But no, that was all in my head. It was my hormones playing tricks on me. They always led me astray when it came to him. I slowly drew away and went to take my seat. I glanced at Trev when he didn’t join us at the table, and instead stood in place. I saw a brief conflicted look cross his features before he schooled his expression and took the seat next to mine.
Guh. Why did he have to sit so close? And why on earth was he even here? Shouldn’t he be signing some random fan’s boobs, or, I don’t know, making a bet that he can jump off a ten-story building without breaking any bones? Back when we were best friends he’d always been somewhat unpredictable, but from what I’d seen on the show his wildness had only increased.
“So, what’s good here?” he asked.
I stayed quiet and let Lee answer. Perhaps it was best to interact with him as little as possible. That way he couldn’t steal anything like he always did.
My affection.
My smiles.
My heart.
“The chicken’s my favourite. Though I do like their steaks, too,” said Lee.
I glanced across the table at Karla and we conducted a silent conversation.
I’m sorry he’s here.
Don’t be.
I wish I’d had time to warn you.
I know.
“I think I’ll go with the steak,” said Trev before angling his body towards me. “So, Reya, how’ve you been?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Good. Fine.”
Trev opened his mouth to say something when the waiter showed up to take our orders. I fixedly ignored his attention while I asked for the chicken parmesan and another glass of wine. I definitely needed it.
“How are Sophie and the kids?” I asked Karla and Lee. “I need to stop by and pay a visit soon.”
“They’re great. It was Billie’s birthday last week, so we threw her a little party at the house,” said Karla.
I frowned. “I’m sorry I missed it. I’ll have to get her a belated gift.”
“Don’t bother. She’s already got a mountain of stuff,” Lee put in. “The kid’ll be spoiled if you give her anything else.”
“What’s this about a club closing down?” Trev asked randomly and I had no other choice but to address him. Just my luck he heard Karla mention it when they arrived.
I coughed to clear my throat. “I’ve had a residency at Club Echo for the last year but they’re going out of business. It made up a lot of my work hours, so I need to start looking for somewhere else to play.”
“That’s shit. You don’t busk anymore?”
“Not as often as I used to.”
His brows drew together. “Why not?”
“Quit interrogating her, Trev,” said Lee, a hint of warning in his voice. He knew of our history, too, but I wasn’t sure how much about my personal feelings Karla had disclosed.
“Yeah,” said Karla. “We should all be interrogating you anyway. What’s happening with Running on Air? I saw on the entertainment news that a third season was still yet to be confirmed.”
“It’s happening. They’ll be announcing it soon. We actually start recording new episodes in two weeks. There was a bit of a bust-up between Callum and Leanne, nothing new there, but they’ve made a truce now so everything’s back on track.”
“I love Leanne,” said Karla, smiling. “No offence but she’s my favourite. And whenever she and Callum have scenes together I literally can’t take my eyes off the telly.”
Trev narrowed his gaze playfully. “You can’t say that. Only I can be your favourite. I’m family.”
“But Leanne is so cool. If I could pick any other woman in the world to be it’d be her.”
Trev brought a hand to his chest. “You wound me, sis.”
“Your ego is well-established. You’ll get over it,” said Lee, as the waiter returned and set our drinks in front of us.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m a self-absorbed arsehole etcetera, etcetera,” Trev deadpanned, his attention returning to me. “Do you watch the show, Reya?”
I took a sip of my wine before answering. “Sometimes.” Every. Single. Episode.
“Got a favourite out of the group?”
“Hmm, probably Paul. He’s a sweetheart,” I said, and Trev’s expression fell flat for the tiniest second. If I blinked I would’ve missed it. Had he thought I was going to say him? I wasn’t even lying. Paul was the youngest of the group, but he was also the most genuine, in my opinion. He wore his heart on his sleeve and whenever he had a girlfriend, he treated her like a princess. No, a queen. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find a man as good and as kind as Paul.
“Never knew you had a thing for the gingers,” Trev teased, his previous disappointment gone completely, the mask back in place.
Lee shot me a wink. “That’s something we have in common.”
Karla nudged him with her elbow and rolled her eyes.
“What?” He grinned. “We both know your hair’s the first thing I noticed.”
She shook her head and focused her attention back on Trev. “What was the bust-up between Callum and Leanne about this time? I swear I’m going to die if they don’t get together soon.”
I wasn’t surprised by her fishing. Karla had been addicted to the show since the very first episode, obsessed with the dynamic between the five main stars. I was, too, of course, but I’d never admit it. And Callum and Leanne had this whole love/hate thing going on since the beginning. It was kind of hard not to be obsessed with them. Half the time you wanted them to kiss and the other half you wished Leanne would give Callum the slap he deserved.
He was the bad boy with a heart of black. The one we all loved to hate.
Trev ran a hand down his face and let out a sigh. “I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one. Let’s just say, not everything between them is televised and their relationship has been pretty fraught.”
“Oh, come on now. You can’t just say something like that and not elaborate,” Karla complained. “I won’t sleep tonight unless you tell me everything.”
Lee and I eyed each other with similar expressions of amusement. This sort of fangirling was just so out of character for her, but when it came to Running on Air she was OBSESSED. It was sort of adorable considering she spent her days as a no-nonsense police sergeant.
Trev held his hands in the air. “Sorry, sis, but that’s not my story to tell.”
Karla folded her arms and huffed irritably. “Ugh, you’re so unfair.”
“You’ll live,” said Trev, amused.
“You have to at least give me something,” she hedged.
Trev let out a sigh and his expression sobered as he levelled her with a serious look.
“I know I shouldn’t be bad-mouthing him, but when it comes to Leanne, Callum’s got his head shoved so far up his arse he can’t see the wood for the trees.” A pause as he softly continued, “I’ve been there.”
When he turned to face me, his eyes were intense. I had a hard time finding my voice.
Was he referring to us?
“I thought you and he were quite close,” I said, unable to hold back my curiosity.
“We are. That doesn’t mean I can’t see when my mate’s being an arse.”
“He does come across very full of himself. Then again, so do you at times,” Karla commented.
“Shit, thanks.” Trev chuckled, his mood lightening somewhat.