Inked: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World), стр. 34
I don’t do promises, and I certainly don’t do forevers.
I’m still in the dark as to what to do when evening rolls around, and if I weren’t so desperate to see her again then I’d have cancelled already. Oz texted me some restaurants to check out after his client left, and when I looked them up my eyes almost popped out of my head at the prices. I can’t afford shit like that, no matter how incredible Harlow might be. It’s totally out of the question.
By the time I finish up for the night, I’m not exactly in the mood to head to my aunt and uncle’s for a family dinner I agreed to weeks ago.
I call myself an Uber and head to their side of town. They live in the picture-perfect house with a wraparound porch and swing seat out the front. White picket fence and all. It’s the exact kind of upbringing I’m sure I’d have loved. My aunt and uncle are both incredibly kind and gentle people, unlike my father who’s an uptight, controlling arsehole.
I walk up their driveway to find my uncle’s arse sticking out from their campervan.
“Corey, there you are. Sandy was starting to think you’d bailed on her lasagna.”
“Never,” I say with a laugh, thinking of the home-cooked food I’m desperate for.
He pulls me in for a one-armed man hug, allowing me to see the inside of the camper. It’s almost in its original state. It’s like a time-warp.
“Whoa, this is impressive,” I say, continuing to look around.
“Yep, she’s a beaut all right.”
“You getting ready to take her out?”
“I wish. We haven’t had a chance to get away in months. I feel guilty she’s not moved an inch off the drive.”
Ideas start popping up in my head, but when my aunt spots me from the kitchen window and comes running from the house to pull me into her arms, I soon get distracted.
“It’s so good to see you,” she cries as she flies at me.
She’s a petite woman and her arms barely close around my middle as she holds me.
“The LA sun looks good on you, boy.”
“Thank you.”
With one final look at me, she pulls me inside, telling me that Austin is already here. We find him in the kitchen prepping a salad to accompany the lasagna.
“Hey man, you alone?” I ask, looking around for his girlfriend.
“Yeah, she had to work. You’re stuck with just me tonight.” I roll my eyes like it’s a hardship, but he knows I’m joking.
Spending time in this house is a reminder of the kind of family life I’d have loved as a kid but never got to have. We never had one home. We were dragged from military base to military base, mostly across Europe, wherever Dad was posted, and we just had to make the best of it. That was until we started secondary school. Then, we were abandoned in London at a private school and mostly left to do our own thing. There were certainly no family dinners or enjoying each other’s company after that.
We sit and chat as the food is laid on the table and I eat as if I’ve not done so all week, much to their amusement.
We chat about our lives and they ask about the studio like they really care. It makes me regret not wanting to come. I always tell myself it’ll be just like being with my family, but it’s never anything like it and I always enjoy their company.
“Did you have fun at Austin’s birthday Friday night?” my aunt asks innocently.
“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
I groan as Austin narrows his eyes at me. I was waiting for this. Not for a second did I think that Bailey would have been able to keep her mouth shut about Harlow and me spending time together.
“Oh?” both my aunt and uncle say at the same time.
“How is the lovely Harlow?”
“I… uh…” My aunt’s eyes widen at the possibility of me finding a girlfriend. “I haven’t seen her since Sunday.”
“So I heard. I also heard that you’ve got a date tomorrow night and that she has no idea what you have planned.”
“She’s not the only one,” I mutter as they all stare at me. “I was actually going to ask you for a favour,” I say, looking at my uncle.
“Go on.”
“You said your camper hasn’t been out. I wondered if I could possibly borrow it?”
He opens his mouth, I’m assuming to deny me of his beloved baby, but my aunt beats him to it.
“Of course, sweetheart. It’s just sitting on the driveway doing nothing.”
My uncle narrows his eyes at his wife, but all she does is laugh.
“Come on, I’ll show you around.” She winks at me. “These two can do the washing up.”
A few hours later, I leave my aunt and uncle’s house driving his beloved camper with a smile forming on my face. This is going to be perfect.
Chapter Thirteen
Harlow
This week at work with my upcoming charity gala is crazy. It almost means I forget about the fact that I hear nothing from Corey until almost midnight on Thursday, by which time I’d pretty much decided he’d bailed and that anything between us was done. It was probably the way it should have been. I have enough on my plate with my aunt’s health and work, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed.
I look down at his message again.
Be