decide to gang up on me and not each other.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes, shaking myself out of this mood as I secure my duffle bag over my shoulder and charge my way towards the exit.

“Have a good night, mate.” Green continues to test the waters, a playful yet suggestive look in his eyes.

“Yeah, we can’t wait to hear all about it,” Hart adds, prompting me to bite down on my tongue as I walk out of the changing room, hearing a series of snickers from the group as I fade into the distance.

I guess now I can finally understand why Coach got so heated that one time he caught us all gossiping about Delaney post-practice. Maybe this is karma coming back to bite me in the ass for instigating that.

I secure my bag over my shoulder once more, brushing the thought aside as I continue to race my way out to the car park. Once I reach the tarmac, I search for my car keys, all the while quickly checking my phone for the time.

6:45 PM.

Practice ended up going till six, and what can I say? Time escaped me once I got in the shower. That’s okay, though. I know I can still make it. Fifteen minutes is more than enough time.

I make a bee-line towards my car, a few yards away, when my name gets called out. “Wilks!” the voice shouts enthusiastically and with a southern twang.

Delaney .

“Hey.” She eagerly smiles in my direction once I turn my head to face her. “Would you mind helping me with some of these boxes?” she requests, waving me over. “They’re for a giveaway next week. I was going to package all the prizes up here, but I thought, why not just take them home and package them up there instead? Warren was helping me, but he had to run back inside to grab his briefcase. So, what do you say? Care to help a pregnant lady out?”

I relax my tense shoulders, momentarily staring down at my phone to assess the time yet again.

6:48 PM.

Shit. Why is time moving so fast?

I can’t be late, but Coach will kill me if he finds out that I didn’t help Delaney. Hell, it would haunt me all night if I knew I’d left her high and dry when she needed me.

I assess the boxes surrounding her. There can’t be more than ten, and if I’m quick, this should take me no longer than two minutes.

This is possible.

I can do this.

I flash her a quick smile. “Sure thing, Delaney.” I waste no time in briskly jogging across the car park and to her side. “Let me get those for you.”

“You’re the best,” she proclaims the second I reach her side and release my bag from my shoulder.

“It’s no trouble,” I tell her, grasping the first box. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

She smiles. “Right.”

“So, you want them in here?” I ask, gesturing to the boot of her car.

“Please,” she requests. “Just push them in. I’ll get Warren to unload later.”

I cheekily peer down at her very pregnant belly, desperate to play into this innuendo. “Didn’t he already do that?”

A flush of red rushes to her cheeks. “You’re so lucky I’m not going to tell him that.” She caresses along her stomach with a smirk. “Only because I find it hilarious.”

I laugh. At least she thinks I’m funny.

“How much longer do you have to go?” I can’t help but wonder, given that every time I see Delaney, her belly grows that much more. This is about to be the biggest baby in history.

“Four weeks,” she tells me, exhaustion in her voice. “I’m so ready to get this baby out of me.”

“Make sure Coach gets you a push present.” I quickly shove the remainder of the boxes into the boot at record speed.

She raises a brow. “‘A push present?’ How do you even know what that is, Wilks?”

“I have five siblings.” I close the boot, watching as she rubs along her stomach. “Trust me, I know what a push present is.”

“I’m impressed.” She nods. “Not just that you know that, but damn, that you were able to do that so quickly. What are you trying to do, set a record?”

“I’m in a hurry,” I tell her. “I’ve got important plans that I can’t be late for.”

“Important plans?” Delaney cocks her head to the side. “What kind of plans? Do they involve… a girl ?”

I meet her face with a tender smile. I know exactly what she’s trying to get at here, and if I’m being honest, she’s the only one I don’t mind talking to about this. Unlike the lads, she won’t blab it to everyone.

“Yes, Delaney, you got me. I have a date.”

Her eyes light up in delight.

“Oh my goodness.” She clasps her hands as one. “That’s awesome, Wilks. With who? Do I know her? What’s her name? What does she look like? Is she nice? Kind? Pretty? Well, of course she’s pretty, but I need to know everything. Give me all the details!”

I exhale—maybe this wasn’t a good idea to tell her after all. “ Delaney …” I attempt to speak, unsure how I'm going to even remotely satisfy even one of her questions within a normal timeframe.

She catches on. “Okay, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she apologizes. “I know you’re in a hurry. I’m just...” Her face is full of excitement. “So happy for you, Wilks! You deserve someone so special. You do.”

My heart softens at her words, she’s always had a way with them.

“Well, I can promise you this,” I tell her, eyes looking toward the ground as I speak. “She’s very special. That’s for sure.”

“ Wilks ,” Delaney’s tender voice demands that my eyes peer back up. “Aw! You really like her. Don’t you?”

I gulp. I mean, of course I like Chelsie. Hell, I feel flush just from the thought of her. I don’t know if I’ve ever wanted to pursue anyone as badly as I want to pursue her. Right now. At this moment. It’s a strange feeling—wanting someone so much that you can’t even logically describe it. Yet it comforts me. Excites me.

“Yeah,” I admit, kicking some gravel out from underneath my shoe. “I do. I… really do.”

“ Hm .” Delaney is impressed with herself, continuing to rest her hands on top of her stomach. “Well, I’ll spare you all the questions… for now ,” she emphasizes the last part of her statement. “But only if you at least tell me her name.”

Deal.

“Her name is Chelsie.” I smile. “Chelsie Windsor.”

Delaney pouts her lips, her eyes glazing over as if she’s about to break into tears of happiness. “Chelsie Windsor? That sounds so fancy. So royal. So… elegant . Ah, and don’t even get me started on how perfect it pairs with Wilks. Don’t you think?”

I shrug. “I suppose it has a ring to it. Although she doesn’t call me that,” I confess. “She actually never has.”

“No?” Delaney furrows a brow. “Why not?”

“Not sure.” I jut out my bottom lip unknowingly. “She didn’t say. I guess she just wanted to call me by my first name. So, Gary, it is.”

A faint smile boasts Delaney’s face as she nods. “‘Gary it is,’” she repeats, a silence following shortly after. “Hey…” She peers down at her phone. “What time did you say you were meeting her again?”

My stomach drops.

My eyes widen.

Shit.

This has been way more than two minutes.

I race for my bag and reach for my phone.

7:00 PM.

“Now,” I tell her, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “I’m supposed to be there now !”

“Shit, well, you better get a move on then!” Delaney eagerly shoves me ahead. “Go! Don’t be later than you already are.”

I nod frantically as I race towards my car. My mind, body, and legs moving at a million miles per hour before Delaney calls out, “Oh, and Wilks?”

“Yeah?” I peer out from my car door. One leg in while the other lingers out.

Delaney smiles and clutches onto the door handle. “I can’t wait to meet her.”