Beneath This Man (54 page)

I shrug. ‘I’m crazy in love.’

‘You’ve known him, what…a month?’ Victoria’s disapproving tone riles me. ‘And he owns a sex club?’

‘And?’ I spit at her. I feel all defensive.

She recoils at my hostility. ‘And nothing, I’m just saying.’ she huffs, and flops back on the stool.

‘When did this happen? The last I knew, you were just sleeping with him.’ Tom mimics my own words.

‘Well, now I’m marrying him.’ I yank my hand back and take refuge in my glass of wine. I’m conscious of the fact that I’m facing an Olympic gold medal worthy interrogation from my parents and Dan. I don’t need it from this lot too. Oh, Dan’s back tomorrow. With all of the spectacular events of the last few days, it had slipped my mind. A wave of guilt washes over me for forgetting his return, but it’s soon replaced with a twinge of excitement and then, just as quickly, replaced with dread. What will Dan say to all of this? I glance over my glass and Kate gives me a reassuring smile.

‘It just is.’ I muse.

‘How’s Drew?’ Kate asks Victoria.

I’m not so sure that it’s a sensible question. After Victoria’s foul mood and the revelation that Drew had invited her to The Manor, plus the fact she wasn’t with him last night, I can’t imagine the response is going to be good, but I’m thankful for my friend’s diversion tactic.

‘I wouldn’t know.’ she answers haughtily. ‘I’m not seeing him anymore. I have a date.’

‘Tonight?’ Tom asks perplexed, leaning over the table accusingly.

‘Yes.’ she answers.

Tom scoffs and sits back in his chair. ‘Well, thanks a lot! You’re ditching me!’ he exclaims.

  I look at Kate, who has the same expression on her face that I suspect I have on mine; humour.

Victoria’s eyes bulge at Tom’s huffiness. ‘You don’t think twice about casting me aside if you’re offered a bit of action!’ Her tone is reproachful and quite rightly. Tom has abandoned Victoria on many occasions if a gay man flashes him a promising stare.

‘Still, there are six other days you could have picked. Who is it, anyway?’ He stirs his Pina Colada, trying his hardest to look bored.

‘Just a friend of a friend.’ she muses. I’m glad she seems unaffected, and she’s clearly over the dashing, black haired Drew. They just don’t make sense. ‘Oh, there he is,’ She jumps up. ‘See ya!’ She heads towards an average height, average looking guy at the bar and they greet each other with an awkward kiss on the cheek and a hand shake. She says something in his ear and he nods before they leave. That’s a sensible move. We’ll all be watching how the date progresses and Tom will just be a total bitch.

‘Well,’ Tom huffs. ‘Isn’t that just marvelous?’

Over the next hour, we laugh, chat about anything and everything, and drink. It’s lovely. I’m reminded why I need to battle with my challenging man on this matter. I need my friends, especially Kate. With Tom here, I’ve not had an opportunity to bring her up to date with the Mikael and Coral saga or interrogate her on The Manor and her recent visits there.   

‘And how’s Sam?’ Tom turns his attention to Kate.

‘Why? Do you still want to screw him?’ she jokes, winking at me. Tom flushes from head to toe and flashes Kate a gay, dirty look. It still staggers me how he is so taken by laidback, casual, goodtime junky Sam.

‘No,’ He tuts and crosses his legs. It’s the gayest possible gesture. ‘I was just being polite. How’s Jesse?’

My glass is just touching my lips, ready for a tilt and gulp, when he asks the question. He can’t be avoided all night and I am marrying the man. It’s common knowledge that he’s challenging…but only with me. Everyone sat at this table – and quite a few who are not – have seen him in action at some point.

‘Why? You want to screw him too?’ Kate jumps in with her tongue and cheek question, and I burst into laughter as Tom gapes at her.

He looks between us in disgust. ‘So, it’s pick on Tom night, is it?’

‘Looks like it.’ I say and raise my glass. ‘Tom, Jesse would blow…your…mind.’ I say seriously.

‘Ava!’ he gasps.

‘Oh, please! I have to endure torturous stories of your sexual encounters.’

Kate laughs. ‘I’m going for a fag if we’re getting into Tom’s sex life.’ She jumps down from the stool and makes her way to the smoking area.

‘I need the lavatory.’ Tom grumbles, and clears off to the toilets, leaving me people watching, a pastime I usually enjoy, but then Matt comes into my field of vision and I find myself ducking slightly.

Shit!

My ring is suddenly burning through the flesh of my finger and I’m breaking out in a sweat. I didn’t reply to his apology text and I know the slimy worm has been on the phone to my parents again. Just when I think I’ve evaded him, his beady eyes land on me like a kettle-bell and I sag on my stool as he approaches. I glance around the bar, mindful that the doorman could be watching out for me, and then return my eyes to Matt, catching a glimpse of a healing black eye. I mentally applaud Jesse and suddenly wish I had relented and stayed at home with him.

‘Ava.’ he greets cheerfully, as if nothing has happened, as if he hasn’t been feeding my parents duff information and spouting off that Jesse’s an alcoholic, which promptly reminds me that he knows about Jesse’s issue.

How? But he’s not an alcoholic. I ignore the small part of my brain currently advising me that I might be in slight denial. ‘Matt, I think it is probably best if you leave.’ I maintain a steady, firm voice.

‘Oh?’ He looks truly shocked. ‘Ava, please hear me out. I couldn’t be sorrier, really. I was a complete twat. I deserved everything.’ He shifts uncomfortably on his feet and stares into his pint glass. ‘If you’re with someone else now, then I accept that.’ he says quietly. ‘I’m gutted, but I accept it.’

I keep my hands under the table, the ring firmly out of sight. I have to ask, I can’t help it. ‘How do you know about Jesse?’

His shocked eyes fly up from his pint glass. ‘So, you’re still seeing him then?’

‘That’s none of your business, Matt. And why are you ringing my parents, telling them a load of crap?’

‘Is it crap?’ he shoots back.

‘Who have you been talking to?’

‘No one.’ He won’t meet my eyes, but then he leans his elbows on the table and gets too close. ‘Ava, I still want you back.’

My back straightens and I flick my eyes to the entrance to make sure I’m not being spied on. What am I going to say? He just told me that he accepted it all. How many times do I have to tell him that there is no chance? 

I could kiss Tom when he returns from the toilets and gives Matt his roving eye. Matt abruptly pushes himself away from the table as soon as Tom appears opposite him, knocking my bag flying to the floor. His tolerance level of my forward, gay friend has not improved. I jump down from my stool.

‘Oh, darling!’ Tom crouches down to help me gather my scattered possessions. ‘He’s still hot!’ he whispers to me on the floor.

‘He is not.’ I screw my face up. I find Matt anything
but
hot now. He makes my skin crawl. I rise to find Matt walking away, holding his hand up in a catch-you-later gesture.

‘Oh, where’s he going?’ Tom exclaims, stamping his foot.

‘Hopefully, to jump off a cliff.’ I mutter uncharitably under my breath. I finish my wine in one foul swig. After seeing Matt, I could do with another.

‘Matt’s in here!’ Kate throws herself on the barstool. ‘And he has a black eye. High five Jesse!’

‘Well, it’s been a pleasure girls, but I need some action tonight and it doesn’t look like I’m going to get it in here,’ Tom throws a disgusted look in the general direction of all the blatantly straight men, ‘I’m going to Route Sixty. Want to come?’ he asks hopefully.

‘No!’ Kate and I shout in unison, leaving us laughing and Tom stropping out of the bar in search of action.

‘Did the snake speak to you?’ Kate asks when she’s stopped chuckling.

‘He tried.’ I’m just about to volunteer bar duties when Tom flies back into the bar and collides with the table. He’s huffing and puffing all over the place. Kate and I point frowns at him.

He gets his breathing under control. ‘You will not believe who I’ve just seen.’

‘Who?’ Kate asks before I have a chance to engage my mouth.

‘Sally.’ His face breaks out into a big grin and he glances over his shoulder before returning excited eyes to us. ‘Sally…wearing a miniskirt and low cut top – a
very
tight, short miniskirt and a
very
low cut top. She has a date!’

‘Oh?’ I say, a little surprised, but not because of the apparent outfit. I’m surprised because she looked suicidal on Thursday.

‘What? Wallflower Sally? Boring office girl Sally?’ Kate asks.

‘Yes.’ I confirm. ‘Tom, leave the girl alone.’ I return to my glass, promptly remembering that I want another.

‘I might get a picture!’ Tom dances out of the bar, getting his phone from his pocket.

‘I’ll get the drinks.’ I slide off the stool and grab my purse. ‘Same again?’

‘Do you need to ask?’ She rolls her eyes and waves her empty glass at me.

I fight my way to the bar and wait my turn, attracting the attention of some muscle pumped, ponytailed slime-ball. I ignore his leering stare and order our drinks.

‘Hi, can I buy you a drink?’

I glance around and smile sweetly. ‘No, thank you.’

‘Come on, just one drink.’ he presses and moves in closer.

‘No, really. I’ve got it, but thanks.’

The barman places one glass of wine on the bar. ‘I’ve just got to pop down the cellar. We’re out.’ He leaves me stood at the bar with ponytailed guy dribbling all over me. I roll my eyes, not that the barman notices.

‘Maybe I could take you out sometime then?’ He is really close now.

‘I’m involved with someone.’ I say over my shoulder. He can’t have missed the gigantic diamond on my finger. I take a swig of my wine.

‘And?’

I turn towards him. ‘And…I’m involved with someone.’ I flash my ring and he nods, but not in an accepting way. I think I’ve just made the challenge more interesting.

‘He’s not here, though, is he?’

‘No, lucky for you, he’s not.’ I reply curtly, turning back towards the bar. I’m immensely relieved when I see the barman approaching.

He places Kate’s wine down and I pass him a note, willing him to be quick. My skin is prickling under the leery eyes of the overinflated man stood next to me. I take another long sip of my wine and try to blank him out. I’m beyond exasperated when the barman signals no change. He walks off to the end of the bar and starts faffing about in various tills.

Ponytailed creep moves in closer. ‘If you were mine, you wouldn’t be out of my sight.’

Oh good God! ‘Listen, I’ve tried to be polite. Back off!’

‘I think we could show each other a good time.’ He runs his fingertip down my arm.

I jump, instantly furious with myself for appearing anxious, but then I’m distracted by the barman returning. Thank God! He hands me my change and I grasp Kate’s drink quickly, keen to escape this toad. Turning a bit too hastily, I drop my coins everywhere.

Fuck!

I place the glasses back on the bar and retrieve the coins within grabbing distance and leave whatever else there may have been. I’m not that desperate. I grab the drinks and catch my heel awkwardly causing me to stagger slightly.

‘Shit!’ I curse. Now he’ll think I’m pissed and easy.

I’m met with the twat again when I turn back around. ‘A bit drunk, sweetheart?’ he sneers.

‘Fuck off!’ I’ve tried to be patient.

‘Oh, feisty.’ he laughs, as I push my way past him, thinking how grateful he should be that Jesse isn’t here. He would be flattened by now.

I make it over to Kate and place the drinks down a bit too sloppily, spilling a considerable amount. I shake my head mildly and take my position on the barstool, staggering again. Kate frowns at me.

‘Shoes.’ I mutter.

‘Are you okay?’ Kate leans forward, looking all concerned.

     ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ I assure her. I’m not drunk. This is only my third glass of wine.

‘Who was that idiot?’ She nods in the direction of the self-proclaimed stud muffin as she has a sip of her fresh glass of wine.

‘Exactly that…an idiot.’ I say shortly. ‘Anyway, you have some explaining to do.’

‘I have?’ she blurts.

‘Yes, you have, and don’t you dare brush me off. What’s going on?’

She glugs down more wine, refusing to meet my eyes. ‘What are you talking about?’

I feel myself getting a bit impatient with my fiery friend. She would never allow me to evade her questioning, and I wouldn’t anyway. We tell each other everything. ‘I’m talking about you, Sam and The Manor.’

‘Fun!’ she snaps.

‘No! Don’t you dare!’

‘I’m just having some fun, Ava. What are you? The sex police?’

I recoil, ‘So there’s no feelings?’

‘No!’

‘You know, if you were me, you’d be twiddling your hair.’ I huff, and take a long swig of my wine. No feelings? She’s impossible. ‘Okay, try and help me out. Being as you’re refusing to open up, I’ll dump my shit on you. I value your opinion.’ I smile sweetly.

She ignores my snipe, her eyebrows shooting up. ‘This sounds serious.’

‘It is. You know the developer of
Lusso
, the one who asked me to dinner?’

Kate nods. ‘Yeah, the Dane, handsome in a Scandinavian kind of way.’

‘Yes, Mikael. Jesse slept with his wife. He’s going through a divorce at the moment.’

‘No!’ Kate leans in.

‘Yes, and now he’s on some sort of revenge mission to turn Jesse over and it looks like he’s decided that I’m the best way to do this. I’ve got to meet him, and I know it won’t be work related.’

‘Oh shit!’

‘I know. The wife has been sniffing around too.’

‘What are you going to do?’

I shake my head, taking another swig of my wine. ‘I don’t know, just like I don’t know what to do about that woman, the one who turned up at The Manor’s anniversary.’

‘Who is she?’ Kate’s eyes are widening by the second. I’m not surprised. This is information overload.

‘Coral. Do you remember that nasty man at The Manor the day we found the communal room?’