Only You Read online

  ONLY YOU

  JJ PITS

  Copyright © 2020 by JJ PITTS

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Another week is done and only two more to go until the Easter break. I really am looking forward to having two and half weeks off, no early morning no rushing around to get ready because I’ve slept through the alarm again and to make things even better today is finally Friday. Time to head home from a mad week at work. Friday is always my favourite day of the week; it means I can go home and have two whole days of not doing much other than seeing family.

  I love my job but this week has been a really busy one.

  I love just being at home with my own company watching films and eating what I want. Even if my sister does come over and bug me half the time, I told her she needs to find her own place now she’s nearly 30. She still lives at home with our parents! I couldn’t even imagine doing that now. I love having my own place and no-one telling me what I can and can’t do.

  I don’t really have many friends, not anyone I would invite over anyways. I have friends I will talk to at work but outside of work, I don’t really talk to that many people. Just family and one friend I’ve been friends with since primary school. Emma’s my sister but she’s more like my best friend, she’s always trying to drag me about the clubs which isn’t always my kind of thing. Though sometimes it’s fun just to get out but not always. Sometimes it’s not worth the drama of nightlife.

  I pull up outside my local shop to get some supplies for the weekend, it’s so cold tonight. Looking around there are not many people about for a Friday night. It’s deathly quiet, almost eerie.

  Next thing I know I’ve been knocked to the floor. I look up to see a man standing there, he was so goddamn hot, black hair, muscles to die for, bright blue eyes. Oh wow, those eyes are just gorgeous! It’s like I’ve seen them before, by the way he looks at me, familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. He holds out his hand to help me up.

  “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” he apologises.

  I let out a half smile “it’s okay, don’t worry,” I assure him. He stops dead and doesn’t take his eyes off me, almost as if he finds himself drawn into me as I do him. Then he smiles and opens the door for me.

  “Thank you,” I stammer feeling the blush creep up my neck. Not taking his eyes off me he smiles at me and then turns and walks off.

  I have the butterfly feeling in my stomach. I’ve not had that feeling in a very long time, but why? I don’t even know him but he makes me feel like I do like I’ve known him for a lifetime or more. It’s a very odd feeling.

  I head out of the shop and back to my car to find he’s stood next to his. I start to walk faster. I can feel him looking at me, I can feel the intensity of his stare. Why does he keep watching me? He’s just an ass that knocked me flying because he wasn’t watching where he was going, people wonder why I love my own company. And yet why does my soul feel drawn to him?

  People at work are always asking me to go out with them. I have a couple of times in the past but if I’m honest they are all young and want to stay out until 3am. I’m past that stage now. I only ever do it once in a while, normally when my sister drags me out or it’s someone’s birthday.

  I unlock my car and get in. I smile at him; he then walks toward me and knocks on the window. What does this gorgeous creep want now? I feel so conflicted. I undo the window to see what he wants.

  “Hi,” I say waiting anxiously.

  “Hey, I know this sounds odd but I would love to take you for a drink some time,” he says cockily and hands me a bit of paper with his number on.

  I look shocked. “Text me anytime,” he winks at me.

  Before I could even get any words out, he was gone. I didn’t even get his name.

  This Friday night is turning out to be very odd.

  Finally, I get home and cuddle up on the sofa in my fluffy pjs trying to find something to watch but all I could think of was him. I had his number and didn’t know what to do, do I text him? Or do I just forget all about it? Not like he would be bothered anyways he’s properly got loads of woman chasing after him. There was just something about him though that kept drawing my thoughts back to him. It’s like I knew him but I don’t. Where does that familiarity come from?

  My phone starts ringing which makes me jump. I glance at the screen and then roll my eyes when I see it’s my sister.

  “Hi em,” I answer.

  “Hallie, fancy coming out for a drink or five? I’m bored and mums driving me crazy.”

  I roll my eyes. “Umm…I’m kinda in my pjs already, I’m not really dressed to go out,” I tell her honestly.

  “Hal come on, it will take you like 5 minutes to get ready,” she tries to convince me. I can never say no to her excited voice.

  I huff, “fine.”

  “Yay…you rock be over in a bit just finishing getting ready myself,” she states.

  “Bye,” I end the call and look around the room.

  There goes my peaceful night in watching Chicago fire while eating as much Ben and Jerry’s as I could. She seriously owes me one.

  Chapter 2

  An hour later and I am stood at this bar wondering what the hell I was doing here. It’s so busy and loud, the norm for a Friday night in town.

  Emma seems to be having the time of her life though not that she’s ever bothered with me for the past 30 minutes. I really don’t know why she’s dragged me out. I mean sat here on my own drinking? I could have done this at home.

  I get a drink from the bar and walk over to sit in the corner on the comfortable and luxurious seating booths. The perks of Emma getting us in as VIP.

  As I’m walking over, I bump into someone. It really isn’t my day today

  “Omg I’m so sorry,” I say blushing.

  As he turned to look at me it was him again, the one from the shop earlier that knocked me over.

  He turns to look at me and started giggling to himself, I raise my eyebrow.

  “We need to stop bumping into each other like this,” he says with amusement dancing on his chiselled features.

  I just look at him incredulously. “Like I said I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” I apologise.

  I start to walk off then he grabs my arm. I’m knocked off-kilter as I feel electricity crackle under his touch. What the hell was that?

  “No need to be sorry” he winks at me.

  “Right,” I say. Unbelievable, what a knob! He honestly thinks he’s something special with his cocky attitude. But why do I feel like I just want to talk to him? No, Hallie no you don’t! I chaste myself. Go and sit down and wait for Emma. I just can’t take seem to remove my eyes off him as he walks away to join his group of friends. There’s something about him I want to know more of. Something is really drawing me to him. Like an unseen force clutching at my soul.

  “Earth to Hallie,” comes a voice. I just come to when I see Emma waving a hand in front of my face.

  I look at Emma confused, “sorry I must have been daydreaming.”

  “Yeah. So, do you want a drink or what?” she asks.

  “I’ve just got one, why don’t you get one and join me here,” I tell her.

  “Okay,” she says and flounces off towards the bar.

  I’m sat waiting for Emma to
come back and happen to look over at the door. I see he’s leaving with his friends. I feel gutted because I was hoping to bump into him again to maybe speak to him. I can’t explain the feeling I’m having; all my emotions are so confused since I bumped into him, literally.

  “Hal. Did you see Zac is back in town?” Emma asks me.

  I look at her with amazement in my eyes, “Zac? As in?”

  She looked at me like I was stupid, “Sarah’s brother, duh.”

  “Oo is he? No, I didn’t, where is he then?” I ask her gazing around the room to see if I could spot him.

  “He’s just walked out with a group of friends maybe we will catch him another time,” she says shrugging nonchalantly.

  He’s just left? No, no way… that’s not possible. The man that gave me his number is Zac! He was the most popular boy in school. Everyone fancied him including me. Well, I say I fancied him; I was more like in love with him. He knew this too seeing as we talked about it. We just talked about getting together and then one day he was gone. His family just moved, no-one knew why or even questioned it. After a week or so no-one really mentioned him again. But me? It took a long time to get over him. Then again, I don’t think that I ever really did get over him, now I know why I felt like that when he gave me his number. Why didn’t he just tell me who he was? He looks so different. Nothing like I remembered him, but those eyes! That’s why when I looked at him I thought I knew him. Sarah was Emma’s best friend. She’s Zac’s sister but when they left, she didn’t. She stayed with her auntie everyone asked her all the questions but she never said why. I’m sure Emma knows though as they are really close. You would think they were sisters more than best friends. Now I really do wonder why he’s back here. He’s changed so much; I wonder if he knew who I was. All these questions going away in my head and there’s only one person that can answer them.

  It’s nearly midnight and I’ve had enough of the loud music and the drunk people. But I’ve had an amazing night dancing the night away with Emma and drinking way too much. Sometimes I just need to learn to let my hair down.

  Emma didn’t want to leave but I told her I was going home. She told me to text her when I get there so she knows I’m safe. She acts more like my mother than my older sister, she’s always been that way since I was little. I suppose it shows she cares even if she is annoying half the time.

  The next day I didn’t wake until gone 11. I sigh to myself. Half the day has gone and I need to go out and do the weekly shopping. Now it’s going to be busy with kids running about everywhere.

  I have a quick shower, jump into my jogging bottoms and a loose top and head down to my car.

  I can’t complain I’m only 25 and I own my own 2-bedroom house and a really nice car. Not many people can say the same. People think I have it all from my parents but nope I’ve been working so hard since I left school at 17. Now it’s showing. I live on my own and I love it this way. My own space that no-one can take away, no parents or sisters to annoy me. Yes, at times it gets really boring and I wished I had company. One day maybe, one day my Prince Charming will come along. As they say, you have to kiss a couple of frogs before Mr Right comes along and I’ve definitely kissed enough frogs for now.

  Chapter 3

  Two hours! It took two hours just to do my shopping, grr if only I woke up earlier then it wouldn’t have taken that long. It properly made it worse because of this horrible hangover I’ve got. Yep, self-inflicted but that’s not the point, having to deal with people when you feel and look like crap isn’t good any day of the week. But when you see some parents of the children you look after at work seeing you looking like that, that isn’t good. Even if they don’t care, you do because you don’t want them to think the worst of you. That’s me though, I think of all the bad things that they could be thinking. They probably don’t care what I look like or even take that much notice. I’m just a natural born worrier.

  Finally, shopping is all put away and I can chill for a bit before going over to mums for our family get-together. She’s always liked to have a couple of hours on a Saturday for family time even if we have moved out and have our own life’s to get on with. Sometimes it’s nice, but today not so much, my head is killing and I know she will have 100 questions about me going out last night. Yup because it doesn’t happen often, she always thinks something’s up with me when I do go out. Something that I need to drown my sorrows for. I see her point though I do need to get out more not being stuck in the house so much. I suffer with anxiety but I can’t let that take over my life and last night proved I can go out and have fun. Maybe this could be the start of something new, a better life for me.

  I pull my phone out my pocket and a piece of paper flutters out. His number! I had forgotten all about it. I still don’t know if I should text him, now I know its Zac. I just don’t know if I want to go there again and get my heart broken. Why would he want me to text him? Why has he given me his number? Questions, all questions going around my head and yep I can’t answer any of them only he can.

  My phone starts ringing making me jump. I must have been in a daydream again, I’ve been doing that a lot lately. He had affected me more than I initially thought.

  It’s Emma!

  “Afternoon hows the head?” She laughs.

  “Not funny and it’s sore really sore,” I frown at my phone even though she can’t see me.

  “Me too. Drunk way too much last night but so much fun, right?” she asks.

  “Yes em, it was, anyways what’s up?” I ask her.

  “Oh, was just seeing what time you were coming over today?” she inquires.

  “Umm…in about an hour,” I calculate.

  “Okay cool, will let mother know,” she tells me.

  I laugh “Ok, just don’t call her that she will kill you, see you in a bit.”

  She giggles “Bye Hal.”

  I arrive at mums intending on spending a couple of hours with them then home to sort some stuff out before Jessie comes over for our Saturday night in. Jessie has been my best friend since school. She’s amazing and understands me like no-one else does. We always promise that no matter how busy our lives are we will always make a Saturday night once a month. We have stuck to it for years. So good we can share everything we been doing since we last saw each other. Even though we do text, it’s nice not to get bored and have that one person to talk to. That’s the one good thing about our friendship.

  Emma stood on the doorstep with Sarah and some lad. I get out of the car and they all turn around. Ok, it’s not some lad…it’s Zac! Stalker much? I know he’s back but he doesn’t have to be everywhere that I am.

  “Alright?”

  Emma looks at me funny, “Hal you remember Zac, Sarah’s brother?”

  “Yep…hi,” I say albeit a little uncomfortable. “Em, is mum in the house?” I ask.

  “Umm…yeah,” she states questioningly.

  I give him a half-smile and then walk into the house slamming the door behind me.

  “Hallie Rose do you have to slam the bloody doors?!” comes my mum’s sharp voice. I inwardly wince. I hate it when she full-names me. It’s like living back at home again.

  “Sorry mum,” I laugh to myself; I feel like I’m a teenager again.

  “Well come here then…cup of tea? Vodka? Or did you have too much last night?” She laughs. I inwardly roll my eyes, she’s a real comedian. Despite this I find myself smiling.

  “Tea would be great, Mum, thanks.”

  Me and mum are sat in the front room talking about our week. I told her about going out last night and there were no questions. This worried me a little. I did ask if she was feeling alright. I know she just wants what’s best for me and if I don’t go out that’s my choice. I’m wondering if dads had a moan at her for sticking her nose in but as much as I moan, I don’t care, she’s my mum.

  Couple of minutes later Emma walks in. She just glares at me.

  “What?” I ask her confused.

  “Really? He was s
tood there and you just ignored him!” she grits her teeth.

  Mum looked at us all confused.

  “Em, it’s Zac. You know me, I’m not going there again. Not now not ever,” I say trying to disguise the lump in my throat as I think back to the time where he disappeared and broke my heart.

  Mum butts in. “Zac? As in who you were in love with for years?” she asks, shock evident on her face.

  “Mum!”

  “Hallie, come on, he gave you his number. He’s not going to do that if he didn’t want you to have it, he knew who you were, he told me,” she confesses.

  Mum is like a school-child getting all excited about the fact he gave me his number.

  “Honestly you two are as bad as each other. I’m not interested,” I state.

  “Yeah, okay Hallie, of course not.”

  Emma walks out the room muttering something under her breath.

  Then there’s me not being able to get him out for my head, my stomach is in knots every time his name is mentioned. Seeing him makes my heart skip a beat but I just don’t want to get hurt not again. I couldn’t bear a repeat performance of the rejection I felt all those years ago. It’s too late now, it’s too late for us.

  Emma stopped being in a mood with me for five minutes, she’s older than me but acts so much younger. We all have wraps for lunch and spend time talking about stuff other than bloody Zac. I spend the afternoon at mums but then I decide it’s time to get and head home as Jessie is coming over. I need to get some coursework done as my tutor is coming in to see me this week. I’m so close to finishing this course and I cannot wait.