Chapter 21
Ste's point of view
I've not seen Brendan since dinner last night, we are supposed to be going to Dublin tomorrow afternoon but I'm not sure if that's still going to happen, obviously I still want to go I don't even really know why I'm still ignoring him. He's called and text me, several times but I don't know what I'm supposed to say, he scared me last night. Really scared me, but he had only shouted at me, it's just that this spiralled from me telling him that Cheryl was happy. I know Cheryl's his sister and really it isn't any of my business but that doesn't exactly make it okay for Brendan to try to make her decisions for her. Trying to make Brendan see it that way is a lost cause though.
That's why when there's a hammering on my front door I already know it's Brendan and I do think of ignoring it but that won't do any good, we would never get anything solved if I just ignored him, I don't know why I'm prolonging the inevitable I know as soon as we speak we'll make back up. I open up the door leaving it swinging while I walk back down the hall, it takes a minute for him to follow me into the living room. He looks towards the seat on the couch beside me but must decide against it because he stays standing where he is.
"Ye were right." he tells me, "Nathan makes Chez happy and I shouldn't stand in the way of that."
"Good to know." I reply back to him, don't bother looking at him, I might be taking this too far but I feel like I need to have a good think about me and Brendan, feel like that's been on repeat ever since I first met him.
"I'm sorry I shouted at ye Steven." he says and I know he means it.
"I get it Brendan." I say finally looking at him, "but this isn't healthy. For either of us."
"Just..Stop it the now." Brendan says sharply, preventing me from carrying on, "Come to Dublin and I'll prove to ye that I can be the person that ye need."
"Ya already are. I love ya so much and I know you love me but.. last night I didn't feel safe with you, and it isn't the first time you've made me feel like that." I say to him, yet again I can't look him in the face.
He crouches down and grabs my face giving me no choice but to look at him, "Please. What do I have to do?" he asks and I can see in his eyes that he would do whatever I asked.
"I'll come with you." I tell him with a sigh and shake of the head, "I just freaked out after last night." A small laugh escapes my mouth.
He lets out a sigh of relief and a smile spreads across his face. "Ye goin to work?"
"Yeah, Doug's still not been answering my calls has he?" I moan.
"Still in a huff then?" he smirks, then his face goes serious again, "I am sorry about last night."
"Can we just forget about it? You've been under a lot of stress recently, I were kinda pushing it a bit." I say with a shrug.
He gives me a lopsided smile, "Ye aren't to blame, I'll walk to work with ye?" he asks hopefully.
"Yeah, just need to grab me jacket give me a minute." I say and get it from the back of the couch, putting it on while I head for the door.
When we are about to part ways, him going to the club and me going to the deli he places his hands on my waist, subtly looks around and I know he's looking to see if anyone's noticed. "I'll come in for lunch." he says and gives me a sloppy kiss.
"Okay, I'll see ya then." I say, give him another soft peck on the lips before stepping away.
Doug seems in a better mood this morning and he gives me an apologetic smile when I get in, "Ste, we gotta talk."
"Yeah? What's up?" I sigh, hoping it's nothing too extreme I just can't be bothered with any more drama.
"I wanted to say sorry, about the way I acted to you going to Dublin. I just.. Me and John Paul have been having some issues." he huffs.
"No worries Doug, I get what it's like." I say with a smile, normally I would maybe be a bit more stubborn with the whole situation but I just don't have it in me.
"I've gotta tell you something though." he says shifting awkwardly,
I grab my apron and put it on waiting for him to carry on, when I look at him he looks as though he's about to have a nervous breakdown, "C'mon whats up? Ya can tell me." I reassure him, worry in my voice now.
"It's just.." he starts but let's out a deep breath and shakes his head helplessly, "Oh god how do I put this.. He's got chlamydia Ste." He spits out.
My mouth falls open in shock "What?.. How?"
"I don't know Ste. He swears he's not been with anyone but me since we got together and before that he had only been with his ex Craig and some random guy who he used protection with, he's adamant that he's clean." He blabs, has obviously been keeping this to himself.
"D'ya believe him?" I ask, can just remember the way he was with Brendan, how if it was someone else then maybe they would have slept together.
"I think he would probably tell me yeah, he wouldn't lie about it.. He said there's a good possibility that I gave him it." he says before looking at me.
"Ya can't be serious, ya think..?" I lower my voice even though there's nobody else in the room, "Ya think I gave you it?"
"Well.. You were sleeping around before you and me got together Ste.. And your the only person I've been with other than John Paul." he says, I can tell he's feeling guilty for accusing me but still does it either way.
I'm left speechless, I've always been safe but there always is the small chance that it could happen, what if I had gave it to Doug? Somehow. That means that there's a chance I gave it to Brendan, oh god how do I even tell him this?
"Doug.. I really don't want to believe this." I sigh while running my hands over my face,
"I know but I had to tell you just incase.. There's a chance I don't even have it, I've already went to the clinic I'm just waiting on my results. I think it might be best if you get checked aswell." He gives me a half hearted smile but I can still see the sadness behind his eyes, he looks gutted and I know then that he thinks it's John Paul that's gave it to him.
"Mate, a few pills and it'll be gone. Ya shouldn't have kept this from me, I know what with you planning your wedding and me being with Brendan has kinda distanced us but.. You can talk to me anytime, about anything." I tell him, "Your still me best mate Doug."
He grabs me into a hug, "Thanks Ste."
"And I'll be ere'. When the results come back, ya can tell me." I say, it's not just for the fact I might have it, it's that I don't want Doug feeling ashamed to talk to me, especially about his problems, he's helped me with mine for long enough.
A customer comes in and he gives me a small sad smile, a silent thank you I'm guessing.
Brendan's point of view
"Bren, help me with this could ye?" Cheryl shouts from outside the office.
When I walk out she's sitting on a couch, laptop infront of her with her glasses on, "What is it sis?" I ask taking a seat beside her.
"I'm trying to get into the club accounts but I don't have a clue.." she looks at me helplessly.
I sigh and make my way back into the office, going into the filing cabinet and grabbing the accounts folder, I make my way back to Cheryl and put the folder infront of her, "We keep paper copies, what ye looking for anyway?"
"Oh thanks love." She grins and I roll my eyes, I've told her this numerous times, "I'm just looking to see how much our last order was."
"Why?" I ask, slowly suspicion is building up.
"Because I got in touch with a new supplier who says he will give us a better deal, so I'm trying to find out what we get charged normally." She says while frowning at the sheet of paper, "What's this?" she asks pointing to a section on the paper.
I take a look, "It's mine and Steven's flight tickets, I bought them out of the clubs money but if you look up you'll see I put it back in." I say pointing out to her, "and we already get a good price on our stock Chez, don't go with a supplier that's going to give us cheap shite."
"Okay, so what ones the supplier?" she asks completely ignoring me and rolling her eyes, "Wait is that it? Did we pay three hundred pounds last time Bren?"
"Yes, it was our big order last time, it varies all the time." I sigh, "Anyway I'm away to the deli for lunch, ye wanting anything?"
"No I'm fine thanks love." She sighs with a smile, "Tell Ste I said hi."
"Will do Chez" I huff.
I'm walking down the balcony stairs and I can see right in the deli window, there's a few customers in and I'm guessing Steven's in the back because I can only see Douglas. There's a sign in the front window,
HELP WANTED, part time staff, 1 position avail. Hours and wages to be discussed.
I step inside and Douglas gives me a smile in greeting, "He through the back?" I ask him to which he nods.
It isn't very often that he acts so.. normal. He's usually grumpy and whiney, maybe he's just like that with me right enough. I go into the back and there's Steven, listening to some shitty pop song that I've heard in the charts while dancing a little and putting some cheese onto a few slices of bread.
I clear my throat to bring his attention to the fact I'm here, he turns to me wide eyed until he realises that it's me and a wide grin spreads onto his face. "Alright?" he says.
"Hey." I say gruffly, "I was thinking, tonight ye can come to the club, with your suitcase and we can just stay at mine tonight? Get a taxi to the airport together in the morning?" I offer,
"Sounds like a plan." He grins, I can see the smile doesn't reach his eyes but I don't push it. "I gotta go somewhere after work with Doug but I'll go home and pack me case then I'll come to the club to meet you?"
"Yeah okay, we can get takeaway. Chez is goin to lock up so we can leave about eleven?" I tell him, ignoring the fact that I don't know how I'm going to cope knowing Cheryl's looking after the club for a full weekend.
"Okay, ya wanting a sandwich?" he asks me, like he even has to.
"Yeah, jam please." I say to him, can't believe I'm saying please to someone.
I watch him while he makes it, moving around with ease, grabbing the jar of jam and I think he sees me make sure it's seedless because he looks at me with a grin on his face before laughing and shaking his head.
"Thanks." I grunt after he passes me it, "I better get back to the club, I'll see ye later yeah?"
"Your Cheryl not wanting anything?" he asks sounding surprised.
"No, she's got a dinner with Nate." I say, can't help the way I say his name.
He laughs at me, "Well on ya go. I'll see ya tonight." he says, he's about to kiss me but knows better than to get in between me and food. I swallow the remainder of my sandwich before I grab his face and give him a rough kiss and when I pull away he's got a massive grin on his face.