by Laura Ziepe
‘Babe, it’s fine,’ he said, putting his legs up on the sofa. ‘We can get a takeaway if you like or I’ll help you make something?’
Kelly thought for a moment. Maybe she should treat him and cook him a meal, seeing as he’d had a bad day? After all, she was his girlfriend and she’d never done it before. She wanted to do something nice for him and cooking couldn’t be that hard could it? ‘Look, you sit here and relax and I’ll go and make you a nice home-cooked meal. How does that sound?’
Billy looked doubtful for a second, but then smiled. ‘That’s really lovely of you, babe. You sure you know how to cook though, yeah?’
She rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips, slightly annoyed that he didn’t have faith in her. Then she fibbed. ‘Yes, I do know how to cook, thank you very much. Mum and I take it in turns and her and Peter love my cooking, so there.’
Billy laughed as he flicked through the channels. ‘Okay, keep your hair on. So what we having then?’
Kelly turned on her heel. ‘It’s a surprise,’ she said as she made her way to the kitchen. What on earth am I going to do? She panicked as she frantically searched through the freezer, fridge and cupboards. She picked up a questionable cucumber and a bag of pasta. Could she make cucumber pasta? she questioned in desperation, before putting it back and cursing herself for being so stupid. How could she hand Billy that for dinner? He didn’t think she could do it, she had seen it there in his eyes. Well, she would soon show him, she promised, hunting through the kitchen drawers to see if she could find a cook book. She was relieved and overjoyed when she stumbled across a book called Thirty-Minute Home Cooked Meals. She searched through the pages and found a chicken in white wine sauce recipe that didn’t look too difficult. She knew she didn’t have all the ingredients, but she could improvise and make a few adjustments here and there; Billy would never know the difference. She pulled out a bottle of white wine from the wine rack. At least she had one of the main ingredients, Kelly thought happily, as she opened the bottle and poured herself a generous glass before hunting through the freezer for some chicken. Luckily, there were four frozen breasts. Frozen chicken was okay to cook, wasn’t it? The recipe didn’t say anything about whether it should be frozen or not, so Kelly assumed it must be fine. Next she was lucky enough to find an onion, celery and a couple of carrots in the bottom drawer of the fridge, which she didn’t even know existed until that moment in time. They were all in the recipe so she chopped the carrots and celery as best she could and then got started on the onion.
‘You okay in there, babe?’ Billy called from the lounge.
Kelly wiped her forehead with a tea towel, already feeling flustered from the stress of cooking. ‘I’m fine, hun!’ she replied hastily, not wanting him to come in and disrupt her. She gulped down some more wine and then tried to slice the onion in half with difficulty. ‘Keep still you little bugger,’ she said, as if the onion could hear her. She yelped as half the onion shot away onto the kitchen floor as she sliced it. She washed it under the tap and then continued chopping in no particular order. As her eyes started to water, she panicked about her make-up running and rushed over to the mirror, thankful she’d worn waterproof mascara. How do people do this for a living? Kelly wondered as she placed the chicken in a dish and added the vegetables on top. She glanced again at the menu as she took another slug of wine. She needed a bay leaf and some peppercorns, which she didn’t have, to add on top of the chicken. Instead she simply sprinkled on some pepper, hoping that would be okay. Now for the sauce, she thought to herself with dread as she filled her glass with some more wine.
*
Adele batted her long lashes at Aaron as he spoke and flicked her hair over her shoulder, letting out a soft, sexy laugh.
‘Oh Aaron, you’re hilare!’ she said, brushing his arm with her hand.
Donna cleared her throat, shooting Adele an icy look. She tapped his shoulder. ‘Aaron, do you want another drink?’
Aaron turned to Donna and gently rested his hand on hers. ‘Babe, don’t be silly. I’ll get them in. What does everyone want? Same again?’
‘Yes please,’ Adele said, pouting her lips at him and waving her empty wine glass.
Donna looked at Neil who had decided to join them on their night out. He looked well and truly fed up. ‘So Neil, Aaron tells me you went scuba diving recently on holiday. Adele, you love scuba diving don’t you?’
Adele narrowed her eyes at Donna, knowing exactly what she was trying to do. She wanted her and Neil together and there was just no way that was going to happen! Neil was ordinary and boring. He worked at an accountant’s for God’s sake! He couldn’t be further away from being a footballer if he tried!
Neil perked up a bit and his eyes brightened. ‘Yeah, I love it. I was in Thailand last year and the water was crystal clear. Absolutely beautiful. So, you like diving as well, Adele? Whereabouts have you been?’
Adele rolled her eyes, annoyed that he was even trying to speak to her. She’d made it pretty clear tonight she wasn’t interested in him. She’d only spoken to Aaron the whole night, so why wouldn’t Neil just get the picture? ‘Yeah, it’s okay. Been loads of places. The sea looks the same most of the time,’ she replied flatly.
‘Do you have your diving licence?’ Neil asked enthusiastically.
‘Mmm,’ Adele murmured with a little nod as she sipped the last of her drink. She jumped up quickly. ‘I’m going to go help Aaron with the drinks. See you in a bit.’ She turned before she could see Donna’s face, which she assumed would look like thunder. Oh well, Adele thought to herself as she made her way over to Aaron at the bar, she was going after what she wanted in life. If Donna had a problem with that then she was clearly worried about Aaron being easily persuaded. She’d be doing her a favour if he cheated and left Donna for her! Donna would forgive her eventually and if she didn’t, then so what? Adele would just make friends with all the other WAGs and they could go away to spa weekends or shopping trips to Milan and Paris. It was obvious Aaron would prefer Adele to Donna anyway. Who wouldn’t? If she hadn’t made a beeline for Neil in Funky Mojoe that night, Adele was certain that Aaron would have tried it on with her instead. He hadn’t had a choice that night and he got left with Donna. She looked over at Donna who had made an effort tonight. Her hair looked nice, it had been dyed a bit lighter and was down and wavy, she had to give her that. She supposed her make-up looked pretty too, especially her eyelash extensions. It still didn’t mean she was skinny though! She was a size sixteen for goodness’ sake! Though as she looked over at Donna, she noticed that she actually looked a bit slimmer. Had she been dieting?
‘Hey,’ Aaron said to her as she stood by him.
She smiled and eyed him up and down seductively. ‘Thought someone should help you with the drinks.’
He nodded and handed her two glasses of wine, which the barman passed him. ‘Thanks. That’s nice of you.’
‘Anytime,’ she grinned, sticking her chest out so he could see her cleavage. She swung her hips from side to side sensuously, swishing her hair as she walked back, hoping he was watching.
A few minutes later, they were all sitting back at the table.
‘So when are we going to Venice?’ Donna beamed at Aaron, before turning to Adele and Neil with a smile. ‘Aaron said he’s going to take me to Venice because I was saying the other day how I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. I can’t wait to visit the Grand Canal, Bridge of Sighs and Doge’s palace.’
Adele had to fight the urge to throw her drink in Donna’s annoyingly joyful face. It sounded so boring too. Who would want to go all the way to Italy to look at a bridge?
‘As soon as I get some time off footy,’ Aaron promised her. He grinned. ‘I already know the hotel I’m going to book, but don’t ask which one as I want it to be a surprise.’
‘Lovely,’ Adele said, blankly. ‘Though I doubt Aaron is going to want to look at the boring stuff you just mentioned, Donna.’ She let out a hollow laugh.
‘I’
m actually looking forward to seeing those places,’ Aaron said, gazing into Donna’s eyes lovingly. ‘I can’t wait to go to St Mark’s Square and St Mark’s Basilica and take you on a gondola as well.’
Donna turned to Adele. ‘We have all the same interests,’ she giggled, blissfully happy. She waved her hand. ‘I know you may think they’re boring, Adele, but that’s why Aaron and I get on so well.’
Adele couldn’t believe this. Now Donna was making Aaron think that he wouldn’t be compatible with her! ‘Well of course that St Mark’s place sounds interesting,’ she huffed, annoyed with Donna. ‘It was just the bridge place and the canal that you mentioned, Donna, that sounds a bit dull. I’ve been all over Italy and I’ve seen them before,’ she fibbed. Her idea of a perfect holiday was simply lying in the sun all day, followed by shopping and a meal in an expensive restaurant. ‘The bridge is nothing to write home about, trust me. Though you’ll love the food in Venice, Donna.’ She smirked at her and was glad when Donna’s smile faltered. Then with a little laugh, she added spitefully, ‘I know how much you adore your food.’
‘Nothing wrong with that,’ Aaron stuck up for her quickly and kissed her over the table, much to Adele’s irritation. ‘I like a girl with some meat on her bones. Nothing worse than dating a stick insect that lives on lettuce leaves.’
Adele watched in surprise as they continued to stare at each other with love in their eyes, holding hands across the table. What on earth was wrong with him? All footballers dated skinny WAGs, didn’t they? She was supposed to be dating a footballer, why couldn’t he see that? This was harder work than she first thought and she needed a plan to get him alone. As Neil sat and chatted to her, she barely concentrated on what he was saying, only thinking about how to get Aaron by himself. Neil and Aaron had both driven there separately and Donna had picked Adele up on the way. Somehow she needed to get Aaron to take her home. She pretended to send some messages on her phone.
‘Donna, I’m actually going to stay at my nan’s tonight now if you don’t mind dropping me there? I’ve just got a message from my dad asking to go round and help her with a few things.’ She watched Donna’s reaction. Donna knew Adele’s nan lived completely in the opposite direction and at least thirty minutes away. It made sense for Aaron to take her who was going the same way home.
‘Okay, I don’t mind taking you,’ Donna said, raising her eyebrows.
Adele was furious. That wasn’t the answer she was hoping for! She brushed the hair away from her face and added quickly, ‘Unless it’s easier if Aaron takes me? I was just thinking that my nan lives completely out of your way and I feel bad because you have to get up early for work.’ She tried to sound casual, as though she had just realised that this made more sense.
Aaron nodded and shrugged his shoulders. ‘No probs. I’ll take you if it’s easier.’
‘I really don’t mind,’ Donna repeated.
Aaron shook his head. ‘Donna, you were saying how tired you were this morning and you have to wake up at six tomorrow. Let me do it. It makes more sense.’
Donna exhaled slowly. ‘Okay fine, you take her.’
Adele beamed broadly; at last things were going her way. She downed the last of her drink and then stood up. ‘Just nipping to the ladies.’
‘Me too,’ Donna said hastily, jumping to her feet and following.
When they reached the toilets, Donna turned Adele to face her, tugging her arm back towards her.
Adele threw her eyes to heaven and sighed sharply. ‘What?’
‘Are you flirting with Aaron?’ Donna accused, exasperated.
‘Oh for heaven’s sake!’ Adele spat. ‘Get a grip! I’m just being friendly and trying to know him better. You’re my friend and I felt like I should take an interest in him.’ Adele stared at her, wondering if she’d believe her lies.
Donna looked unconvinced, her eyes becoming thinner as she watched Adele suspiciously. ‘Adele, you’ve been talking to him all night, laughing at his jokes, ignoring me and poor Neil who’s trying to make conversation with you. What’s going on? Do you fancy Aaron or something?’ Donna’s voice broke and she looked hurt by the thought that Adele was trying to steal her boyfriend.
‘No Donna, I do not fancy Aaron,’ Adele puffed, folding her arms across her chest imperiously. ‘I thought you’d be pleased I was making an effort. I’m making an effort for you. Trying to get to know your boyfriend better. I’m so sorry if I’ve laughed at his jokes and tried to be friendly. I don’t know why I even bother! Don’t take your insecurities out on me.’
Donna bit her bottom lip and considered what Adele was saying. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled looking at the floor. ‘I guess you’re right. I’m just so happy, I’m worried something or someone is going to ruin it. I know you wouldn’t try to steal him from me; we’re good friends after all.’
‘That’s okay,’ Adele said, turning away from her. She actually felt a bit guilty for once and couldn’t look her in the eye. Donna really trusted her as a friend. Still, Donna was the one with the footballer, not her, and Adele couldn’t accept that fact. Adele wanted Aaron more than ever before and some stupid sob story wasn’t going to stop her.
They were in the car park ten minutes later saying goodbye. Adele looked at Aaron’s silver Aston Martin convertible admiringly, noticing it was a new model; glad she wasn’t getting in Neil’s Renault Megane. Now this was the kind of car her boyfriend should have, she thought, as she sat on the expensive-looking leather seat.
She waved at Donna through the window, who waved back and drove away.
Adele smiled at Aaron as he sat beside her. ‘You smell delish,’ she complimented him in the sexiest voice she could muster.
‘Thanks. It’s D & G,’ Aaron replied as he started the ignition. ‘So, how do you feel about Neil? He said he really liked you after that night in Funky Mojoe.’
Adele paused and fiddled with the strap of her cream Chloe bag. ‘Babe, he’s not really a bit of me to be honest. Nice guy, but I like more athletic men to be truthful.’ She looked at Aaron, hoping he would realise she was talking about him, but he was concentrating on the road ahead.
‘That’s a shame,’ he replied politely. ‘Donna was saying she hopes you meet someone nice soon, as you deserve it.’
Adele felt a stab of guilt and swallowed hard. ‘Bless her,’ she managed. ‘She’s never actually had a serious boyfriend,’ Adele told him, hoping it would put him off.
Aaron shook his head. ‘I really don’t see how. I haven’t had many serious relationships either though I suppose.’
‘Same,’ Adele chimed in. ‘I can never find men that like me,’ she sulked with a pout.
‘Nonsense,’ Aaron waved a hand dismissively. ‘Plenty of men would want to be with you. You must have them queuing up outside your front door.’
Adele let out a loud, throaty laugh. ‘I wish,’ she replied huskily, noticing his CD collection and having a look through. She frowned as she read the titles of the CDs. He had albums by The Shins, Andrew Bird, Tanlines and Miike Snow. Who the hell were these people? Adele had never heard of them.
Aaron noticed her looking. ‘That’s my favourite album there by The Shins at the moment. It’s amazing. Donna bought it for me a few weeks ago and I haven’t stopped playing it.’
Adele’s face crinkled even more into a frown. Donna knew this music? She actually bought this for him? She went along with it, pretending she was into the same kind of thing. ‘I adore The Shins. So cool,’ she lied.
‘Aren’t they just,’ Aaron agreed with a nod. ‘So you’re into indie music as well then?’
Adele tried to sound enthusiastic. ‘Oh yeah. Big time. I love The Shins the most. This album in particular.’ She noticed Aaron’s eyes light up. God, he must really be into this rubbish, she realised, disappointed. Give her chart music any day.
‘What’s your favourite song on the album?’ Aaron asked, quickly glancing at her.
Obviously not knowing any of the songs, Adele quickly put the
CD in the player and clicked to number four. ‘This one. I could just listen to it all day.’
He nodded, satisfied. ‘“Bait and Switch”. Great choice,’ he said, singing along.
What a load of crap, Adele thought despondently, looking out of the window and wondering whether he really was her perfect man after all. Adele remembered Donna listening to the same sort of music in her car before she would force her to switch the radio on. She winced as he turned the volume up. It just sounded like noise in her opinion and the loud bits were making her head hurt. Why couldn’t he be into Rihanna or something she actually liked to listen to?
Aaron interrupted her thoughts. ‘I’m going to try to take Donna to Reading or Glastonbury this year. She’ll love it, won’t she? You should come too.’
Adele scrunched up her nose. She wouldn’t be seen dead wearing wellington boots and sleeping in a tent! How vile! Those people didn’t wash and just acted like slobs all day, drinking beer in mud, without a brush, hair dryer or straighteners in sight. What was wrong with him? Donna had been a few times and when her photos were uploaded on Facebook, the dishevelled-looking people in them made Adele want to gag. ‘Sounds totes amaze,’ she said coolly, keeping up the facade.
As he pulled into her nan’s road, Adele realised it was now or never she was going to have to make a move. She forced herself to think of his money and his car. She pictured changing him into the person she wanted him to be. They could scrap Venice and go to New York or the Caribbean. And he could forget about Glastonbury and take her to see Beyoncé in concert instead, in a VIP box of course.
He stopped the car and turned to face her. Adele could feel her heart beating faster as she imagined herself leaning into him and kissing his lips. He had lovely dark eyes and hair and although he wasn’t exactly drop-dead gorgeous, he was definitely attractive. He was looking serious all of a sudden and she felt certain he must fancy her. He appeared tense and slightly awkward.
