Chapter 13
SIMON
I'm really worried about Baz.
He called me last night, right before I went to sleep, blabbering on incoherently about something or other, but I couldn't understand much of what he was saying because he was so bloody hammered.
He was in a taxi on his way home from a pub, or a club, or maybe somewhere else – he said something about Dev and Niall, and dancing, and then he started rambling on about how much he misses me and a whole lot of other stuff before he hung up. I tried to call him back but he didn't answer, and he was completely wasted anyway so I thought I'd let him sleep it off.
It's still early when I get out of bed, so I try to be quiet as I pull on my trackie and grab my mobile. Penny and Micah are asleep so I try not to make noise or hit anything with my tail as I move around the lounge room. I take a seat on the sofa and call Baz again – he didn't call me back and I want to make sure he's okay. I drag my fingers through my hair a few times in an attempt to tame the mess but it's all over the place so I give up and check the time instead. It must be going on lunch time in London.
"Hello?" someone that's not Baz says. It startles the shit out of me this early in the morning.
I check my mobile to make sure I dialled the right number. Baz's picture is staring back at me so I definitely did. "Who are you?" I ask the person that's not Baz.
"I'm Lana. You must be Simon."
I check my phone again and Baz's picture is definitely staring back at me so I wonder what the fuck is going on. "Where's Baz?" It comes out a little gruff.
"Hi Simon! I'm afraid Baz is a little under the weather at the moment, he was pretty wasted last night," this Alana person says like it's perfectly okay to be answering his mobile.
It's definitely not okay. I need to find out what's going on. Right now. "What are you doing with his phone Alana?"
"It's Lana, and he dropped it on your coffee table before he fell asleep last night, or early this morning rather."
"What?"
"More like fell unconscious actually."
"He what?"
"He was pretty wasted," she explains.
"And what are you doing in my flat?" I growl.
"Oh, um, the driver took off as I was helping Baz out of the taxi and I couldn't get another one at that time of night so I crashed on your couch. I hope you don't mind."
Mind? Of course I fucking mind. She's in my flat. With Baz.
I drag my fingers through my hair. "You what?"
And helping Baz out of the taxi why exactly? My stomach twists uncomfortably.
"I don't think the taxi driver was very impressed with all those things he said he was going to do to you the next time he sees you," she says, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil.
I feel the heat of a blush on my face and ears as I remember some of the stuff Baz said last night. He was very explicit, but he was rambling and he was almost incoherent and I had no idea there was anyone else in the taxi. Shit, now I'm blushing even harder. I drag my hand down my face as I try to bring my mind back to the present. I especially want to know about this unknown woman who spent the night in my flat. With my husband.
"Can you please tell me what the hell is going on?"
"Sure thing," this Lana person says. "So, I bumped into Dev and Niall last night. You know Dev and Niall right?"
"Yes," I growl, impatient for her to go on.
"Oh, okay good. I know them from uni. Anyway the three of them were having quite a big night by the looks of it. They were all good and smashed by the time I met up with them. We got talking about something or other – I think it was a mutual friend from uni, or was it about their latest trip to Ibiza . . . I can't recall, probably both come to think of it–"
"Lana please," I cut her off. I don't want to listen to her waffle on about stuff I don't give a toss about. The only I want to know is what the fuck she's doing in my flat.
"Oh, right, yes. Anyway, Baz wanted to dance and those two wouldn't – I don't think I've ever seen them dance before, they're probably crap at it anyway knowing them, so I danced with him. He's quite the mover isn't he, your Baz? Didn't stop all night. Except to drink that is, and he did quite a bit of that as well."
She stops to have a little chuckle at something, which annoys me even more and I'm just about to say something not especially nice but she starts up again.
"We lost Dev and Niall at some point, I think they left after Baz swore at them. He can be pretty direct can't he? Anyway Baz was pretty drunk by then so we shared a ride home, I don't live that far away from you it turns out. . ." she sighs happily.
"Go on." Her cheeriness is really starting to piss me off.
"Yeah okay, where was I? Oh yeah, he didn't stop going on about you all the way home. On and on and on, I think he misses you. He called you from the taxi as you know and, well, I think the driver was a little shocked by what he heard. I was too now that I think about it. Anyway, the taxi driver forgot to charge us, he just took off as I was helping Baz out. He was a bit wobbly – Baz not the driver – but then I couldn't get another one home so I crashed on your couch."
I rake my fingers though my hair again. "And where's Baz now?" I growl again, my patience growing thin.
"Still asleep I guess." And I'm just about to tell her to go wake him but she starts up again. "Hey you're not the Simon from Alex's café are you?"
I stop raking. "Er, yeah?"
"I thought so! Baz showed me some photos of you. Quite a few actually. I used to buy my coffee from you! What do you know, small world isn't it."
She says it in an annoyingly cheery tone and I'm just about to snap at her again but then I think about it for a second and I remember someone called Lana now.
"Skim latte one sugar, extra hot?"
"Yeah, that's me! You've got a good memory." She sounds pleased.
"You used to come in with that bloke. Thick neck. Double shot almond Frappuccino, two sugars?"
"Yeah that's right. My ex. He lives close by."
And I remember him now, I always thought he was a bit of a prat. But I really don't give a toss right now. And I'm just about to tell her to get Baz but she beats me to it.
"Oh here comes Baz, we must have woken him up. I'll put him on now. It was lovely talking to you Simon." And she says it so nicely that I'm having a hard time hating her right now, no matter how much I want to.
I wait with the phone pressed hard against my ear.
"Who are you?" I hear Baz question her through the phone. He sounds as pompous as ever.
"Lana. We danced last night. Your husband's on the phone . . . Mind if I make myself some breakfast, er lunch before I head off?" I hear her ask.
"Simon?" Baz is on the phone immediately, ignoring that Lana person completely.
"What the fuck Baz?" I growl into the phone. "Why is there some woman in our flat?"
"Fuck," he groans into the phone. "I have no idea what happened. I must have had a few too many last night."
"You think? Do you remember calling me?"
"No. I don't remember much of anything I'm afraid. . ."
Seriously? Is that supposed to make me feel better?
"Where the fuck were Dev and Niall? They were supposed look after you." My voice is getting too loud and I try to lower it so I don't wake Penny and Micah, but I'm so fucking mad that I'm doing a shit job of it. "I'm going to kill those two. I said go out and have some fun, not go out and bring home some woman! Jesus Christ Baz!"
"Can you please lower your voice. I have a headache." He sounds pained.
"You're a vampire. You don't get headaches," I yell. I can't believe this is happening.
"Well it seems we do."
"Well spell it away! I don't give a fuck!"
"Simon," he pleads.
I don't say anything, I take a few deep breaths instead. I can't believe this. I cannot fucking believe this.
"Simon? Please love, answer me."
"Baz," I growl through my teeth. I try to reign in my anger but it doesn't work. There's a fucking woman in my apartment. That thing in my stomach coils tighter.
"I shouldn't have let this happen." His voice is quiet, remorseful this time, and my heart melts a little bit. And that just pisses me off even more.
"No you shouldn't have."
"I feel terrible."
"That's your hangover."
"I miss you."
I let out a loud, frustrated breath.
"I love you Simon, only you," he murmurs. "Surely you know that?"
"Then why is there a woman sleeping in our apartment?"
"Flat Simon, you sound like an American."
Fucking typical. He just can't help himself, even when he's hungover and completely in the wrong he still sounds like a patronising git.
"Maybe that's because I'm stuck in fucking America," There's ice in my voice now, "While you have a woman in our apartment."
I'm so fucking mad I feel like I'm going to explode. It's bloody lucky I can't go off anymore because I'd definitely be tasting smoke right about now. I can't believe he can still act like an arrogant prat when he's gone and done something like this.
Actually I can, it's fucking classic Baz.
"I didn't know she was here. And anyway, it's not like anything was going to happen. She is female, hardly my type . . . no offence Lana."
"None taken!" I hear that Lana person yell in the background. Why the fuck is she still there?
"Not funny Baz."
"And you're one to talk. You were happy to let three women corner you in the bar the other night."
"They were friends of Penny!"
"Bunce doesn't have friends."
"Micah then. The point is I didn't wake up and find them crashed out on my couch, or their couch, or in this apartment!" I shout. I can't believe he's bringing this up now. I thought we'd already talked about it and it was sorted. Apparently not, he's probably been waiting for his chance to bring it up again. In fact, I'm sure of it. "Have you been waiting until you could use that against me?" I bet he has and I'm not going to let him get away with it.
"I'm merely reminding you that you have not been innocent in all of this." He sounds so pompous right now I reckon he'd give that twat Reggie a run for his money.
"What? Don't you fucking dare Baz! This isn't about me!" I can't believe he's trying to turn this around on me. Yes I can, it's so fucking typical, he hates to lose at anything.
I'm so mad at him now, way madder than I've ever been, even when he set that Chimera onto me. I rake my fingers through my hair again, pulling at it with my fingers. I'm pulling it so hard that I'm going to rip chunks right off my scalp if I don't stop.
He must hear the threat in my voice this time. He must be able to tell that I'm not going to back down and give in and just let it go. I think he must realise his mistake because he backs right down. "You're right Simon." He actually sounds remorseful this time. Good.
I huff out a breath but don't say anything. I'm really pissed off, at Baz, at Dev and Niall, at the bloody Coven, at this whole fucking mess. I feel like banging or kicking something but I'm in Penny and Micah's apartment so I'd better not.
"Come on love, please don't be angry with me. I miss you so much." His voice is gentle and I close my eyes at the sound of it. He's going into full soft Baz mode now. I can't let it distract me.
And then a thought pops into my head and my gut tightens all over again. I feel hot all of a sudden, like someone's turned the heat way up, and my palms have started to sweat. "What sort of club was it?"
I hate asking but I have to know. I've seen the way other blokes look at Baz whenever we go out dancing. (Whenever we go to the shops even.) (Whenever we go any-fucking-where.) He's gorgeous and fit and perfect and smart and funny and rich and brilliant, and he bloody knows it. Usually he's holding my hand and doesn't pay them any mind when it happens but I'm here and he's there and . . .
"What?
"You heard."
He lets out a breathy laugh. "It was a straight club Simon. Dev and Niall may be idiots but they're not arseholes. They're not about to drag me to a gay bar while my husband's in exile."
"Oh." I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding, and that thing in my stomach loosens a bit.
"And I love you Simon. Surely you know that by now?"
I do know that, but for how long? I fucked up royally and now I'm stuck here. What kind of relationship do we even have now?
One where my husband goes out dancing and brings a woman home apparently.
I look up and see Penny and Micah – they're watching me from the kitchen, which means I woke them. Penny's frowning and Micah has a questioning look on his face.
I shake my head at them and huff into the phone. "I'm going to kill Dev and Niall."
We talk a bit more– well, he talks while I growl and grunt. He says he feels terrible and he regrets what happened and that there's nothing to worry about and how he loves me, only me. And then he says it all over again before we finally hang up. And he manages it all without once actually saying he's sorry. He'll probably spontaneously combust if he ever actually says the words. I drop my head into my hands and take a few breaths to try to calm myself, and then I'm straight back on the phone calling Dev.
"Dev. It's Simon."
"Simon my man! How's life in exile?" What a fucking idiot.
"Fucking brilliant, what do you think?" He must hear the anger in my voice. It's so bleeding obvious.
"Oh yeah, sorry," he mumbles. "Er, what can I do for you?"
I decide to get straight to the point. I'm not in the mood for small talk with Dev or anyone.
"How could you leave Baz alone in that club?" I yell at him. "You and your idiot sidekick were supposed to look after him, not fucking abandon him!"
Dev chuckles nervously. "Oh yeah that. We tried to get him to leave but he told us to fuck off."
"So?"
"Quite a few times actually."
"So? You're his mates. You're meant to look out for him," I bark down the phone. Honestly, they call themselves friends?
"Is he all right?" he asks. He sounds worried now. So he bloody well should be.
"He's fine. Hungover."
"Aren't we all," he grumbles down the phone. "He's a little hard to persuade once he sets his mind to something."
"So?"
"We tried Simon. You've got to believe me. We wouldn't have left him but he wasn't budging. You know what he's like once he gets going . . . Next time we'll make sure he comes with us I promise." It sounds like a bunch of excuses to me. Covering up for the fact that he ditched his mate who was completely bloody legless in the early hours of the morning in some club.
"There won't be a next time," I growl down the phone.
"Yeah all right, maybe the nightclub wasn't such a good idea, we'll stick to the pub next time. The Headless Goblin perhaps. . . Better?" And at least he has the decency to sound contrite, which is the only thing that stops me from launching into another attack.
I huff out a breath. "Better." I grumble, the fight gone from my voice. I still haven't been to that pub yet but just the very mention of it reminds me of home. My shoulder slump and I feel tired all of a sudden.
"Oh by the way, everyone's rallying outside the Coven meeting this week," he says, glad for the reprieve. "Should be a real crowd."
"Yeah?" I didn't know they were doing that. I was only joking when I suggested it back at Oxford. Shit, Oxford – that feels like a lifetime ago now too.
"Yes, quite a few ex-Watford students will be there. Mordelia's been working like mad on it."
"Mordy did that?"
"I thought you knew? She put it on the bottom of the petition online. 'Come and show your support for our hero at the next Coven meeting!' I've spoken to a few people from Watford and they're going to be there . . ."
I get off the phone with Dev and start pacing the living room. My tail thrashes around so much that it knocks over the lamp on the side table and I have to take hold of it before it does any more damage. Penny has to cast As you were to fix it.
I keep pacing as I think about everything that happened. Baz had a woman in our flat. A fucking woman. In our flat. I pace back and forth, tearing my hand through my hair. Baz brought a woman home last night. I can't believe this. I can't fucking believe this!
My breathing comes short and fast and I feel like I'm going to hyperventilate. I've got to calm the fuck down before I smash something else, or board the next flight back to London. I stop pacing to take a few deep breaths like Baz always tells me to. It helps, a little.
Penny starts on at me until I tell her everything. I tell her about the rally and then about Baz and the random woman last night. She's really excited about the rally – I think she wants to hop on a plane and join them – but she's not at all fussed about Baz. Micah can't stop laughing until Penny elbows him in the ribs.
"Ow Penny."
I start pacing again.
"Don't worry about Baz, he probably just needed to let of some steam," Penny says, giving me a soft look and Micah a stern one at the same time. (It's scary how she does that.)
I stop pacing and shoot Penny an incredulous look. "Let off some steam Penny? Seriously?"
She's giving me a fixed look right back. "Yes Simon. You know he's been working really hard trying to get you home."
I stare at her. "He had a woman. In our flat!"
"Exactly!" she says, throwing her hands into the air. "Think about it Simon. He wouldn't even know what to do with a woman!"
"Penny!" How can she joke about this?
"Look Simon," she says in her no nonsense voice. "Baz has been mad for you since you were both twelve years old. And he was over the moon when you finally figured out you wanted to snog him instead of kill him, so I don't think he's going to change sides after a few measly weeks of not being able to shag you." She's jabbing her finger in the air towards me entire time, driving home her point.
"Penny!" I splutter, turning red instantly. She can be really direct sometimes, and usually I can handle it, but she's saying this all so matter of fact, and in front of Micah too.
"Well it's true," she huffs, turning back to the kitchen. She puts the kettle on and starts rattling around looking for clean mugs.
"She's right Simon, you don't have anything to worry about," Micah says, rubbing his ribs. "Baz is absolutely smitten with you."
Penny smiles up at Micah, he clearly said the right thing this time. He looks chuffed as he grabs the eggs and bacon from the fridge.
"And you are bound together magickally of course." Her voice is strained as she gropes around the top cupboard.
I blink at her. "We are?"
"Of course you are," she says, turning to face me. She stares at me for a moment and then rolls her eyes at me pointedly – a sure sign I'm missing something. "When Baz proposed to you that second time, with magic – that's how it starts. And your marriage vowels complete it. I thought you knew this?"
"Um, I thought the second time was just his fancy way to propose," I shrug. "Traditionally. You know how much Baz loves his traditions."
She shakes her head, sighing loudly. "It's more than just tradition Simon, you're magickally bound together. All magickal marriages are like that. They're not Normal Simon, they're . . ." she frowns and waves her hand around in front of her.
"Magickal?" I offer.
"Exactly. Anyway, that means he's not about to go off with some Normal, or anybody else for that matter."
"Oh," I sigh, rubbing my palms into my eyes. Why didn't I know this? Why didn't anyone tell me? There's still so much I don't know about magic. I scratch at the back of my neck, feeling like a bit of a twit.
She cocks her head to the side and crosses her arms. "And you seem to have forgotten that other, rather important detail. . ."
"What?"
She rolls her eyes at me. "That your husband is gay!" she yells, throwing her arms into the air again.
My eyes dart between the two – they're both nodding at me. Micah has the frypan in one hand and the eggs in the other, and is looking at me with a mixture of compassion and hope.
I let everything she said roll around in my head for a bit. We're magickally bound together. Magickally, not Normally. I like the sound of that. I decide I'm going to read up on magickal marriage bonds next.
But he still had a woman in our flat. I growl again at the very thought. A woman. My blood boils all over again and I start huffing and growling again until something clicks in my brain somewhere.
A woman, I realise stupidly. Not a bloke.
"Shit," I mumble, throwing myself back onto the couch. Penny's right, (She's always bloody right.) but I'm still mad as hell. "It still sucks being here. This whole thing is bollocks."
"I know," Penny says. She's given up looking for the cups and waves her big ring around to magic them up. "But things are happening. It's just going to take time. You need to be patient Simon. And trust Baz."
I don't answer. I sit back on the sofa and rake my fingers through my hair. This is all so fucked up. How long is it going to take for the Coven to see reason? All this stuff we've been doing and so far nothing's changed. Nothing at all. And I feel like nothing will ever change, like I'll be stuck here forever. Then what will I do? What will Baz do? Will we even make it through all this shit?
"I can't wait to hear about the protest rally and the petition. Good on Mordy eh?" Penny says, breaking though my thoughts. She places a mug of Earl Grey on the coffee table for me and heads back to the kitchen.
What am I going to do? How fucking long am I going to be stuck here? What the fuck am I going to do if I can't go home? What's Baz going to do?
It feels like everything is turning to shit.
I let my head fall to the back of the sofa and let out another loud breath. I lift my head and see Penny and Micah watching me. I was so lost in my own head I forgot they were still here. And I couldn't really give two shits about the rally at the moment.
"I wonder what Baz's dad's going to say," she goes on, oblivious to my frame of mind and fussing with more tea for her and Micah. "He was absolutely against anyone in their family doing anything public, wasn't he Simon?"
"He may not have a choice anymore," Micah sighs, putting he frypan back in the cupboard and pulling out the box of Weetabix when it's clear that I'm not going to answer. Or cook breakfast.
I kick out at the coffee table in frustration.