CHAPTER: 36 LEAVING SECRETLY Lindsey refused to leave Callum’s side unless absolutely necessary. Jackie was bringing her clean clothes to change into, the only time Lindsey ever left was to get something to eat, and even then she refused to be away for more than quarter of an hour. Sam had been visiting Callum everyday and had made sure that he was the one to be told Callum’s release date, no one else was to be told, not even Lindsey. The nurse thought this unusual, but the handsome young man had paid her £200, merely to tell him and him alone of Callum’s release date. After nearly three weeks of waiting, Sam was finally told Callum could leave as long as he was careful of his wound and he had checks done on it if he even experienced the slightest out of the ordinary pain. Sam quietly crept up behind Lindsey as she sat talking to Callum about Portugal. Both had avoided the subject every time they had spoke, until now. Callum had been the one to bring the subject into their conversation, it had gone quiet and they both knew they would have to face it sooner or later, Callum decided sooner was the better option. He couldn’t think of an easy way to mention so he came straight out with his question. “ How do you...feel about what happened in Portugal?” Callum was propped up slightly on one elbow facing her. It had been a miraculous recovery, it had barely been known, he was back to himself and fit enough to go home Lindsey thought, and it had taken but three weeks. “ What do you mean, how do I feel?” Lindsey did not want to have this conversation, but she knew it was unavoidable. “ What do you think I mean? Do you regret it? Do you hate me for letting it happen?.....” Lindsey cut in sharply. “ It wasn’t your fault it happened, I was the one who asked you to do it” Lindsey was staring at the floor, she couldn’t bear Callum’s penetrating stare. “ Oh right, so it was all your doing, I hadn’t been trying to persuade you or anything like that, you know what they say Lindsey, it takes two to tango” Callum seemed suddenly irritable, it was obvious to anyone who saw that no one hated discussing Portugal as much as him, he just didn’t show it as clearly as Lindsey. “ Callum please. Alright it was a two way thing, but you wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t asked you to kiss me” Callum sighed and looked down at the bright, white sheets of his hospital bed. He drew a deep breath, getting the courage up to ask the question he had to know the answer to. “ Did you really want it to happen?” Lindsey looked up at him, appearing almost shocked at the question. “ Callum I wouldn’t have asked you to do it if I didn’t want it” Callum looked at her, his stare again penetrating, his eyes searching her for the truth. “ You said before you left that you had been upset and confused” Lindsey looked at him, she remembered saying that, but she hadn’t really meant it the way it sounded. “ You know for a fact that I was excuse searching when I said that” Lindsey now was becoming irritable. “ Oh so you decided that if you make it all out to be a huge mistake that happened on the spur-of-the-moment then it would be alright and you’d be able to go home was that it?” Lindsey’s eyes were already filling, she found herself crying a lot easier these days. “ No Callum that wasn’t it at all” Callum looked at her, his eyes flashing, not with anger but with a pain that only she could heal, and she was refusing to. It was at this point Sam decided he had better intervene. Lindsey looked round as she heard him enter. “ Hi Lindsey, how are ya Callum?, feeling as good as you did yesterday?” Callum sighed a little. “ Physically yes” Sam and Lindsey both knew the meaning of what he had said. “ Do you want to go and get a coffee or something to eat? I’ll keep Callum company till you get back” Sam offered. Lindsey hastily accepted his offer. “ Yeah that’d be great, thanks” Callum looked at her, he knew why she was in such a hurry to get away from him, but he stayed silent. Lindsey left unaware of why Sam had really given her the chance to have a break. Sam took a hold-all from under Callum’s bed and immediately began packing. “ Right we’ve got about fifteen minutes before she gets back” Sam spoke as he hurriedly threw Callum’s things into the black hold-all. Callum heaved himself up from the bed, this was not the first time he had left the bed since his condition had improved, but it was painful nonetheless. Sam looked at Callum and saw sorrow in his eyes. Callum saw Sam stop and look at him. “ What is it?” Callum asked seemingly oblivious to the fact that Sam could tell something was wrong. “ Are you sure you want to do this? I mean just disappearing isn’t going to make it go away and isn’t going to make it easier” Callum sighed as he fastened his trousers. “ It will make it easier” he replied simply “ If I don’t have to say goodbye then it makes it easier” Sam could see his point, if Callum could get on the plane without having to look back at Lindsey it would be easier, whereas if he had to look at her and say his goodbyes then it would be near to impossible for him to turn and walk away from her. It took them no more than six minutes before they were at the desk and Callum was signing himself out. As they headed for the automatic doors Callum stopped and looked back, he wondered how long it would be before Lindsey discovered that he was gone. Sam put a hand on his shoulder, Callum turned seeming surprised at the contact. Sam looked at him pitifully and reassuringly at the same time. Callum nodded at him and walked through the doors. Lindsey sat with Jackie oblivious to Callum’s departure. Jackie seemed rather fond of Sam and Lindsey joked about the four of them, her, Callum, Jackie and Sam, running away to Portugal together to live a life of luxury. “ Oh that would be fun! I can just see yer Dad’s face now, he’s not happy about you and Callum as it is, never mind me running off with Callum’s best friend!” Jackie laughed. Jackie had been great about Lindsey and Callum, she had supported Lindsey through it all and it wasn’t because she was happy about the relationship, it was merely because she liked seeing Lindsey happy. Jackie thought back to when she had accidently walked in on a rather private moment between Lindsey and Callum just the previous week. Lindsey was perched on Callum’s bed, as he sat propped up by several pillows. Jackie seen them laugh about something as Lindsey playfully attempted to hit him. Callum grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. Lindsey responded by moving closer so that she could easily hit him. Jackie watched unaware that she was about to interrupt a tender moment between them. As Lindsey moved to attack Callum he seized her so that he could stop her. Neither had intended or anticipated what happened next. Lindsey fell against Callum and, lying almost on top of him, their eyes met perfectly, yet accidently. Lindsey put a hand on Callum’s shoulder, intending to lift herself up from him. Instead the contact sparked between the two. Callum’s eyes lit with the touch and Lindsey saw it and shared in it. Her hand moved to his cheek, Callum lifted himself, preparing for the meeting of their lips. Lindsey leaned forward, her mind screaming at her to stop and pull away from his arms, her heart urging her forward desperately. That was as far as they got, Jackie had knocked on the door and the moment had been shattered. She had asked no questions about why Lindsey had been in Callum’s arms, she had merely cursed herself for interrupting the two. “ Mam?” Lindsey spoke for the second time. “ Hmm sorry, what?” Jackie asked snapping back to herself. “ What time is it?” Lindsey asked suddenly worried about how long she had left Callum for. “ Twenty past, why?” Jackie replied glancing at her watch. “ I’ve got to get back” Lindsey said as she rose from her seat. “ You’ve only been down here ten minutes” Jackie also rose, she wanted Lindsey and Callum together, but she was also worried about how little her daughter was eating and sleeping. “ I know Mam but.....but we had an argument before I came down, well I say argument we weren’t exactly screaming at each other but....but I don’t want to leave it on a bad note if you know what I mean” Jackie nodded understandingly and smiled as Lindsey walked back to Callum’s room. Lindsey felt her heart hit her rib cage as she came to Callum’s room and found it empty. She ran back to the café and found Jackie having another argument with Jimmy. Her eyes searched the room as she felt her heart beating in her chest. There was no one else to turn to. She seized Jackie’s arm. “ Sorry Dad you’ll have to finish this later” she falsely apologized as she pulled Jackie away from him. “ What is it love?” Jackie asked as they ran up the stairs. “ He’s not there” Lindsey replied, the panic evident in her voice. “ What!?” Jackie exclaimed. “ He’s not there! He’s gone!” she cried, she was in a desperate state of panic. She didn’t know what to do. Jackie seized her and pinned her back against a wall. “ Look calm down, listen to me. He can’t have just vanished right, we’ll ask at the desk okay” Jackie led the way to the front desk. The red-haired woman ran her finger down the list of check-outs. Her finger stopped, Lindsey leaned forward and saw Callum’s signature on the book, adjoined by Sam’s. “ Oh God, I don’t believe it, I don’t bloody believe it! The stupid son of a bitch!” Lindsey cried turning away from the desk and walking slightly towards the automatic doors. “ Yes he checked himself out today at quarter past, he was being accompanied by a friend apparently” the woman replied. “ Right, thank you” Jackie smiled and turned away. She scowled angrily the moment the woman couldn’t see. Lindsey stood, arms folded angrily across her chest, she couldn’t believe it, how could he just leave like that without telling her? Jackie approached her cautiously, she knew by Lindsey’s stance that she was angry. “ Look he can’t have got far, he only checked out at quarter past we’ve got time to find him” Jackie spoke softly and reassuringly, but it didn’t work. “ Mam, this is Callum Finnegan we’re talking about, the ‘vanishing man’, he could be anywhere” Lindsey had no hope in her, she knew Callum and she knew if he didn’t want to be found, then he wouldn’t be. “ Alright, so maybe you're right, but I’ll tell you something, I’m not letting him get away so easily, I mean god, I’ve only just getting used to liking him, can’t let him just get away now can we?” Lindsey smiled a little at Jackie, she wondered what it was that had brought Jackie to like Callum in the first place. She still didn’t know about their encounter in the warehouse after she had left. CHAPTER: 37 A PASSIONATE ENCOUNTER Lindsey and Jackie wandered the streets for over six hours. Lindsey felt the utter hopelessness of it, she knew they would never find Callum, he was probably already out of the country. Lindsey sighed, it was twenty to nine and pitch black. She turned to Jackie. “ Mam is there really a point to this, we don’t where we are, we’re probably miles away from home now, and he could be back in Portugal by now for all we know” Jackie looked at Lindsey pitifully, she knew she was right. “ Okay love, we’ll have a wander back in that direction and see how far away we are from home” Jackie’s words fell on deaf ears, Lindsey hadn’t heard a word that Jackie had said. Something had begun to look familiar. “ Mam?” Lindsey spoke quietly. “ Yeah love” “ Do you mind if I follow you on later?, I-I just want to be alone for a little while” Lindsey was already beginning to wander slowly off. “ No of course not, are you sure you’ll be alright?” Jackie had not yet realized how close they were to such a familiar unforgettable place. Jackie slowly turned and left Lindsey, she knew she would be alright and she knew that she had paid no attention to her words. It didn’t take Lindsey long to reach the front of the warehouse. She hoped that if Callum was not already gone that he would pay a last visit to the warehouse where he had came so close to almost having Lindsey be his wife. She prayed and wished quietly to herself as she wandered slowly through the building. She still could not answer the question as to why she would again want to see Callum, but she knew deep down why, she was merely afraid of her answer. She loved him. Her wishes were answered and she froze momentarily as she saw Callum leaning over the desk with his back to her. Lindsey came forward slightly, framed in the doorway. She prepared herself to speak, she didn’t her voice to sound upset or angry, she didn’t want to bear any emotion to him again because that’s how he could win her over, he always knew what she was feeling and that was his advantage. “ You left me” she spoke and despite her efforts her voice still sounded sharp and almost distressed. Callum spun as he heard her voice, he had not heard her enter. He looked at her briefly appearing shocked before he recovered himself. He knew in a second of looking at her that she had been crying. “ Huh should’ve known you’d find me here shouldn’t I” Callum tried to sound normal, but he was anxious and clearly worried and Lindsey saw this. “ Yeah maybe you should have” Lindsey replied, her voice still tinged with anger. “ So what is it that brings you back here?” Callum asked quietly as they both avoided each others eyes. “ Probably the same thing as you” Lindsey replied moving further into the room but avoiding coming closer than Callum than she had to. “ Oh and you know what that is?” Callum asked bordering on sarcasm. “ Why don’t you try telling me?” Lindsey’s tone changed with his, if he was nasty then she would be, if he wasn’t then she wouldn’t be. “ Huh like you care” Callum’s tone rose sharply. “ Yeah maybe I do” Lindsey snapped. “ Why are you like this Lindsey? Why!?” Lindsey looked at him her eyes asking what he meant “ Why can’t you just accept that there will always be something between us and that the more you fight it the stronger its going to get!” “ Whose fighting anything!?” she cried back. “ You! You are Lindsey. Sooner or later you’re going to have to accept the fact that you feel something for me and you can’t change that no matter how hard you try” Callum fell silent for a second “Why do you have to keep fighting against what we could have? Why won’t you let me close to you Lindsey? Why are you so afraid of been alone with me? Why are you so afraid of letting me in?” Callum threw these questions at Lindsey endlessly as he moved closer to her with each one. By the final question there was barely any space between them. Lindsey stared at the floor, afraid of giving him her answer. She stood silent, gathering the courage to speak the words. She drew a deep breath and looked up, her eyes instantly meeting his. “ Because I don’t want to fall in love with you” she replied her face hard, she was terrified of what his reaction might be. She didn’t want him to know that she felt so strongly for him. Callum looked at her for a brief second before delivering his reply. “ Is that a possibility?” she looked at him stunned. “ You know it is” she snapped, she couldn’t help reacting in such a way although she knew it would only make her feelings all the more obvious to him, she had no control over her emotions when she was with him. “ Do I?” Callum’s tone was blunt, but only because he believed she had used him. Lindsey lost control, she felt so much for him and she hated the fact that she couldn’t change that, she hated the fact that she had no control over herself when he was there. “ You know something all you ever do is screw things up for me! You've screwed my whole life up, you wrecked things between me and Shelley. Me and her we had something good and you screwed that up!” Lindsey cried as she stormed further into the room away from Callum. She knew there was no reason in trying to run away, he was leaving, that much was obvious and they had to have this argument at some point. Lindsey stood leaning back against the desk as Callum retorted to her latest accusation. “ Hah Something good it didn't look like that from where I was standing, and if I did screw that up then I done you a favour” Lindsey shivered with anger, or was it something deeper? She couldn’t deny how attractive he appeared when he was angry, she couldn’t deny how much his deep gaze that bore into her made her want him all the more, especially now as his eyes turned black as they always did in moments of anger. Despite this Lindsey delivered her repartee. “ You’re an asshole you know that Callum, you’re the reason my life is such a mess, I was fine until you showed up” Lindsey felt all her hate and all her love for this man churn up at the same time, but she knew which emotion would win and because of this she made her move to leave, deliberately trying to barge past Callum. Callum though stopped her easily, and both knew it was because she didn’t really want to leave. “ Okay so I screwed your life up that made me an asshole, now I've screwed you what does that make me?” His words stung her and he knew it. “ I never thought you’d stoop so low as to say something like that to me” Lindsey’s voice was almost a growl as all her emotions mingled inside of her. Callum though was not done yet. “ Yeah, well I never thought you’d stoop low enough to sleep with me to get me off your back” Callum’s voice was getting lower, Lindsey knew that was not a good sign. But also his words were cutting like a knife, she knew why she had slept with him and she thought that he had known, but now she was afraid to tell the truth she had denied it for so long. “ That’s not why I slept with you” she cried. “ Then why!?” Callum cried, he had never felt like this before and the thought that she might have merely used him was too much, but the thought that he was never going to see her again hurt even more, but he knew he had to do this, so he let it all out, all his rage and all his love “ You don’t exactly care about me, you never have and you never will. I’ll tell you something I knew you hated me but I didn’t think you’d do something like that to me. I would rather you had put a bullet through me and killed me because I’ll tell you something this hurts a hell of a lot more than being shot, speaking from personal experience” Lindsey felt herself been overcome by a thousand different emotions all at once as she watched Callum fight tears back. “ Callum really...” As she moved towards him he backed away. “ Just leave me” he muttered. Lindsey though would not and tried to move closer, placing a hand on his arm, Callum threw her hand off “ Leave me!” Lindsey was stunned by the tone in his voice, she had never heard him nor seen him this angry before. “ Callum just let me explain” she begged. “ What is there to explain? It’s pretty obvious what you want and that ain’t me is it Lindsey” his voice grew lower, Lindsey was becoming infuriated by the way he was pushing her back. “ How would you know!? You won’t give me the chance to talk to you” Lindsey’s voice now equaled Callum’s in anger. “ And what would be the point?” Callum’s tone now became sarcastic “ The options are pretty clear Lindsey, stay here or come with me it’s not a hard decision, either you want to be with me or you don’t” Lindsey looked at him, she was at a loss, even if she told him she loved him he wouldn’t believe her, she felt her emotions explode. “ Why do you have to make this so difficult!?” she suddenly screamed at him. He looked at her confused, why was she reacting like this? He didn’t understand, he knew she didn’t love him, why should it get to her so much. “ I’m not the one making it difficult!” he snapped back “ Its-its just the way it has to be, I love you and.....” he fell silent, his voice was now calm again “ and you don’t love me” Lindsey suddenly glared at him and before she could stop herself she brought her hand up sharply striking him across the face. Callum felt his face sting with the contact. He couldn’t believe it, he knew she was angry but that was the last thing he had expected. As Callum looked up at her, his hurt obvious in his face, she felt all her emotions boil up inside of her, she no longer had any control of herself. Suddenly she found herself lashing out at Callum, she wanted him to react, she wanted him to hit back, she was desperate for a reason to hate him again, it would make things easier. Callum though didn't hit back, he stood and took Lindsey's repeated strikes. He knew what she was doing and he understood, she was upset and frustrated and she needed to let it out. “ React you son of a bitch!” Lindsey suddenly screamed at him. Eventually Callum seized hold of Lindsey, trying to control her, to calm her. Lindsey stopped still as Callum held her close to him, her body was pressed completely to his. She stared at him coldly, feeling all her hatred and love rush up at once. She had wanted him to hit her, she had wanted him to make her hate him again. But he hadn't. There wasn't an inch of space between them and the feel of her that close was driving Callum wild. Suddenly, without warning, he kissed her. Lindsey responded for a fleeting second before realizing and pushing him away. Callum released her allowing her to step back from him. They stood staring at each other. In that fleeting second Lindsey suddenly realized, the thing she had never noticed when he proposed to her, it was there now, the desperate look in his eyes. He wanted her, he needed her, he was 'desperate' to have her. She could see it all now in his eyes, the desire, the passion.....the love. She studied this for a second, contemplating. She couldn't, she knew she couldn't, he was leaving, he was going to Portugal, it could never work and it would in no way help the situation. She spun away from him, his penetrating gaze was too intense, it was too much for her to bear. She was blocked by the desk. “ Yeah I thought so” She heard him whisper close to her ear. It was followed by a hot kiss, hard yet tender on her back, by her shoulder. His hands gripped her waist, and trapped between him and the desk, she couldn’t move. When he slowly released his grip, she turned to face him. Her eyes were full but she knew in that moment that she wanted him desperately, that she needed him. She suddenly gave him a sly smile. Callum knew what this meant and he instantly found Lindsey’s mouth and placed his lips to hers’ gently. His lips moved swiftly to her neck, then to her jaw and her tear-stained cheeks. He could hear Lindsey’s satisfaction as he found her mouth again, and she caused the kiss to become deeper as she forced her tongue into his mouth. Lindsey broke off the kiss and murmured to him. “ I can’t wait much longer for you” “ I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for you.” He ran a finger down her cheek “ I just don’t understand why I’m not getting a smack in the face for what I’ve done” Lindsey smiled at him. “ You just did remember” She didn’t get any further before his lips were on hers. Lindsey pushed him back from her. What was she doing? How could she be letting this happen again? Then she looked at him, not just merely observing him, but searching him, and she knew then why. But it was too late, Callum was already about to turn away from her. She seized his arm, stopping him. “ I’m sorry Lindsey....maybe if....” she cut him off. “ So am I Callum” she whispered, but he knew she meant it differently to the way he had meant it. Callum looked at her and sighed regretfully. He was about to leave and didn’t know what to say. “ You know where I am if you want me” he again went to turn away and again she stopped him. “ I do!” This ‘want’ though was meant in a different way to Callum’s ‘want’ and he knew it. “ I’ve been so horrible to you lately, but that....that was because I didn’t want to admit to myself that I-I love you Callum” Callum stopped dead and looked at her, he was dumbstruck. He placed a warm hand to her face, she immediately took hold of it with her own and kissed the palm of his hand gently. He sighed deeply and moved closer, taking her head in his hands and looking deep into her eyes. “ Are you sure this is what you want?” Lindsey didn’t waste time in answering, instead she locked her lips to his in reply. The sudden passion in her kiss took Callum momentarily by surprise, then when his mind caught up with his racing heart he pulled her close and it was her turn to gasp as he returned her heated passion tenfold. Her fingers strayed under Callum’s shirt, then to his belt which was duly undone, to under his trousers where she felt his arousal. “ Are you alright with doing this here?” Callum suddenly asked looking round noticing that there was no where particularly comfortable. “ Yeah, I’ve always wondered what it would be like on a desk” she replied with a coy smile. Callum shot a glance at the desk and frowned slightly. “ What! Don’t tell me your not up for it!” Lindsey teased backing towards the desk, pulling Callum with her. She didn’t think Callum was going to go through with it, until suddenly he seized hold of her, hitching her up onto the desk. As she sat on the desk she began to unbutton his shirt, placing hot kisses across his chest as he stood running his fingers through her hair and enjoying the burning sensation of her lips against his bare chest. Lindsey loved his physique, she ran her hands all over his chest then down to his trousers. Callum almost fell against her as he felt her hand clasp around his arousal. He leaned against her, grasping hold of her waist as he was brought into a state of euphoria. After this Callum wasted no time in removing the rest of Lindsey’s clothes, though the kisses continued as though they couldn’t bear to be apart for a second. Callum though was eager to return the favour. He covered her neck with kisses, then began to lower himself. He gently kissed her breasts, his tongue licking her nipple. Then lower. Lindsey cried out as she felt his hand run between her legs. She gave a low moan as she felt his fingers and then his tongue probing the intimate right places. She dug her nails into his back as she felt herself reaching the same state of euphoria. She pulled him back up to her level and seized his mouth in a frenzy of passion. His hands moved to her back, pulling her into him as the kisses continued to be deep and exploring of one another’s mouths. Lindsey pulled Callum’s trousers fully open and almost begged him to enter her. He kissed her feeling her tremble, but still continued to make her wait. He felt her push up against him, she wanted him desperately and he reveled in this knowledge. He finally gave in as she positioned herself for easy passage. But she needn’t have as they were both so turned on that Callum entered her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was a little more forceful than last time, but gentle nonetheless. He pushed her back until she was lying flat across the desk, so that he could send his thrusts through her body. He reveled in the fact that he could hear her moans of pleasure and share in them. Callum kissed her hard on the mouth, parting her lips with the tip of his tongue. Both could feel the moment about to arrive, they could feel it building up inside of them. It was a powerful, overwhelming feeling. Lindsey had had orgasms before, she had experienced great moments of pleasure, but this sudden feeling of an explosion building up inside of her was unbelievable. She could feel herself wanting to cry out, she could feel it building up in her throat but couldn’t release it as Callum lead the feeling on, making it last as long as possible. Then, Lindsey felt a release of passion so strong that she felt herself shake on the release. Then, she felt Callum shudder and sigh as he released his own passion into her. He slumped down onto her as she lay exhausted and tingling with an uncontrollable sensation that was flying all round her body, through every vein. Callum slid an arm under her and pulled her up slightly, not entirely, with him. His breathing was heavy and deep, she could tell that he could still feel it too. He looked at her and saw his love for her reflected in her eyes. He knew there and then that she did love him. “ You know I’ll never hurt you again don’t you?” he asked, his voice wavering “ I’ll never do anything like Barry or Peter did” Lindsey nodded. “ Of course I do” she replied brushing away the lone tear threatening to stray from Callum eye. She was secretly on the verge of tears herself, tears of happiness, she had finally found a man who truly loved her and whom she loved in return. Her mother’s words came to her suddenly ‘ Some of us wait all our lives to find someone who truly loves us.......And some people never find anyone willing to die for them’ CHAPTER: 38 THE LAST NIGHT As Lindsey began pulling her clothes back on her doubts began again. She looked at Callum who was standing on the other side of the desk looking through the drawers for something. He noticed her watching him and smiled at her. Lindsey couldn’t help but smile back. She pulled her top over her head and walked round the desk to him. “ What is it you're looking for?” she asked leaning against the desk beside him. “ You remember those photos I showed you?” He replied closing one of the drawers. “ Oh I have those” Lindsey replied, suddenly regretting telling him. Callum looked at her curiously, frowning. “ Why?” he suddenly asked sounding faintly amused. “ Eh I’m not actually sure...., I came back here a while ago and took the photos, I had been looking for the ring” she confessed. Callum smiled at her still appearing amused by the fact that she had wanted the pictures. Lindsey looked at the floor gathering the courage to ask him a question that she didn’t want to ask and had been delaying for some time. Callum looked at her, he knew something was wrong. “ Callum,....when are you going back?” the tears were already showing at the mere thought of him leaving. Callum sighed, he too had been avoiding the subject of his imminent departure. “ Tomorrow” he replied quietly and quickly. “ When tomorrow?” Lindsey prompted. “ My flight leaves at 8:30 in the evening, Manchester airport ” he looked at her, saw the sadness in her eyes and smiled. The smile was weak, he too was upset by his having to leave her, but he didn’t want her to be sad, all he wanted was for her to be happy. “ What time is it now?” Lindsey asked realizing that there was no clock in the warehouse, at least not one that was working. Callum glanced at his watch. “ It is ten past ten” he replied never taking his eyes from hers. Lindsey now returned the deep gaze that he always fixed on her, in the past she had done everything to avoid the gaze, afraid of what he might see, she now no longer cared. “ Lets go” Lindsey suddenly cried making her way around the desk. “ What!” Callum exclaimed, fixing her again with a curious stare. “ Come on, we have time to party at least before you go” Callum laughed as he watched Lindsey throw out some quick dance moves before him. He moved around the desk to her standing but an inch away from her. They could each feel the others warm breath on them. “ You really want a good night out?” Callum asked. “ Yeah” Lindsey replied grinning at him. “ Okay, I know just the place, should be some free drinks in it too, the bloke who owns it owes me a few favours” Callum spoke smiling. Callum turned to lead the way out, but Lindsey stopped him. Before the feel of him standing that close to her would have bothered her, but now she didn’t want to lose or forget the feeling of him. Callum looked at her wondering what might be wrong. “ Callum there’s one thing I have to tell you before I lose you....” Callum cut her off. “ You're not losing me, you’ll never lose me, don’t think like that” he spoke urgently and pleadingly taking her head in his hands. Lindsey put her hands to his chest. “ No, no Callum lets look at it the way it is, I know you’ll always be mine and you know I’ll always be yours, but there’s nothing we can do about it okay, but I have to tell you one thing” Callum brushed her hair back with his fingers as she spoke. “ Okay, what is it?” “ Whenever I slept with Shelley” Callum’s face dropped at the mention of the woman who had betrayed Lindsey with Jackie “ Don’t worry this is a compliment to you” Lindsey reassured him laughing “ When I was in bed with her there was one thing I could never stand, her breathing, luckily for me and your personal safety you didn’t breathe like that” Callum found himself laughing. “ So what did I breathe like?” “ Your breathing was calm, I liked that, it was relaxing, plus you did something that she didn’t” “ And what was that?” Callum asked controlling his laughter at having such an odd conversation. “ You held me, she never did that” Lindsey turned serious as she said this “ And I think...that was the reason I missed you so much, nobody.....” Lindsey found herself crying again, Callum pulled her to him briefly before she continued talking through her tears “ nobody ever held onto me like that, it made me feel wanted and that was a new feeling for me and that’ll be why I miss you so much because I’m going to be feeling all alone again with nobody to hold onto” Lindsey broke down now. Callum held her tightly and both experienced a thoroughly new feeling. There was a warmth emanating from the tender embrace that neither had ever felt before with anyone. Lindsey quickly cleared her face up once they both decided it was for the best if they tried to avoid anymore embraces like the one they had just shared. “ Right lets hit the town” Lindsey laughed once she was ready. As they strolled slowly from the warehouse of memories Callum called Sam, briefly informing him that he was going to be out for most of the evening. “ That’s fine, look Callum, the police” Callum instantly gave a irritated sigh “ No its alright, they bought the story about a bungled robbery and all that, okay, just thought you’d like to know” “ Right thanks, look do me a favour Sam” Callum spoke as he handed Lindsey the keys to unlock the car. “ Yeah anything Callum” Sam shrugged. “ Don’t call me unless absolutely necessary, try and handle things on your own for a bit, okay” Callum didn’t wait for an answer, he ended the call and climbed into the drivers seat, taking the keys back from Lindsey. Sam sat in the lounge of Callum’s house feeling irritated but still understanding why Callum was acting the way he was. Callum strode with his usual confidence. He felt as though he was untouchable as he entered with Lindsey on his arm. Callum’s entrance was noticed by everyone, it was the unshakable confidence with which he made his entrance. Most people would consider such confidence ‘cocky’ but not with Callum, it was obvious to any stranger in the street that Callum had the absolute right to hold such belief in himself, he was a man who reeked of power, influence and extreme ability and skill in what he done, he was impossible to not notice. And now with Lindsey on his arm he felt more noticeable than ever, he was a man of power with a beautiful woman, how could he not be noticed? Everyone watched as Callum slowly approached the table where Harvey sat. Harvey had looked up with everyone else as Callum had entered and he had waited for Callum to approach him. Once Callum reached his side he rose to welcome him. “ How are you Callum? I heard about what happened” Callum shook Harvey’s hand before turning to Lindsey so that he could introduce her. “ Harvey this is.....” “ Lindsey, so I’ve heard, you’re a very lucky woman Lindsey, you want to hold onto this one, not many men as faithful and devoted as our Callum here” Harvey spoke as he took Lindsey’s hand. Both Lindsey and Callum cringed as they heard Harvey’s words. “ Yes well Harvey, not all things are that simple, but I intend to enjoy what time I have with him” Lindsey said with a false smile that hid the pain she had felt at his words. “ Well Harvey I do believe you owe me some drinks, right?” Harvey rose at Callum’s words. “ Briggsy!” he called to one of the barmen. Briggsy soon appeared at Harvey’s side “ I want these two to be given free drinks all night, is that understood?” “ Of course sir” Briggsy nodded “ What can I get you?” he asked turning to Callum and Lindsey. “ Eh Jack Daniels for me and” he turned to Lindsey. “ I’ll have a Vodka and Orange thanks” “ Well it was nice seeing you again Harvey” Callum shook his hand. “ What you’re not keeping me company!” Harvey exclaimed jokingly. “ No we’re off to mingle” Callum turned and left Harvey’s table once he and Lindsey had received their drinks. “ You don’t like him much do you?” Lindsey spoke loudly as the music began. The dance floor was packed, it turned out to be a popular night club after all. “ Nah not really, but you know what its like in this business, keep who you think will be useful” he replied as he moved towards the dance floor “ You know I beginning to think I’m getting too old for these scenes” he spoke smiling at Lindsey, never taking his eyes from her face. “ Hey! Speak for yourself, you’re only as old as you feel” she replied laughing. “ Well that don’t say much for me, christ I shouldn’t even be here!” Lindsey laughed, dropping her head to his shoulder. “ Yeah well you didn’t feel so old earlier now did you?” she spoke close to his ear in a mock seductiveness. “ How can I feel old when I’m round you” he smiled at her before moving in for a kiss. Lindsey didn’t hesitate with her response. There was something different in the kiss this time though, there was an eagerness that came with the knowledge that they would never be this close again, a desperateness to hold onto the moment for as long as possible. The moment was broken as Callum suddenly realized how useless his situation was. He looked at Lindsey memorizing every detail although he knew her appearance already by heart. He placed his glass on a nearby table and with both hands now free he took Lindsey’s face in them. Lindsey observed him confused by what he was doing. They were standing close to each other, bodies almost touching. Lindsey knew as she looked into Callum’s eyes what he was doing, he was saying goodbye. She inched closer to him so that they were touching. Callum put his forehead to Lindsey’s and drew a deep breath, this was it. They stood for a brief moment like this before Callum suddenly drew his head up. He kissed Lindsey allowing his lips to linger on hers for a brief second. The kiss lasted but a second, yet it meant more than any of the lust-filled, passion fueled kisses they had ever shared. It was their goodbye kiss, but Lindsey was not about to accept it. CHAPTER: 39 A FINAL INSULT She stood for a moment stunned as Callum turned and walked out of the club. She considered what had just happened, she considered the fact that ‘that’ was to be the last moment they ever shared together, she wouldn’t accept it, she couldn’t. Lindsey dashed after him, only just catching him in the car park. She saw him leaning against the car, clearly he wasn’t enjoying the situation either, but Lindsey didn’t care, she wouldn’t accept that the brief kiss they had just shared was to be their ‘goodbye’. “ So that’s it!?” she cried as she approached him. Callum turned to face her as she quick-marched towards him “ That’s it, that’s our final moment is it!?” Callum sighed, she stopped a few paces away from him. “ What were you expecting Lindsey? I mean what do you want me to do? You think this is easy for me? You think I want to get on that plane tomorrow?” Lindsey looked at him for a moment, but she clearly wasn’t going to calm down. “ I don’t know what I was expecting Callum, but that kiss and then walking out definitely wasn’t what it was!” Callum dropped his head into his hands. “ You may not have noticed Lindsey but I’m not very good at goodbyes, I mean what do you want? Do you want some speech about how it could have been, but how it can’t be. Is that what you want? Because if it is just say the word Lindsey and I’ll do it” Lindsey was clearly becoming more and more aggravated by the second “ You should’ve learnt that much by now, but then again if you still haven’t realized then maybe I really am wasting my time” Lindsey stared at Callum, clearly burnt by his words. “ Screw you Callum” Lindsey growled before turning and making her way back to the club. “ Maybe I should’ve expected that” Callum called after her. “ Yeah maybe you should have” Lindsey called back. That was to be their parting note, as usual. Maybe nothing had changed, maybe they were meant to forever part on bad terms, maybe they were meant to forever share that final insult. Continued Next week.......

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