Getting him Back (6 page)

‘You know what
I think about him, Tez. Why don’t you just stick with your new
fella? He’s gorgeous.’

‘I don’t love
him, Cat. I still love Mark and if I don’t meet up with him and try
to get him back I’ll always regret it. I need to know there is
definitely no chance of us ever getting back together before I can
start getting serious about anyone else.’

She shrugged
her shoulders. ‘Why are you making so much effort for tonight
then?’

‘Because I’m
meeting Mark’s parents. I have to make an effort for that.’

‘
Are you
sure it’s his parents you’re making an effort for?’

‘
What do
you mean by that?’ I suppose I was trying to look good for Monica’s
sake too – I didn’t want her to think that her boyfriend’s ex was a
frump.

‘I mean, are
you sure you aren’t doing it for Mark. I know what you’re saying
and everything but I think deep down you do really like him but you
won’t let yourself admit it.’

‘I do like him,
yeah. I said that. It’s just not serious that’s all – and I don’t
want it to be. Can we change the subject now?’

‘Ok.’

***

Catherine had
done a magnificent job with the makeover, again. I kissed and
hugged her and went down to the hallway to wait for Mark. I glanced
at myself in the hall mirror. My hair was sleek and glossy again
and my eyes sparkled. I looked quite tanned in the aqua tunic top
and white palazzo trousers. I heard his car horn beep and I grabbed
my duffle coat from the coat-stand.

‘You look
gorgeous,’ he said leaning forward to kiss me.

‘You do too,’ I
replied, taking in his purple shirt and khaki trousers. He’d gelled
his hair and it made him look dangerous and even sexier.

‘Moni’s looking
forward to meeting you,’ he said as he put his foot down hard on
the accelerator again, making screeching noises. I held onto the
sides of my seat and took some deep breaths as he almost ran over a
cat.

‘
I’m
looking forward to meeting her too,’ I said. I really was too. I
wanted to know exactly what it was my Mark found so fascinating. He
wasn’t shallow enough to leave me for someone with looks and no
substance. Mark was too clever for that. Monica had to have
something that kept him interested.

The car journey
must have only taken about five minutes, which made me wonder why
he hadn’t suggested we walk to his house. It was in the quieter
part of town, where the accountants and doctors lived. Mark’s dad
answered the door; I could see where he got his good looks from,
his dad was the spitting image of George Clooney.

‘Nice to meet
you, Terri. We’ve heard a lot about you,’ he said, before taking my
coat and hanging it over the banister.

‘Nice to meet
you too,’ I said, finding it hard not to stare at him for too
long.

His mum came
out of the kitchen. She was beautiful too; she looked like Nigella
Lawson. ‘I’m sorry I look such a mess,’ she said dusting bits of
sponge off her apron, ‘I want everything to be delicious!’

‘I’m sure it
will be,’ I said, shaking her hand.

‘
David,
pour Terri a drink,’ she said before going back into the kitchen.
Mark’s dad went to get some wine. It was then that I heard a door
slam upstairs and some footsteps on the stairs. It had to be
Monica. I was right – it was Monica, although she wasn’t alone. She
was with a good-looking man.

‘Hi, you must
be Terri,’ she said, smiling. ‘This is James.’

James
held his hand out and I shook it. Why did she bring one of her
flings and not Mark? I thought to myself. I took freckly Mark’s
hand as he led me into the dining room. I thought Monica and James
were following us but when I turned around I could see them
kissing; her hands were squeezing into his bum cheeks and he had
his tongue in her ear. I was shocked that they would behave like
that in her parents’ home. I was starting to dislike her even more.
Maybe my Mark only went off with her because of her slutty
behaviour. Towards the end, we hardly slept together and when we
did it was routine – going through the motions with no real
passion. I’m sure most men would find it difficult to resist such
an obvious nympho.

Mark pulled a
chair out for me and I sat down. He sat down next to me, opposite
his dad and his mum sat facing me. Monica and James decided to join
us eventually, both of them looking completely dishevelled. James
even had Monica’s lipstick around his chin. Mark’s parents
exchanged knowing looks and grinned.

‘So, Terri?
Mark tells me you work in marketing, is that right?’ Mark’s mum
asked.

‘Yes. I’ve just
got promoted and I’m looking forward to some more hands-on work
with campaigns.’

‘That sounds
great.’ She passed me a tray of vegetables and I placed some on my
plate, next to the roast potatoes and roast beef.

She looked at
James. ‘And James, Monica tells me you’re in the police force. That
must be really exciting.’

He smiled. ‘Not
as exciting as you’d think. Most of the time I’m doing paperwork or
sitting in my car bored.’

She laughed.
‘Well I’m sure it’s a lot more exciting than being a dinner
lady.’

Mark had told
me his mum was a dinner lady at the local school. She only worked
for a couple of hours each day, just to give her some independence.
She didn’t need to work, you see, because Mark’s dad was a top
heart surgeon who made good money. I stared at him again. He had
the same sexy mouth as Mark. I imagined him dressed in his scrubs
and I almost choked on my potato. I felt my face redden and I
turned to face Monica instead.

‘So I hear
you’re studying psychology, Monica,’ I said.

‘Yes. I’m in my
final year now and so I hope to join the police too when I’m
done.’

Again, I
almost choked on my food. I didn’t know how she would cope in the
police force – all those men in uniform. She’d have them for
dinner! How would she get any work done? And such important work
too! I dreaded the thought. ‘Really? Isn’t it
dangerous?’

She laughed.
‘Of course it’s dangerous – that’s why I want to do it.’ She gave
James a look. ‘I love a bit of danger, don’t I, Jimmy?’

He shuffled
uneasily in his chair and Mark helped him out. ‘She’s always been a
daredevil, haven’t you, Moni. Do you remember that time you jumped
off the climbing frame and cut your head open?’

Monica laughed
again. Her laugh was so dirty – just like the rest of her. ‘Oh
yeah! How can I forget that, eh? And do you remember that time you
dared me to run in front of that lorry…’

Mark
avoided eye contact and sipped his drink. He whispered, ‘I
didn’t
dare you,’ before
turning to me. ‘Shall we go and sit in the lounge while we wait for
our coffee?’

His mum stood
up. ‘That’s a good idea. Everyone go into the lounge and I’ll bring
in the coffee and cakes; homemade as well, guys.’

We all
went into the lounge, which was like something out of a designer
home magazine; all wooden floors, sheepskin throws and wall-to-wall
books. I sat next to Mark on one of the three brown, leather
settees. Mark’s dad sat on a leather recliner and sipped some
whisky. I found it hard to take my eyes off him, again. Mark was
cute now but if he looked like his dad when he was older – wow! I
hoped Mark hadn’t noticed me leering at his dad. I think Monica had
because when I turned to look at her she had a weird, smug
expression on her face. I wonder if they taught her how to read
body-language at Uni; she would have me sussed for sure.

‘Mark tells me
you’ve met James before,’ she said.

‘Oh?’ I was
confused.

Mark nudged me.
‘You remember, when we were at Zanzibar you said you knew Moni’s
boyfriend and he was a friend of yours and Cat’s.’

What was going
on? Was James Monica’s boyfriend? Maybe my Mark had been one of her
flings and not her boyfriend, after all. It was all starting to
make sense. She wasn’t a PA. I’d gotten the wrong girl. How could
this have happened?

James
interrupted my thoughts. ‘You’ll have to jog my memory, Terri. I
can’t quite place you.’

I laughed.
‘It’s ok. I think there have been some crossed wires somewhere. I
got you mixed up with somebody else.’

Monica
narrowed her eyes. I glanced at Mark, who was looking as confused
as I felt. Fortunately his mum had perfect timing, bumbling through
the door with a tray full of the most gorgeous smelling cakes ever.
She placed them on the walnut coffee table which was almost the
size of our dining table, at home. I chose a flapjack and Mark took
a blueberry muffin. It tasted divine. I wanted to take one for
Doreen. She would just love them. ‘These are absolutely delicious,’
I said to Mark’s mum.

‘I’m so glad
you like them. I’ve only recently started baking again. I do so
much at the school it feels like work when you do it at home!’

I laughed.
‘Well, I’m glad you’ve made these, they’re lovely.’

‘I’m glad
you’re not watching your figure like most of the girls these days,’
she said.

‘Mum!’ Monica
shouted.

Her mum looked
surprised. ‘What?’

‘That’s a bit
rude, isn’t it?’

Her mum turned
to face me. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, Terri. You’ve got a great
figure. I didn’t mean you were fat or anything.’

Monica grinned
again and leaned against James, crossing her leg so that it was
almost on top of his thigh.

‘That’s ok. I
knew you didn’t mean that.’

Mark tapped me
on the shoulder. ‘Shall we go for a walk?’

‘I’d like that,
if that’s all right with you Mrs Wyatt?’

‘Of course it
is. You can go too if you like Monica. Don’t feel you have to stand
on ceremony.’

Monica grabbed
James’ arm. ‘Come on. Let’s go upstairs,’ she said, practically
dragging the poor guy off the settee.

***

I rarely
went for walks, which was a shame considering we lived next to a
nature reserve. Mark took hold of my hand and I felt all warm
inside. I knew this feeling. It was the start of falling in love. I
tried to pull it away but he just clasped hold more tightly. I
could hear his breath quickening and I knew he was feeling the same
as I was. I turned to look at him. He brushed my hair from my face
and leant forward. As he kissed me I was torn between enjoying the
way he made me feel to wanting to push him away. I didn’t want to
get hurt again and I didn’t want to hurt him either. How could I
give him a proper relationship when all I kept thinking about was
my ex. He started to pull me closer now and I could feel he wanted
more. I pulled away. ‘I thought I heard somebody coming,’ I said,
wiping my mouth.

He
pulled me toward him again. ‘It’s ok. You never get many people
walking by this time of day.’ He took hold of my hand again and led
me into the woods. He pushed
me gently against a tree and started to kiss me again, this
time harder. I was powerless to push him away this time as I was
enjoying it too much. He started to moan and his breathing got
faster. I felt his hands as they moved from my hair down to my
breasts; next, his hands were teasing my nipples; I wanted him
there and then but I just couldn’t do it. I managed to get the
willpower to push him away. He looked hurt. ‘What’s wrong with
you?’ he said.

‘I’m sorry.
It’s just too soon. I can’t do this. Not here.’

‘Let’s go
somewhere else then. You can come around mine when my parents are
out. I want you, Terri. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re
driving me crazy.’

His hands were
caressing my hair again and then he was pulling me closer again and
I almost gave in but I had to be strong. ‘I like you a lot, but I
don’t want to get serious just yet.’

He shrugged his
shoulders. ‘It’s been over a month now. How long do you expect me
to wait?’

‘I don’t
know.’

‘Well in that
case I may as well walk you home,’ he said, obviously
disappointed.

When we got to
my house he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

‘When will I
see you again?’ I asked.

‘I’ll call
you,’ he said, before walking away, not bothering to turn back to
wave.

I knew he
probably wouldn’t call me. I was a little upset but I knew it
wasn’t anything like when my Mark dumped me. I was so looking
forward to seeing him again and hopefully getting back with him.
Then everything would be all right.

Chapter
Eleven

Funnily
enough, freckly Mark did phone me. He actually apologized and said
that he hadn’t meant to come on so strong but that Monica had been
giving him a hard time because all we’d done was kiss. I wasn’t
happy about him discussing our relationship with her, but they were
close and it was what brothers and sisters did. I discussed things
like that with Catherine so it was only to be expected, I guess. We
arranged to meet up and he promised he wouldn’t try anything again
until I was ready. It wasn’t him that was on my mind, though, it
was my ex.
It was
getting near to our meeting and I was becoming so
nervous.

I told Doreen
about my plans to meet my ex, during our morning break. Like my
mum, she was also sceptical. ‘You don’t want to go raking up the
past, love. Stick with your new man. He makes you laugh,
right?’

‘Yeah, but
that’s because we’re not serious. We’re just having fun.’

‘Having fun
sounds good to me,’ she said biting into her flapjack.

‘I was with
Mark for nine years, Dor. I can’t just switch off my feelings. I
was going to marry him.’

‘I know, love.
I don’t want to sound harsh but he dumped you – two weeks before
your wedding.’