‘Yeah, he is alright, on all fronts,’ she laughed. ‘So were you shagging out your frustrations last night?’
‘No,’ I shook my head and looked down. ‘I couldn’t.’
‘You’re not jealous of that bitch are you? He chose you over her.’
‘Not jealous as such no … intimidated I guess, they have a long history,’ I shrugged. ‘I just couldn’t face having sex while she was fresh in both our minds.’
‘Tell me again where you said she was just a hole in a wall to fill, I loved that,’ she chuckled. I looked at her and we burst out laughing.
I hugged Robert tightly at five o’clock, sad to say goodbye. ‘Thank you so much for a wonderful Christmas and for everything you’ve done for Gabe and I today.’
‘I had a wonderful Christmas too Mia and thank you for being such a wonderful girlfriend in putting up with my son. I know he’s not the easiest, but there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.’
‘I know that, please don’t make me cry,’ I nodded with a sniff, and he laughed.
‘I’ll try and come back before half term, if not, it would be nice if we could maybe invite your parents up to stay, so that I can meet them formally?’
‘That’s a lovely idea, you must bring Sofia too.’
‘You think that would be ok?’ he asked with a frown over at Gabe.
‘Yes, he’s coming around and the more he sees you with her the easier it will become.’
‘Dad,’ yelled Gabe from the door. ‘We need to go.’
‘One minute Gabriel, please,’ Robert said firmly and Gabe rolled his eyes.
‘You’re the only one who can put him in his place,’ I laughed.
‘O I think you do quite well yourself Mia,’ he smiled as he kissed each cheek and turned to hug Lexi. She winked at me over his shoulder as they embraced and I scowled at her. Robert had stripped off his shirt earlier as he was helping shift the sofa into the right position and I’d seen her drooling over his toned chest and stomach. She pulled her tongue out at me, then smiled sweetly as he released her.
‘Take care of this one for me Lexi,’ he ordered as he nodded in my direction. ‘And both of you are to ring me if Gabriel gets out of hand again, please,’ he instructed as he gave us a serious look, we both nodded.
‘Dad, seriously, plane, now,’ Gabe shouted. His Dad sighed and rubbed my shoulder and headed for the door. ‘No going in the bedroom baby, see you tomorrow morning,’ Gabe called as blew me a kiss from the door and I returned it with Lexi heaving in the background. Robert smiled and shut the door with a final wave.
‘Shit, I’ve got me the hots for old man Austin,’ Lexi groaned.
‘So I saw,’ I laughed and smacked her arm. ‘You had crust forming you were dribbling that much.’
‘Come on, seriously hot body for his age.’
‘He’s only forty two Lex.’
‘I wonder if he’s hung like Gabe.’
‘Ewwwww stop right now,’ I shuddered with another laugh as I padded barefoot to the kitchen and opened the fridge and took out two beers. I knocked off the tops and handed one to her and hopped up to sit on the island.
‘It’s looking good,’ she nodded as she looked around.
‘It is,’ I smiled. We’d done everything but put up the pictures. All the furniture was in place, the bathroom was stocked with all the linen and Lexi had organised my clothes from Gabe’s and mine in the dressing room as I still wasn’t allowed in. I only had my basic toiletries, Uni stuff and nick nacks to move over tomorrow. ‘It looks like a home now instead of just a new empty apartment.’
‘So, we chilling here or next door?’
‘Next door,’ I answered quickly. ‘Until tomorrow that’s my home Lex, with you. I vote pizza and Ben & Jerry’s delivery and some cider.’
‘Good call,’ she nodded. ‘Movies?’
‘Too right.’ I clinked bottles with her as she grinned at me.
‘What do you fancy?’
‘How about “Show’s over motherfuckers” as I’m in the mood for that sort of film.’ I looked at Lexi and she frowned and chewed on the corner of her mouth. I jumped off the island and screamed as I did a victory lap around the dining table. ‘I’ve thrown Lexi Clarke,’ I laughed. ‘You don’t know what movie that’s from do you?’
‘Do so,’ she scowled. ‘Lots of people use that phrase, I’m just working my way through them so stop gloating Page.’
‘Ok, but the Countdown clock is on,’ I laughed and jumped up and down on the spot as her brow furrowed, I gave her about a minute. ‘Do do, do do, do do do do, doooooooo,’ I sang mimicked the ticking clock from the show. ‘Time’s up.’
‘O come on, give me another clue,’ she groaned.
‘Because it is exceptional circumstances and you’re obviously traumatised at the thought of me moving across the hall I’ll give you one, but I still won.’
‘Fine whatever,’ she muttered.
‘Ok “So you wanna play?”’
‘Well yeah that’s why I’m waiting for a bloody clue,’ she grumbled.
‘No that was the quote,’ I laughed. ‘Wow you’re so off your game. Ok here’s another “Hey green arsehole, you can’t use the front door now.”’
‘O. My. God … damn it … it’s on the tip of my tongue.’
‘O dear, three quotes in and she still fails. No way you won’t get it from this. “He has a special signal he shines in the sky, it’s in the shape of a giant cock.”’
‘Nooooo,’ she yelled. ‘Kick Ass? God damn it, how could I have forgotten that? “Ok you cunts, let’s see what you can do now.”’
‘“Whatta douche.”’
‘“I know that dumbass,”’ she laughed. ‘Damn it, I can’t believe you beat me.’
‘What can I say, I’ve got it going on today,’ I giggled as I did a little victory dance. ‘I vote Kick Ass, then Kick Ass 2, we haven’t seen it yet.’
I sighed happily, with a full tummy and feeling slightly intoxicated as we watched Kick Ass 2, Lexi’s head in my lap as I played with her hair. I reached up with one hand, feeling something wet on my face and checked the ceiling for leaks before I realised I was crying. I tried to sniff quietly and felt Lexi shift in my lap.
‘Thank God! I thought it was just me getting upset and you’d turned into vampire Elena and had switched off your humanity,’ she mumbled. I laughed and started crying properly as she sat up and looked at me, tears streaming down her own face.
‘This is ridiculous Lex, I’m going across the bloody hall, not moving to Antarctica,’ I whimpered between sniffs.
‘I know,’ she nodded as she dragged her sleeve across her face, ‘but it’s four whole doors between us at night instead of just two and what if I need you?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well I’ve always just been able to come and crawl in bed with you, I can’t do that now.’
‘Sure you can.’
‘Yeah right, like Gabe’s going to put up with that,’ she sniffed.
‘Well I wouldn’t be happy if it was every night Lex, I’d still like a sex life, but now and then he’ll have to deal, just like he’ll have to deal if I need to come to you.’
‘Really? You’re not just saying that?’
‘Really, though I’d better warn him first. Can you imagine the look on his face if he woke up with his morning erection and rolled over to find it was you not me?’
‘Wow that’s one way for me to sneak a peak at the goods,’ she laughed. ‘I need tissues, I have a serious potential booger leakage situation going on here.’ She leapt up and came back to the lounge with a box as I pressed pause on the film and wiped my eyes while she honked on her nose.
‘What else are you worried about?’ I asked.
‘When are we going to see each other? Do I need to make appointments? It’s not like I can just wander over in case you’re having sex and I interrupt.’
‘Well I’ll still be here for movie Tuesdays, we have our Friday nights out a
nd you come and knock whenever you want to see us, like I’ll do for you. I’m sure we’ll have you and Doug over to eat just as much as we ate together here. Plus don’t worry about food, when Gabe and I do our shopping you can come with us and I’ll get yours.’
‘But I can’t cook.’
‘Then you need to learn, like I have. I’ll speak to Gabe, maybe we can have one night a week where he teaches us both stuff ok?’
‘Ok,’ she sniffed. ‘Do I have to take over your chores too?’ She tried to give me her best pleading face and I smacked her leg laughing.
‘If you think I’m coming over here to clean up after you think again. You know how to use the washing machine now, all you need to do is wipe surfaces as spills occur and dust and hoover once a week. Are you sure you don’t want to move into my room?’
‘Thanks but no, I like mine, though I’m dying to get back in the proper bathroom. What about studying?’
‘Lex, we can’t plan everything, it’s no different to us having shared up until now, we’ll just see what happens and where we’re at day by day ok? I’m sure I’m going to have plenty more arguments with Gabe and need to come and crash for the night. We’ll get you a key cut tomorrow so you can come and go.’
‘You’d better check that one with Gabe first, what if he likes to wander around naked?’
‘Good point,’ I nodded. ‘Maybe a key for emergencies only and knock doors before you enter.’
‘What do I say if Mrs P rings home for you?’
‘We don’t have a landline Lex,’ I reminded her with a flick to her forehead.
‘Well she might ring on my phone and what do I say?’
‘I’ll call her back as I’m on the toilet, or you’re just going to get me? She won’t know you’re walking across to a different apartment will she?’
‘I can’t cope with all this pressure and the lying,’ she groaned.
‘Please you sound like Doug now and you’re very good at the lying.’
‘Take that back Page,’ she glared.
‘Well you are,’ I protested. ‘You’ve been lying to Doug for over two months with your faked orgasms.’
‘Don’t remind me,’ she sighed as she blew her nose again and subconsciously reached down and caressed the heart around her neck.
‘Lex, I think you might be in love with him,’ I whispered.
‘What?’ she exclaimed.
‘You heard me, I really do. I think that’s why you ran off and had sex elsewhere, you’re scared.’
‘O no you don’t Missy, it’s our last night. You’re not going to psychoanalyse me and get me in a mood by pushing me to talk.’
‘O come on, this is what we do, we push each other and help each other.’
‘We also cheer each other up when we’re down and right now I need cheer, not pushing.’
‘I’ve got it! I know what will cheer you up. Come on,’ I grabbed her hand and dragged her off the sofa and headed to the front door.
‘I’m not going out drinking with no makeup on.’
‘I’m not going out! You think I want my first day living with Gabe to turn into another blow out and days of not talking?’ I grabbed my keys off the hall table and pulled her out onto the landing, crossing over to the new apartment.
‘No way, you’re not looking at the bedroom, I promised.’
‘What’s he got going on in there?’ I asked as I looked back at her. ‘Has he smuggled in a giant panda for me?’
‘I won’t break.’
‘I wasn’t going in there, but you need to go and get my black lace clutch bag.’
‘You’re giving me your lace clutch to cheer me up?’
‘No way, I love that bag,’ I retorted as I opened the door.
‘You’re saying I’m not worth your lace clutch,’ she gasped clutching her chest. ‘You wound me deep Page, very deep.’
‘Ok, swap you for your silver Choo?’
‘Sod off, no bag’s worth the Choo, none are Chooworthy. So what’s the deal? Why do you need the clutch?’
‘Stop yammering, go fetch then maybe I’ll tell you.’
‘Go fetch? Cheeky bloody cow,’ she laughed as she cuffed me around the head and stalked off. I walked over to my pole and did a spin around it, before climbing it and hanging backwards. I giggling as Lexi came out of the bathroom and looked at me shocked. ‘Shit seriously, you can do all that stuff?’
‘Lex if you were that lesbian arse licking cat I could turn you on so much right now,’ I replied as I did a few moves on it for her.
‘Christ, you and Gabe are never going to leave this place,’ she laughed. ‘I hope you’ve been limbering up in preparation for a whole weekend of sex.’
‘Hmmm,’ I sighed as I dismounted and walked over to grab the clutch off her. I hopped up onto the pool table, opened the bag and pulled out the card of the Sam the boy band singer and flicked it with my fingers. ‘Would you give me your Choo for Ian Somerhalder’s phone number?’
‘No way,’ she gasped.
‘Deal or no deal?’ I asked. She chewed on the corner of her mouth.
‘Tempting but no deal, you’re bluffing, if you’d met him in New York I’d never have heard the end of it.’
‘How about Sam, lead singer of new US boy band Nevada 6?’
‘You’re shitting me.’ She lunged at the card in my hand and I quickly moved it out of the way.
‘I shit you not. He asked me to call him and gave me his card. So deal or no deal?’
‘Deal, deal, deal, if you’re not pulling my leg.’
‘I’m not pulling your leg, but I’m very disappointed that you’d give up your Choo so easily.’
‘Let me see, please,’ she implored. I smiled and handed her the card and she gasped and looked at me wide eyed. ‘It’s not April 1st is it? You didn’t have this made to wind me up?’
‘Nope, he told me to call him if I changed my mind about Gabe.’
‘Ring him, ring him now.’
‘Lexi,’ I laughed. ‘I love Gabe, I’m not making side dates with someone, not even a very hot cute famous someone.’
‘Was he even better in the flesh?’
‘O yeah,’ I nodded. ‘Dark and mysterious looking, with deep brown eyes.’
‘Please ring him, if he flies over to meet you I’ll go in your place.’
‘What about Doug?’
‘He’s a chilled dude. He’d be totally cool me having a night with my top male singer totty. In fact he’s my current top all round totty. I think you are faking, that’s why you don’t want to ring. It’s not even a real number.’
‘How dare you doubt me Clarke, am I not your best friend?’ I hopped off the table. ‘Right move it, we’re ringing that number.’ I laughed as she screamed and raced back out towards our apartment and I looked around my new home and smiled, turned off the lights and shut the door. We went back to our lounge and I picked up my mobile.
‘Stick it on speaker,’ she ordered.
‘He might not even answer, or remember me. He carries business cards for God’s sake, I bet he’s given it out to thousands of women.’
‘Stop stalling. Ring,’ she ordered clapping her hands. I shook my head laughing and put it on speaker, rang the number and it went to answer machine.
‘Hey you’ve reached Sam, leave your message after the beep and I’ll hit you back.’
I grinned at Lex as she rolled her eyes and flopped back on the sofa at the sound of his voice.
‘Hi Sam, I’m not sure if you’ll remember me, you gave me your card in the 40/40 club in New York the Saturday before Christmas, the girl with the big diamond on her finger. Well it’s off, so if you’re up for some hot no strings attached sex I’d love for you to hit me back, you have my number, the name’s Mia.’ I squealed as I hung up and Lexi shrieked kicking her legs as she laughed.
‘Holy shit, you just offered your sex no strings deal with Gabe to Sam from Nevada 6.’
‘For you Lex, on the miniscule chance he rings back I
won’t be hooking up with him.’
‘O tell me you’re not that principled that you’d turn down a night with Sam?’
‘I would,’ I nodded as she sat up and gawked at me.
‘Even if Gabe had no way of finding out, you still wouldn’t go there?’
‘No because I’d know Lexi and it’s wrong.’
‘See that’s why we’re great together, we’re yin and yang, you’re all innocence and purity and I’m dark and duplicitous fucking around behind Doug’s back.’
‘I thought we agreed no maudling tonight?’
‘Fine, put the film back on and rewind it, I missed about fifteen minutes while I was pretending not to cry.’
We climbed into my bed at two a.m. and I checked my phone to see a message from Gabe.
Hope you had a nice night with Lexi. I’m missing you. Can’t wait to sleep together in our new place tomorrow. Love you baby G xxx
We’ve had a great time thanks, hope you had a nice boys night with Doug. I can’t wait either and missed you too <3 your M xxx
I lay down and reached over to turn off my light when my phone started ringing.
‘Bloody hell,’ muttered Lexi, ‘if you’re going to have phone sex I’m outta here.’
‘Hey baby,’ I answered as I smiled back at her.
‘Hey babe yourself, I was so pleased to get your voicemail,’ came an American accent. I gasped and elbowed Lexi in the ribs. I hadn’t checked the number, I’d just answered thinking it was Gabe.
‘Hi Sam,’ I replied and she squealed and sat up.
‘So, how you doing?’
‘Great thanks, you?’ I asked as Lexi shoved her head next to mine to listen in.
‘Even better after your offer, it made my night.’
‘Please, like you don’t have women offering you that deal every night of the week.’
‘Maybe,’ he laughed. ‘But not from women I wanted who rejected me, that doesn’t happen often.’
‘Nice try, I bet you don’t even remember me.’
‘Long brown hair, bright blue eyes, amazing dimpled smile and killer legs in a short cream dress,’ he rattled off and Lexi and I gasped in astonishment at the same time. ‘So what happened to the good looking blond guy you were all over?’
Love & Loss (The Austin Series) Page 33
