Unplugged (Blue Phoenix, #3)(3)

I need to walk away before inappropriate thoughts about Cerys begin.

“I’ll grab my stuff from the car,” I tell the three women around me. “Then head to my room and unpack.”

Again, the whole eyeing each other and not telling me shit. “What?”

“I like your guitars,” pipes up Ella. “And the pictures.”

I push my hair from my face, confused. “My guitars?”

“In your room. Cerys is sleeping in there,” says Louise breezily, as if my room is open for guests. I stiffen. I have gear stored in there, untouched from when I left.

“Where do I sleep then?” I ask gruffly.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming back or I’d have stayed somewhere else.” Cerys looks to Louise discomfort in her wide-eyed expression. “We can leave.”

“Don’t be silly!” says Mum firmly. “We’ll sort something out.”

“I can move into the room Ella is in until I find somewhere else,” offers Cerys.

Something odd is going on here and although I’m pissed off about a stranger in my room, there’s something more I’m not aware of. I get the impression the kid’s dad isn’t around after all.

“I’ll grab my bag and you work out who’s sleeping where,” I mutter.

4 p.m. and the English winter evening greys the world. I head for my car and the coastal wind smarts my cheeks. I’ve swapped California sun and a comfortable house, for a cold winter and a lukewarm reception here?

Louise appears next to me as I lug my bag from the car boot. “We didn’t know you were coming home, Liam, and Cerys doesn’t have anywhere to go.”

“Why?” I ask.

“She just split from Ella’s dad and it got a bit nasty. Her mum and dad disowned her after she had Ella, and they live in Scotland now anyway. She’s my best friend and needs somewhere to stay until she gets sorted. Be nice to her.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask. “Anyway, it’s not my house so it’s up to Mum and Dad who stays.”

“Don’t get shitty about her being in your room. The spare room where Ella sleeps is tiny, they’d have to share a single bed, or one of them sleeps on the floor.” As Louise pushes away the long hair the wind blows into her face, I know what’s coming. “Let them both stay in your room and you have the spare?”

“I’ll think about it.” I stroll back toward the welcome warmth of my family home.

“Don’t be selfish, Liam,” Louise calls after me.

All I wanted was to recreate my childhood Christmas, with my family and my old normality. I know I should sympathise with Cerys a little more, but she’s spoilt the Christmas fantasy that was going to help me cope with my hurting heart Honey stomped on.

CHAPTER 2



LIAM



The last time I slept in a single bed I must’ve been around eleven. I grew too tall and nagged my parents until they bought me a double; man, I felt grown up that day. A king size in a bedroom as large as five of this tiny bedroom is my style these days. I scoop up the flowery duvet Ella has been using and place it on the floor outside the room. I guess she’ll need it for sharing my bed with her mum.

Dumping my bag on the unmade bed, I huff and wander downstairs. Mum bangs around upstairs, fussing as she makes the rooms up for the new sleeping arrangement. The TV plays loudly from the lounge room, irritating, squeaky voices from some crappy kids’ TV show. Fantastic… Has this child taken over?

A plate of sandwiches rests on the kitchen counter and I smile to myself as I pick them up. Peeking inside, I recognise my favourite cheese and ham filling and know Mum left them there for me. Leaning against the counter, I take a huge bite and debate whether to ask the kid to let me watch TV.

Cerys comes into the kitchen. My mum always has the heating full and Cerys has taken off her jumper, revealing a tight cotton top stretching across her chest. I can’t help myself, but I stare at her tits. So, I’m a tits man and as it’s a while since I saw natural, I stare a bit more than I should.

“Do you mind not staring at my b-reasts?” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.

b-reasts. The word makes me smirk. Whoops. “Sorry, couldn’t help it. You’ve got nice...” I stop as her face darkens.

“You’re disgusting!” she retorts. “Is this how you look at all women? Like they’re objects?”

I blink at her immediate defensiveness. Wow. “No.”

“Leave the rock star attitude at the door,” she snaps.

“Hey, you’re sleeping in my bed, the least you could do is be nice to me.” I grin but her disgusted face remains. “Far out, sorry. Uptight much? It’s not like I touched you!”

“I’m a person, Liam, not a pair of tits.”

f-uck, I’m not having this conversation. “Tell your kid I want to watch TV and she has to change the channel.”

“You tell her!” Cerys pushes past me and I catch her scent, roses I think, and her bare arm touches mine. I’m overwhelmed by the urge to take her arm and apologise because behind her disgust I can see I upset her. Louise’s words about how Cerys is having a hard time pushes guilt over my arrogance.

Still, I don’t apologise. Instead, I step away and go into the lounge. Ella sits on the black, shaggy rug, nose practically touching the TV as she watches cartoon pigs at high volume. Grimacing, I sit behind her and pick up the remote.