Chapter Ten

Callie

What’s wrong with me? I’m not a teenage girl, I shouldn’t have let my guard down last night. I must admit that last night I saw a side of Eddie I actually liked; he was funny and it was nice to see he isn’t always an ass. I might have been rude to him this morning because I couldn’t exactly admit I’d had a sex dream about him; I had to get rid of him before my imagination got the better of me and I did something I’d regret. I need the money too much to let a moment of weakness take control. I have to attend my own NA meeting this morning, I’ve missed going lately because I’ve been so busy with Eddie. I’m not holding out much hope that Eddie wants to get sober. I’d like to think he’s had a change of heart because of something I’ve said or done, but who knows what goes on inside that brain of his. He said he’ll come up with some rules, but we’ll see.

Meetings always consist of listening as everyone tells their story, or a temptation they’ve faced this week. Olivia looks in my direction as a newbie finishes telling her story, so I nod and introduce myself.

“As most of you know, my name is Callie. I had a moment of weakness this week. I didn’t give in to temptation, but I wanted to as I felt my skin crawl with need. I’ve been helping someone get sober and it isn’t easy, I let it get to me and I feel so terrible. I thought I’d dealt with my addiction, I’m clean and my sister supports me a hundred percent, but I think I haven’t really dealt with all the emotions and hurt inside me, I’ve just buried it all. Forgiveness is what I asked my family for, and I know they have, but have I really forgiven myself? If I had, why does it still feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders?” I sit and zone out as Olivia ends the meeting.

I snap out of my thoughts as Olivia sits next to me. She can always tell when something is bothering me.

“Is the rock star giving you trouble?” she asks.

“Not in the way you think. I had a chance to see a different side to him and it made me think about my own life. In his own way, he admitted he wants my help”

“Sounds like you might be good for each other.”

“I highly doubt that, he gets under my skin and he’s impossible,” I say.

“Who are you trying to convince - Me or yourself?” I shake my head at her, I think Olivia lives inside those books she reads; where two broken people get a fairy-tale ending. In real life, two broken people are usually toxic for each other. My phone starts vibrating in my pocket. Saved by the bell or maybe not, it’s Eddie.

“Hello?” I say dubiously.

“What ya doing?” he says cheerily, dammit he’s high.

“I swear to god, Eddie, if you’re high…”

“Will you spank me? Because if the answer is yes, then I’m high.”

“So, you’re not high?”

“Give a man some credit. I said I’d give this a shot under some conditions - meet me at my house and we can go over them.”

Before I get a chance to answer, he hangs up the phone. I say my goodbyes to Olivia and make my way to Eddie’s. I can’t wait to hear what his conditions are, but I’m sure they’ll be way over the top and crazy.

Walking into Eddie’s house, it’s surprisingly quiet. Usually there are people everywhere. “Eddie are you here?” His house is extremely large, he could be anywhere. I make my way upstairs, thinking he might be in his room. The door is ajar, so I knock lightly before pushing it open. “Eddie?”

“Finally,” he says, walking from the bathroom in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I watch as a lone drop of water runs from his chest to his navel. Swallowing hard, I force myself to look up, and instantly see the smile in his eyes. He knew I was checking him out, as much as he annoys me, he isn’t hard on the eyes.

“I feel sexually objectified. Now I’ll be the star in your dreams,” he says as he turns his back to me and drops his towel. I’m sure he only turned around to be nice, because I know he has no problems being naked in front of anyone.

“So, what are these conditions you’ve come up with?” I ask.

“Straight to business,” he says as he pulls up his pants and turns to face me.

“I’m not here for pleasure.”

“Are you sure? It could loosen you up a little.”

“I’m loose enough, thank you.” The words are out of my mouth before I realise what I just said, Eddie can’t control his laughter. I feel my face burning with embarrassment. “You’re impossible,” I say before storming from the room.

“Wait, I’m sorry. I was just playin’ with ya.”

“I’m not here to play games, this isn’t a game to me.”

“How about we go over my conditions?” he says, trying to change the subject.

“Fine,” I say, following him through the kitchen and another door I hadn’t been through before.

“Condition one,” he says as he flicks the lights on. “You now have a work car, no arguments. If we go somewhere, I need to know I won’t die in that death trap you call a car. And two, we need tinted windows for privacy, those vultures will do anything to find a story.” I arch my brow and look at him to see if he is serious. “Go on, check out your new ride.”

“I can’t accept that, and there’s nothing wrong with my car.”

“I beg to differ, but no arguments, remember?” he says as he opens the door to reveal a brand-new sports car, I’m talking straight from the factory. “Get in and have a look.” I hesitate, with guys like Eddie there’s always a catch or something you have to do in return. “Oh, for shit’s sake, get in. I knew you wouldn’t accept it as a gift, so for as long as you’re here dealing with my ass the car is yours. Upon finishing whatever we’re doing here, I can sell it to you for a small amount of money because, let’s face it, I don’t need another car,” he says, motioning to the array of other cars parked in the garage the size of a medium-sized house.

“I can’t do that, I work hard to buy everything I have for myself.”

“How about a deal? If you can get me sober, the car is yours, call it a thank you gift. If you don’t, you can buy it from me, pay it off, or give it back.”

“I can deal with that,” I say, slipping into the leather seat. I’ve never felt anything like it.

“Fancy christening it? You know, break it in?” he says with a stupid cheesy smile.

“In your dreams,” I throw back.

“Okay, let’s get on to phase two then,” he says, offering me a hand. I stand, pulling my skirt back down to my knees.

“So, what is condition two?” I say sceptically. The other shoe has to drop, there has to be a ridiculous demand, something I can’t follow through with. Losing a car wouldn’t phase him if he lost our deal.

“Close your eyes,” he says as we walk back into the kitchen.

“Um, why?”

“Don’t you trust me?” he says, trying to act all serious.

“No, not really.”

“Oh, that burns. Don’t I look like a trustworthy fellow?” I look at him, thinking maybe it’s a rhetorical question. He just smiles and takes my hand in his.

“Where are we going?” I ask, still hand in hand with the rock star I couldn’t stand. Today he’s showing me a different side and I won’t lie, I like this side of him; it makes me realise he really is human, just like me, flaws and all. This is the Eddie I’ll remember when he’s being a pain in my ass, this mental picture of him being spontaneous and kind.

“To condition number two, silly. I thought we covered that.”

His house is a mansion, I’ve really only seen the side of the house that contains the kitchen and a massive living room. and up a set of stairs to his room. We walk through a set of glass doors to an inside pool. His house has a pool inside! As we pass through, all he says is ‘short cut.’ Short cut to what? We reach what looks like a whole new house, another living room, he stops and looks around.

“We’re here.”

“Where are we?” I ask, thinking maybe he’s lost his marbles.

“Your part of the house.”

“My what? I don’t plan on living here.” I laugh, it’s absurd that he’d even think that.

“It’s condition two. Truman says the best way to conquer my addiction is by having someone around all the time.

“Who’s Truman?”

“The guy who collects the garbage,” he says matter-of-factly.

“The garbage man?”

“Yes. Are you hard of hearing, because I have the best doctors in the state?”

“My hearing is perfectly fine, I’m just trying to understand why you’re taking advice from the garbage man?”

“Don’t try to understand me, it’ll give you a headache. Just think about it - you want to move into your own place, somewhere you can set up and have your son around.”

“How do you know about Beau?”

“Your ex, Dane, he’s a looker, almost made me switch teams. It was kind of cute really. He got my number, god knows how, but we met up today and he kind of gave me a warning.”

“He did what? We barely talk, unless it has to do with Beau, and he is calling you? How is this my life? Did you meet Beau?”

“No, he came with this bird and she isn’t half as much of a looker as you are, but I could see the appeal if you’re into that soccer mum kind of look.”

“I’m not moving in with you,” I say, crossing my arms. This day’s gone from weird to what the actual fuck.

“Stop fighting it. You know as well as I do that you want me sober, and I refuse unless my demands are met.”

“You’re crazy, you know that, right? We’ll kill each other.”

He laughs and again takes me by the hand. What’s with all the touching? He takes me down a hallway and that’s when I realise we’re not alone. He starts shouting orders about colours and furniture, and to run everything by me, then he takes me up a set of stairs. The room up here is more like a small house, but it’s decked out with a wall of vinyl records and posters, and I don’t miss the Black diamond poster. I point and raise my brow at him.

“I told them that was for your room, but they must have thought I was joking. Is it okay, I kind of made them do this room first.”

“Are you insane? You had them do all this in what, a few hours?”

“It’s amazing what people will do when you pay them triple. Let’s just say, I really want to make a go of this and I feel this is the only way.”

“What happens when you get sober? I move out?”

“You can stay, I’m never here much, or you can find a house to rent. Shit, if I get sober you can take your pick of the properties I own.”

“You’re really serious?”

“As a heart attack, and you haven’t heard condition three yet.”

“What is it?” I try to prepare myself. What else could he possibly offer me? I think we need to sit down and have a conversation. I’m happy to live here until he is sober, but I’m not sure if this is somewhere I’d bring Beau; not with the women and parties I’m presuming he has on a regular basis.

“Under no circumstances, no matter how badly you want to jump my bones, we can’t sleep together. Truman said abstaining from sex is also a good thing.”

I can’t help it. An uncontrollable laugh pours its way through my body, the kind of laugh that makes your ribs hurt and tears pour from your eyes.

“I don’t think having sex with me would be that funny,” he says, looking at me like I have two heads.

“It’s not that. It’s just, I was hired to get you sober, but your garbage man has had more luck than I have; he’s even made you swear off sex. I need to meet this guy.”

It’s funny, as much as being around Eddie reminds me of all the demons hidden in my closet, I think we may have found a place where we can both be happy. I’m not naïve enough to believe it’ll all be rainbows and butterflies, though, and I wonder how he’ll react when I have counter-conditions. Only one way to find out.