Down London Road (On Dublin Street 2)

Why did Cam’s compliments always have to be the best? It was very irritating to someone who was trying to get him out from under her skin.

‘You’re also talented.’

Astonishment jolted through my body. ‘Me? Talented?’ Was he high?

His arm swept around the room. ‘Jo, you should be doing this for a living.’

‘Um, doing what?’

‘Painting and decorating.’

I laughed at the absurdity of it. ‘Oh, okay. Who in their right mind would hire a high school dropout with no experience to be a painter and decorator? Let’s face facts. I’m useless, Cam.’

His eyes instantly hardened, narrowing on me and pinning me in place. ‘You are not useless. Don’t talk about yourself like that in front of me. It pisses me off.’ It was lucky he had no intention of waiting for me to speak, since I didn’t know how to reply or react to the warm fuzzies in my chest. ‘You’re good at this. Really good. I think Nate knows someone with his own company. I could see about getting you an apprenticeship.’

‘No. I’m twenty-four. No one hires a twenty-four-year-old apprentice.’

‘They do if it’s a favour for a friend.’

‘Cam, no.’

‘Jo, come on, at least think about it. You enjoy it and you’re good at it. It’s better than working two jobs and dating –’ He stopped himself, blanching when he realized he’d almost crossed the line.

Well, not really ‘almost’. He had crossed it. I clenched my jaw, forcing back the sting of tears in my eyes as I realized he still saw me that way – the bimbo after the rich guy’s wallet. I wiped the paste off the folding table, deciding to ignore him.

‘Jo, think about it. Please.’

‘I said no, thanks.’ I couldn’t imagine anyone would ever want to hire me, and the humiliation of rejection didn’t sound like a lot of fun.

‘Jo –’

‘Cam, why are you here?’ I cut him off sharply. I immediately regretted my tone, but there was no taking it back.

He blew out the air between his lips, his eyes searching mine, and as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he took a step back. ‘No reason. I better go. I’ve –’

‘Jo!’ My mum’s voice cut him off this time, her shrill shriek making us wince.

It was the first time she’d called for my help since the incident. I sighed heavily and dumped the paste brush back in the bucket. ‘Cam, stay. I’ll see to Mum, you make yourself a coffee. Maybe get me a tea while you’re at it.’

‘Jo!’

‘I’m coming!’ I shouted and Cam seemed taken aback. ‘What?’ I asked as I moved to pass him.

He smirked. ‘Never heard you raise your voice.’

‘You’ve obviously never seen me approached by a spider.’

Laughing, Cam waved towards the door. ‘I’ll get the coffee.’

Feeling relieved that he’d decided to stay I hurried to get whatever Mum needed over and done with.

To my surprise she was lying in her bed, not seeming to be in any kind of ‘situation’ after all. Oh, God, I hoped she hadn’t lost control of her bladder. That had happened before. ‘What?’ I asked, hovering in the doorway.

‘Who is that?’ she asked loudly, nodding her head to indicate behind me. ‘I’ve heard his voice lately. Who is it?’

It was the first time Mum had really ever taken an interest in anything outside of her gin-soaked, wasted existence and I couldn’t help but reply, ‘That’s Cam. He’s a friend.’

‘You f**king him?’

‘Mum,’ I snapped, flinching at how loudly the question had been asked.

‘Well?’ she asked with a sneer. ‘Look at you! Standing there, judging me. Get that look oot yer eyes, girl. You think yer better than me. Accusing me of hitting Cole, thinking I’m nothing. Well, look in the mirror, girl, ’cause yer nothing too!’ As her eyes sparked with her contempt, I knew this was what she’d been waiting for. This was her payback for my attack. Humiliating me in front of Cam. ‘Yer useless and that piece oot there will walk away when he gets bored with what’s between yer legs!’

I slammed the door shut, my whole body shaking as I leaned my forehead against it, trying to control my breathing. A few seconds later I heard her start to cry.

‘Jo?’

I sucked in my breath at his voice and turned slowly around to find him standing in the hallway, his eyes glittering with anger. He took the few steps he needed to be close to me and he said loudly, so Mum would hear, I imagine, ‘You are not useless. You are not what they say you are.’

I glanced down at his tattoo.

Be Caledonia.

When my eyes travelled back up to his and I saw pain in his eyes for me, I knew that Cam was the only guy who had ever seen me. And even more important, he saw beyond what I could see. I was more to Cam.

I wanted to grab his hand, lead him down the hall to my room, strip myself bare before him, and let him take everything I could give him.

And take everything he could give me.

Instead of doing what I really wanted to do, I gave him a platonic but grateful smile. ‘Let’s have that coffee.’

14

The following Saturday everything I was avoiding feeling, everything that wasn’t being admitted out loud, came to a head.

The week before, Malcolm had invited me to a party that Becca’s flatmate was hosting. The party was to be held in their place in Bruntsfield and Malcolm had said he’d put in an appearance. However, he didn’t want to feel like a fish out of water, so he’d practically begged me to accompany him. I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing Cam and Becca in action together, but since I’d been unfaithful to Malcolm in my head, I thought it was the least I could do for him.