The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (41 page)

After a restless night of tossing and turning in sheets that smell of Sebastian I decide to crawl out of bed and glancing at my phone I see its only 6am. Oh well at least I’d be organised this Monday. It give me more time to pack the mountainous necessities required for my boys trip; toys and clothes for all seasons - it was the UK after all. Then rustle up a breakfast of porridge with cranberries and cherries for Finn and I to share together. I’m glad to have the time with him and we chatter away - Finn keen to reenact scenes from last night’s movie. His laughter is a breath of fresh air and in that moment I know how blessed I am already - we were fine on our own. This weekend had been out of this world but Finn was my priority.

Packing up the car, I do a quick drop at my parents, leaving his small suitcase, toys, footballs, his
noo-noo
teddy, which had a silky label that he
had
to stroke against his face at bedtime, and a goody bag I’d done for him as a surprise; then nail it back, past ours and into Bodley to drop Finn at crèche. Kissing him goodbye I squeeze a little too hard as I won't see him until Friday.
 

"You be good for Ninni and Gramps poppet and have a fabulous time in Wales at the seaside. I'll miss you like crazy!" I plant umpteen kisses all over his soft face and head.

"Enough Mummy!" His giggles make me laugh too.
 

"Mummy's got a busy week with work but I'll call you and Ninni will face-time me, so we can say good night most nights, OK my darling."

He nods in answer and I wobble slightly. Five days is too long, but my parents had planned this short holiday with great gusto; got a little holiday cottage in Abersoch, North Wales and Finn needed some adventure time. Plus it had worked out well with my workload. Feeling emotional I hand his backpack to the nursery nurse and with a last hug remind him, that Ninni was collecting him, before watching him run full pelt at his friends.

He was fine. It was me that was the problem.

It takes everything in me not to march in there and pick him up, but I know I'd make it worse. So I wave to a fellow Mum, and wince for her, as she struggles to release her daughters monkey-like grip, from around her leg - we’d all been there - then I make a dash for it and head off to work. My phone rings and I smile as I see Suzie’s name light up the screen – I wondered how long it would take her – she’d showed remarkable restraint, leaving it until Monday morning to pump me for info about my love life!

“Hiya Love!”

“Oh goodie I got you before you were in work. I knew if I rang at this time there was a good chance!” she stresses warmly knowing I’m a creature of habit.

“I’m all yours for another 10mins. Just dropped Finn off.”

“Oh. You OK?”

“I’m fine - hate leaving him but he’d rather go on holiday with Mum and Dad. I’ll be good, once I’m busy busy. What’s up?” I reply vacantly as I try to reverse out onto a main road, whilst a woman in a people carrier rolls in, oblivious to my difficulties. I look at the amount of kids in her car and just think,
let it go
she has much bigger, more immediate issues.
 

Suzie is chattering away, as I return to concentrate on her spiel again. “I’ve just about recovered from Saturday night. It was wicked wasn’t it? I think I really put my back out on the bronco.” She chuckles and I feel for her, as I know her back gives her gip, after a nasty car crash a few years back.

“Fantastic night,” I agree. “Another memorable party hosted by the D’Alisa’s”

My attention is drawn back to the road ahead. Bollocks – huge amounts of traffic. I decide to risk it and take the back route.
“Am I making it up or do I remember someone riding the Bucking Bronco…naked?” I continue to chatter.
Suzie bursts out laughing. “Ha ha, I’d forgotten about that. Yes – he had a sock on the end of his willy. What a tosser! Anyway enough delaying tactics. Come on; don’t hold out. Did you have a good night…after you went home?” I can hear the unasked question in her voice.

I decide to ignore it. “Hey? I don’t know what you mean?”
“Stop being coy Sis. Er durr! A certain male friend who seemed to stick to you throughout the night like glue and couldn’t take his eyes off you and no I don’t mean Theo the wanker!” she sputters obviously irritated by my unwillingness to spill the beans.
I smirk, I’d got the vibe that Suzie wasn’t that impressed by Leo but she was normally more forgiving. “You weren’t keen then?”
“Oh he was alright, I suppose. A bit boring! I don’t know, I can’t quite put my finger on it but I’m just not sure about him? Bit
too
nice? Him and Chris to be honest! I don’t know, anyway again with the stalling tactics – spill!” My delightful sister holds no bars and commands. “I know it must have been pretty darned good; I could feel the heat between you, from miles away!”

She was right, on both counts so I comply, knowing that if I don’t she’ll turn up at work and demand a tell-all then and there and I didn’t want Colin and Jackie knowing the intimate details.
“Nothing to say, really, Babe. We went home, he stayed and we had all-consuming, mind-blowing sex all… night… long; oh and the next morning too…in the shower!” I giggle like a schoolgirl and actually blush at the thought of how wonderful the night
and
replay had been. I swear my bits do a loop de loop in agreement; their awakening is evident with every naughty thought. I keep Sunday night to myself though, no need to divulge too much.
“Get the fuck out of here?” Her language is appalling today. “Why didn’t you call me the minute he left? That’s if he left? When did he leave?” she quickly takes a breath in excitement.

“Calm down Miss Red Bull, less of the questions,” I snigger. “He left on Sunday morning. We later met for breakfast with Nathan and Abs and then Finn came home from his Dad’s. I feel awful as that’s two Saturday’s on the trot I’ve not been with him but he seems OK; especially as Sebastian and I took him to see Despicable me 2 yesterday afternoon.”
 

“Seriously? I wanted to see that movie!”
 

I can practically hear her sulking. News of Sebastian and I have taken a backseat to Despicable Me – How did that work?
She corrects herself recognising her mistake. “Wow! You spent the whole weekend together? That’s something Lu. It’s about bloody time! As I’ve told you before, even
Single Mums
need sex. You’re desperate, not dead!”
“Cheers Sis, that sounds like a slogan from a t-shirt!”
 

Smiling I slow down for someone to pull out in front of me and blare my horn in frustration and anger when they do so and continue at a pace of 10mph.
Oh come on!
“Sorry. Car crash waiting to happen, just pulled out.”
“Oh I hate that. Is it an old boy? Hey kudos to you Babe; check you out changing the subject. Nicely done,” she graciously offers.
I laugh loudly but something within me decides its time to ‘
fess-up’
.
 

"I propositioned him Suze."

"Scuse me? You did
what
?" Her screech makes me regret opening my big mouth.

 
"I asked him for one night of pleasure. You know - to be my fuck buddy. He said yes but on the proviso it was more than one night. I'm good with that."

"I bet you are you naughty girl."

“I’m not going to get down to the nitty-gritty yet… I’m still trying to process it all myself. I’m not sure how I feel. Anyway Hun, I’ve got to go; I’m pulling into work. I need to crack on with The Ashton project.”
“OK OK, I get it. I'm glad that one of you idiots made the first move at last but hurry up and
process it all
soon…,” she mimics my own words with a patronising tone to them. “…and then you can blabber the juicy details soon. Just answer me this, how big was his co… ?”
 

I cut her off cheekily just at the right moment and end the call.

What I had said was the truth. It is all too fresh to be discussing anything I haven’t come to terms with yet myself. I’d much rather keep the j
uicy details
, as she’d saucily called them, private for now, perhaps forever and enjoy reminiscing in my daydreams but I must admit I’d enjoyed relaying that we’d done the deed, at last. It felt cathartic somehow.
I lean over to change the track on my Ipod to my play list of the month and the track of the weekend, and feel a fizz of excitement as Sub Focus Endorphins blares out into the car, reminding me of the monumental sex cocktail I’d supped from all weekend and the irony of the title of the song; the endorphin rush I’d experienced had been exhilarating and dangerous, creating a delicious high. I’d definitely been holding on for some kind of miracle and this weekend it had been delivered to me. Now I had problems. I’m completely consumed by a certain sexy contractor and can't see how I could ever return to
just friends
.
 

You can - you just need to suck it up and enjoy the ride in the present. Remember this is about opening yourself up to new possibilities.
 

As I sit at my desk, harshly biting down on my lip and chewing in concentration, I consider my sexual antics for the billionth time this morning. Lost in my thoughts I gasp in shock at the sound of a loud reverberating click in front of my eyes.
 

Bloody hell!

Shaking his fingers around in my personal space Colin is manically trying to get my attention.

“Sorry Babe to make you jump but I’ve been calling you loads – you were miles away! Anywhere nice?”
 

He rests his bum on the edge of my desk, slides long chino-clad legs out in front of him and rests his hand flat out underneath his baby smooth chin, in a cute little girl style. I shake my head at his pretty pose.
 

“Sorry poser. I was just thinking about the curtains for the master suite at The Ashton,” I lie apologetically up at him, leaning back into my chair.
His eyes shrewd he considers me, watching my face for hints, then hits my shoulder playfully, “Bollocks. You were thinking about a certain silver-tongued devil. Don’t lie to me Lulu; you’re a terrible liar.”
Sucking in his mouth, his cheeks hollow and he dramatically places a palm on his pink designer polo shirt covered chest. “Unlike me, who can lie through the eye of a needle. Or... is that piss through the eye of a needle?”
 

I giggle at his confusion, bless him he always got his clichés mixed up.
 

“Well… either way I can do both.” His eyes shine prettily, his long eyelashes fluttering precociously.
“You’re in a particularly good mood today Col, I take it you and James are going good?”
 

“Oh Darling, you know me. We made it to date number three on Sunday and I’m not bored to death… yet, and I was dragged around a decidedly dull art show but I went and showed my line-free face, for his sake. It was one of his friend’s exhibitions, and oh... my... God... it was bad. Finn could have put her crappy work to shame!” He claps his hand over his mouth dramatically and just as quickly throws it away. “But – the pièce de résistance was
me
covered in Nutella - later that night. James was overcome Darling I tell you. Well he came… all…
 
over!” his tongue caresses his top lip saucily and I cringe at his blatant coarseness.
“Lady Boss, Damien Hirst is not a patch on all of…
this
!” his finger forms an invisible wiggly-line in the air, which travels down his body.