Spellbound

I was going to enjoy staying with Max after all, even without Tom here.

I should probably give him a ring; let him know I got here fine. I'll try and go back and visit him in a few weeks time once I’m all settled in. “Hey Tom, it's me”

“Oh. Hey Els. What’s up?”

“Just letting you know I got here fine. I miss you though, I'm going to come back in a few weekends time”

“Oh right. That's ok. You don't have to check up on me or anything”

“I'm not checking up on you baby. Why would I do that? I just miss you.”

“Oh, that’s alright then. There really is no need for you to come back so soon though. I’m doing fine here”

“Ok. I will still do it anyway. Oh, the guys are calling me back, got to go. I'll talk to you soon”

“Guys? What guys?”

“Just Max’s teammates. Got to go”

“Fine, bye”

“Love you”

“Yeah, you too”

I sighed as I shut my phone. I went back into the living area and plopped myself down on the sofa next to Geno. Well, I say next to, on top of more like. His strong arms snaked around my small body. I relaxed into him. Being with him felt so comfortable, so natural.

“Something's wrong” It wasn't a question, more of a statement.

“It's nothing really”

“You can talk to me, you know, if you need to. I'm here” He looked down slightly when he said this, as if he was embarassed by his words. This guy was the cutest.

I couldn't help but smile. I turned in his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. My smile grew as he hugged back, just what I needed right now.

Tom and I had only ever spent a few days apart since we met, almost 20 years ago. Our families even went on holiday together, we honestly were inseparable. When I told him my parents wanted to send me to live with Max, I suggested us getting a place together. Tom immediately rejected that idea though, telling me we hadn't been together long enough for us to move in with each other, and that couples only ever moved in together if they planned on getting married. To say I was a bit hurt by that was an understatement. I let it drop but casually bought it up again a few days later, but Tom just brushed it off. I didn't want a proposal or anything, just confirmation that our relationship had a future.

Over the next two weeks, I watched Max and the rest of the team practice most days; I hung out with them all when they weren't practicing, and I missed Tom a lot.

I was becoming quite good friends with some of the guys, namely Sid, Jordan and of course Geno. He was the one that always seemed to know what to say to cheer me up, even more so than Max did. Geno and I were the closest out of everyone. I still hadn't met Max's girlfriend. He had spent plenty of time with her but I was yet to receive an introduction.

“Hey Maxie?” I looked up at him sweetly. He was just finishing off getting dressed after practice, hair still wet from his shower. I made sure to keep my eyes on him and not look at anyone else. I didn’t want to get distracted by their bodies, and with Max being my cousin, I knew that that wouldn’t even enter my mind.

“Hey Els. What do you want?” He eyed me suspiciously up and down before breaking out into a smile when I walked over and hugged him.

“It feels like I’ve hardly seen you since I’ve been here, that’s all. Fancy hanging out tonight?”

“Yeah, that’d be good Els. Give us time to catch up. You can tell me all about what’s going on back home”

I waited while Max finished off getting ready, then we walked to his car, saying goodbye to the other few guys who were with us.

“So, what do you want to do then Els?”

“How about get something to eat? I’m starving”

“Name the place”

“Chimi Changa? I just love their chorizo pasta”

“Sounds good to me, let’s go”

The car journey wasn’t too long, about twenty minutes which we filled with mindless chatter about the songs on the radio and how Max had an absolutely awful taste in music. We pulled into the car park at Chimi Changa and the waitress showed us to the table. Before we’d even sat down I had ordered for us.

“Can I have the barbecue chicken tenders to start, the chicken and chorizo pasta for the main, and then for desert I’ll have the brownie please? Then the same again for him,” I motioned to Max, “and we’ll also have two Diet Coke’s please.”

“So I don’t get a choice in what I eat now then?” I looked up to see the resigned look on Max’s face and felt slightly guilty. It didn’t last when I remembered how good the food here was though.

“You’ll love it. Trust me, when am I ever wrong?”

His face perked up at this, and he began to list numerous times when I’ve messed up. We reminisced about the old times, when we used to be really close.

“It’s not the same without you back home Max, I miss all of this”

“Els, it is the same. And do you know why?” I shook my head. “Because this is home now. So all of this that you miss, well, you don’t have to miss it anymore. Now how’s that for a superb upturn in life eh?” He looked over the table at me, smiling sincerely. I couldn’t help but smile too, his smile was infectious.

Who knows, maybe Max was right when he said this was my home now.

And then there was Tom.

Tom who I missed so much; Tom who I couldn't get hold of; Tom who wasn't answering or returning my calls.

Tom who would cause Geno's face to harden and his hugs to tighten at the mention of his name.

Is it weird that I notice that?

Maybe.

It's just he's always the one who listens to me and my endless complaints about his lack of communication. It's Geno that soothes me and comforts me on those nights when I'm all cried out from when Tom hasn't ended a phone call with 'I love you'. It's pretty pathetic of me really, I know Tom loves me; he's just never really been one for showing affection. Geno on the other hand seems to know exactly what to say and when to say it, the perfect remedy.