“I called you so many times.”
“I couldn’t find my phone after they left.” She lowered her voice as she said it. “One of them must have taken it when they were there. When I left, I got the taxi driver to go to yours. I posted a letter saying where I was and that I didn’t do it. That if this were a terrible mistake, then you’d know where I’d be. I rang the buzzer to the gate. You never answered.”
“I never got it.” He groaned. “I never heard the buzzer, I swear.” No, because he’d sobbed and drank a bottle of wine and fallen asleep on the couch.
They sat for a minute, and his ears rang as the shock wore off.
“You’re right, we’ve been properly had.”
Arthur took a deep breath. He wanted to rage, but that would wait until he got his hands on Victoria because she must have taken the letter.
“Why would she do it?” Rebecca asked in a small voice.
“Maddie is a fucking menace. Vicky never used to be like her, but the witch corrupted her over the years, and that’s partly my fault. Maddie wanted those earrings. They’re worth a small fortune. She was left all the jewellery, except for them, and the engagement and wedding rings. The rings were left to me, and the earrings to you.”
“Me?”
“Mum loved you, you were like the daughter she never had. She changed her will, asked me first. I was happy about it. Maddie lost her shit when I told her that. I should have seen it, she was so angry. A month later, she asked me if she could have them, as you had gone. I thought it was her being insensitive at the time. I was so caught up in finding you, I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“You don’t hate me?” Pain laced her words.
“That’s what you’ve thought all these months, that I thought you were a thief?”
She nodded. He turned to her and smoothed her hair, and she was lovely as ever. He wanted to hold her and kiss away her pain. “I’m so sorry, god, Rebecca, you have no idea.”
“And you thought that I upped and left you like I didn’t care.” She held his forearm as he rested his hand on her shoulder. It was natural.
“I thought I’d pushed you away or Mark might have found you. I went to the police and your D.I. Edwards. I asked everyone I knew of. Joe’s really worried about you.”
“I thought everyone would know, and that it would be this thing. The shame of that, of people I love thinking that of me. Not after everything I’ve been through.”
They gazed at each other again. “Are you happy?”
She blinked. “No. Well, I mean, it’s okay. You?”
“No, I’m miserable. Grieving not only for mum but for you.” He didn’t explain that he’d lost himself.
A throat cleared. “Hey, birthday girl.”
“What is it, Pete?”
“Just checking in. You okay?” His jaw clenched, and eyes never left Arthur’s.
“I’m fine.” She turned from Arthur, wiping her hands on her jeans.
“Well, everyone is wondering where you’ve got to, seeing as they’re all here for you.” He rolled his eyes, and she sighed. Pete didn’t leave.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
He nodded and left. The guy turned back for a second. Arthur didn’t blame Rebecca for moving on, but it tore him in two.
“I get that things are different. You have another life, friends, but now that I’ve found you, I can’t stand the idea of letting you go again, but if you don’t want me here, I’ll understand.”
“I’d like to be in your life. I’ve missed you.” She dug out her phone from her pocket and unlocked it. Her wallpaper was a picture of her, Alice, and him.
“That’s a nice photo.”
She smiled, her eyes still watery. “Luckily I had all my photos backed up online. I love this one. We had margaritas and ice creams that day.”
“I remember.” He put his number in, and she texted it.
“Want to meet my friends?”
No, not really. “Sure.”
They went back in, but he was reluctant to let her out of his sight when she went to the loo to sort her makeup out. John and Rob eyed him.
“That’s her then?”
He nodded. It was too loud, and he wanted somewhere quiet, just the two of them. The Pete guy was staring.
She came out of the ladies and went to him, making his heart trip. She smiled and shook hands with John and Rob, and they all went over to the large table, everyone piling in. There were a few curious glances between Arthur, Pete, and Rebecca.
Rebecca blinked at Arthur. Shock, joy, mortification caught her mind and tumbled together. She was afraid and elated, and everything was too much. Focusing on his presence, she attempted to calm herself down.
Pete leant over to her while everyone was introducing themselves. “Well?”
Rebecca cleared her throat. “It’s complicated, but short version; he never thought I stole anything. We were set up.”
Pete raised a brow. “That mean you two are going to get together?”
“No idea.”
“By the look of him, I’d say so.”
She blushed.
Cressie shouted over the group. “Oi, old bitch!”
“Ha-ha, little child.” Rebecca grinned, there was exactly three years between them.
“I thought we were here to dance, and this is your tune.” It was, the first beats of the provocative song got up, and she laughed.
“Right then, I need my ladies for dancing.” Pete grabbed Cressie and crooked his finger at Rebecca with a predatory gleam before pulling her along.
She turned to Arthur. “Do you mind?”
He shook his head as she was dragged away.
Pete was all over both of them, grinding and flirting as always, and for the first time, it didn’t make Rebecca laugh. She wanted to be in Arthur’s arms. Cressie paired off with some guy, and Pete put his hands around Rebecca’s waist and whispered down to her.
Giving Pete a dirty look, she danced away from him and glanced up at Arthur. He watched her in confusion, eyes intense on her, and her heart dipped again, feeling like she was on a rollercoaster. Pete started dancing with another woman. The song changed, and Rebecca left the dancefloor.
“The challenge is on,” she said as she re-joined the group.
Everyone looked up and over to Pete dancing with two women.
Arthur leant over when the group settled down.
“Are you okay with your boyfriend doing that?”
Biting the inside of her cheek so she wouldn’t smile at his concern, she whipped around to him. “Pete? He’s not my boyfriend.”
“But you two seem…”
She looked Arthur right in the eye and leant forward. “Seem,” she said with raised brows, and Arthur nodded.
“You’re not…” Arthur closed his eyes when she shook her head.
Rebecca ached but smiled when he opened his eyes. He blinked hard and took a very slow breath.
John and Rob were chatting away with a couple of girls, the others seemed occupied, but Stella stood and joined them, moving Rob and John up and next to Arthur, and Rebecca smirked, knowing Stella’s game. She did love to play.
“So, what do you do?” Stella’s glance bounced between her and Arthur.
“I’m retired.”
“Retired?” Rebecca asked, confused.
“I sold the business. I had an offer, an interesting one before mum died when I went to London. I knew it was time, so I sold up after she had gone. It was what kept me busy those last few weeks, I wanted to get everything in order. For us. I made sure it was a good deal for the company more than for me. I couldn’t do it anymore, I didn’t want to, not for a long time. I wasn’t happy. I’m still on charity boards and do all the committee stuff, but no more office.”
Her breath caught. “Don’t you miss it?”
“No, actually, I don’t.” Arthur kept his gaze fixed on her.
“How
do you fill your days?”
“I look for you.” He said it so matter-of-fact, she had to glance away in shame.
“I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head, hand seeking hers. “Don’t be, I’m the one who should be sorry after the way I treated you.” He nearly said more, but their attention was turned to the dancefloor. Pete was kissing one girl, with the other still grinding up against him.
Rebecca laughed and gestured to the group. “Pete’s loves a challenge, tonight getting two women into bed.”
Stella leant over Arthur, her full and enticing figure pressed up against him. “Yeah, one of the impossible ones was getting into your knickers if I remember.” She grinned at Rebecca, and Rebecca laughed, shaking her head. Stella always pushed.
“No one said he succeeded, and let’s be fair, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge for him if it was you, would it?” They were half-joking, and always bickered, bitchy and mean.
Stella cackled. “Nice.”
They clinked drinks.
Stella flirted with one eye on Rebecca, and Arthur leant closer and closer to Rebecca, and it was hard work not to laugh at it.
“Drinks?” she said and went to the bar when she had everyone’s order. She carried a tray back and put it on the table.
Pete was trying to probe the second woman’s stomach with his tongue as she watched. He opened his eyes and winked at her. She laughed despite herself.
People shifted from the bench and spread out, and she lost her spot next to Arthur. Picking up her drink, she perched at the end on the opposite side of the table.
When she settled and glanced over, his gaze was on her, eyes soft, and mouth in a half-smile.
She raised her brow, eyes darting to Stella, his eyes went wide, and she laughed at him. Arthur pulled out his phone and texted her to come back over and save him. Running her finger over the text, she went to him. She’d do pretty much anything he asked of her.
Rebecca leant against the rail, facing the dancefloor. Arthur left the table while Stella was in midsentence. Behind him, Stella put two thumbs up.
“What’s up?”
She shivered as Arthur’s voice buzzed in her ear, he put his hand around her waist. It was perfect. She’d missed him so much.
“If Stella decides something, she decides it,” she shouted over the bass but shrugged and kept her eye on Pete.
“Don’t I get a say?” His lips brushed her ear.
“She’s very persuasive.” She glanced up at him and smirked.
“Are you teasing me?”
“You’re free to do what you want.” Rebecca turned around, putting her elbows on the rail, as he rested his hands either side of her.
“Am I?”
She carefully masked her face.
He focused on her mouth. “I’ve just found you again, and I’m not going to sleep with Stella.”
“Bold words.”
“You’ll protect me.” Amusement danced in his eyes, the club lights shone in the grey of them, and Rebecca had to pull away.
Take the plunge. The words reverberated. Take the plunge.
She sighed, reached up, and leant on him so that he heard. She was so close he squeezed her, and it felt so natural. Rebecca focused as she spoke. “She’s the alpha, but yes, I’m teasing you. She’s testing you. She doesn’t know about me or us, but Pete understands, and he knows about you, about who I am. We have this flirty friendship, it keeps these fuckers off my back, and gives them something to gossip about that isn’t important. We’ve let them think what they want because it makes life easier for me. I feel I don’t deserve to be thought of in better terms. I’m in flux. Arthur, you gave me so much, but I’ve been finding my own way without you.” She shrugged in his hold.
Arthur eased off as she turned back to the dancefloor, steadying her breath.
“Stella is bold and brash and unapologetic. Sometimes I wish I was like that. I’m not.” Rebecca relaxed in the intense presence he exuded, and the nearness of his hold when his arm went around her waist and his scent and heat, lulled her. When his voice buzzed in her ear, a shiver ran through her and no longer relaxed, she gripped the rail harder.
“I think you’re wonderful as you are.”
She laughed at his words and tried not to notice the need in his eyes when she turned to him.
“Tell me about what you’re up to.” He kept hold of her.
She shrugged. “I got a job doing admin at a medical practice in Downly.”
“You’re still in the city?” He slumped with a sigh. “I’ve searched everywhere and found no record of you.”
“You know Silverton wasn’t my name. I went back to Crest.”
“Go on.” He seemed impossibly weary, and his arm relaxed but stayed where it was.
“I wanted to leave, but something held me back. Chadford is the first place I’ve lived and been happy. It’s hard to let go, but Downly isn’t really in the city. It’s close, but its own place. I usually avoid the centre. I didn’t know we were coming here tonight. The past few months, I’ve wanted to get out. I had a fair amount left in the bank, and my job covers me. I thought I’d go travelling, maybe backpacking. See some of the world. I thought it might do me some good. What?”
A wry smile flickered across his face. “Since you’ve been gone, I’ve been hanging out with Joe. He keeps telling me I need to start letting you go. I thought now that I’m retired, I’d do the same thing, and travel a little. I’ve been putting it off.”
“How is he?”
“Okay, worried about you, working hard, dating.”
“Will you text him?”
“Sure.”
She watched him text Joe. “Are you going to do anything about Maddie?”
“Yes.” His mouth set. “What they did to you was vile. But they saw what they put me through, a person they both claim to have a relationship with, they knew that this was killing me, and said nothing.”
“Do you see them?”
“Victoria keeps coming around to ‘make sure I’m okay’, being kind, pretending that she gives a shit, hoping that I’ll give up on you.”
Pete appeared and threw himself down on a chair, taking a swig of his drink.
“What’s this? A fail?” Stella laughed.
“They didn’t fancy a threesome after I put all that work in.” He gave a dramatic sigh.
“Ah, poor baby.” Stella pouted. “Hey, I know,” she made her voice loud, so everyone heard, “why don’t you shag Rebecca, she’ll make you feel better.”
Pete sneered, but there was a gleam when he spoke. “Why don’t you fill your big gob with a cock and suck it, Stella, as it’s pretty much all you’re good for.”
Rebecca bit on her lips so she wouldn’t laugh. Pete grinned at Stella’s shocked face, but she narrowed her eyes and stuck her middle finger up at him, laughing.
“Touché, bitch.”
One of the women that Pete had been dry humping on the dancefloor returned. His gorgeous smile was turned to her, but with a predatory edge, she sat on his lap and whispered something. His eyes raked over the other girl leaning on the rail.
He finished his drink in one. “Right then, you ugly bunch, I’m off.”
The girl stood and pulled Pete along. He paused at Rebecca.
“Have a nice night, Pete.”
“You know me, always have a good time.” The hollowness behind his eyes hurt. Pete stood a little too close to Arthur. “You fuck with her, I’ll fuck with you, I don’t care who you are.” All the while, he smiled. He kissed Rebecca’s cheek before he left, a moment of doubt and hesitation before he went.
“He really cares about you,” Arthur said, watching him and the women leave.
“He does.”
“Ever been tempted?”
“I am human, and there is not a straight woman on Earth immune to his charms. But he knows I’m not really interested, and for all his bollocks, he’s been ki
nd to me. Plus, he knows everything about you.”
“Oh?”
She smiled and turned back to the dancefloor, deciding not to answer. “Wanna dance with the birthday girl?”
“Love to.” Arthur took her hand, and she grinned as she led him down to the floor. They moved to the beat together, and even if he seemed wary of the music, she loved it and loved dancing with him. Putting her hands above her head, she grabbed her hair and turned around, and smiled as she looked at him, her nose crinkling.
When she put her arms around his neck, he crushed her to him, and for a second, she thought he’d kiss her. Her body hummed with the bass and the feel of him against her. A hope she’d not given herself hovered, and she clung on as they danced.
Someone wolf whistled and waved them back. She sighed.
“We’re done here. Ready?” one of the others said.
“Um, no, I want to hang out with Arthur.”
Stella sighed, shouting down at them. “We’ve bought you a cake, and pressies.”
Rebecca turned to Arthur. “You want to come back with us?”
“Sure.” Rob and John wanted to go somewhere else, so Arthur said goodbye, and the others piled into a couple of taxis with Rebecca and her friends.
At that moment, Rebecca felt peace, and that painful ache always in her chest eased. She breathed again.
Seventeen
TO THE RIGHT
Arthur wasn’t sure how, but they had been separated in the process of leaving, and not everyone was coming back with them. He nervously watched as the other taxi went out of sight ahead of them. Stella sat next to him. The past hour – or was it five? – whizzed through his mind. It was almost too much. Pete wasn’t her boyfriend. She was still the same Rebecca yet more assured. Arthur wanted everything right then. He’d not let her run, and not ruin what they had again. The relief was pronounced, and he felt three stone lighter.
Getting a Life (New City Series Book 4) Page 17
