With his head bowed and raising his eyes to meet hers he pushed the plate of toast he had made in Amy’s direction, a small smile on his face.
‘Peace offering’
‘Thanks’ Amy smiled, unable to keep up the façade of being angry.
‘Sorry Amy. I’m sorry’ He moved towards her.
‘No, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you it’s just...’
‘No, you don’t have to explain. You’re right I guess. I am spoiled and I am used to getting things my own way’ he kissed her lightly on the lips.
‘So you did hear me you pup!’ Amy laughed.
‘Well yeah, course I did. Me and half of Galway’
Amy tossed a bit of toast in his direction and laughed over the simple conversation that had turned into their first argument. They weren’t long forgetting about it and decided to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. She liked spending her weekends with him and had so much fun with him. New York would have been great with him. Next time she promised silently to herself. She would go with him next time. He was off to London for the week but would be back by Friday. A few days apart would make the heart grow fonder.
The week flew by for Amy with meetings back to back every day. Before she knew it, it was already Friday. Finding parking any morning when late for work was always a nightmare but because it was the start of the weekend, it was ten times worse. Amy refused to panic as Tom was not due back for another week and she would be turning around and leaving as soon as she picked up some things from her office. There were three off site meetings planned for the day. All of which were lined up with Sean. They had to travel to Barna, Clairnbridge and lastly Ballinasloe. Things seemed to have gotten back to a new normal for both of them and Amy found herself looking forward to the day. She hadn’t spent proper time with him on the road for a while and missed the fun they had. Amy hoped that they would really be able to put the past behind them and move on.
‘What time do you call this?’ Sean tapped on his watch, eyeing Amy jokingly.
‘Bog off. I couldn’t get parking’ Amy replied.
‘Yeah, yeah. Parking my arse’ he turned and grabbed his briefcase and smacked Amy firmly on the behind ‘Come on you hussy, we’ve work to do’
‘Owww you bully, I think you’ll find that could be construed as harassment’ Rubbing her rear end in the pretense that she was seriously injured.
‘Go away with your harassment. Sure isn’t that what you do to me every day’ Sean laughed.
‘Eh Kettle and black my friend. Get your fat ass out the door before I kick it out’
‘Fine, fine’ silently admitting a defeat ‘but you’re buying the coffee first and I’m driving.
‘I am capable of driving my own car you know’
‘Yes, that may be the case but I think Tom would have a mickey fit if we both claimed expenses for petrol when we are going to the same place’. Well that certainly was true. She couldn’t argue with it. Tom was as tight as a duck’s arse and would re-use his tea bags if he was allowed. That was only if he had to pay for them. When the company was paying for it then he couldn’t give a flying flute what he spent. Unfortunately that rule didn’t apply to the rest of the civilian population. Clearly, the rules were for everyone else. No, Tom didn’t know what rules meant at all. He lived on his own little planet. It consisted of people who talked shite day and night while stabbing each other in the back and having affairs left right and centre!
‘So, what do you want to do for lunch?’ asked Sean on the drive from Barna to Clairnbridge.
‘I don’t mind’ replied Amy filing a chipped nail in the passenger seat beside him.
‘We could do Subway. That’s always a good bet!’
‘Yeah, sounds good to me’
Amy really didn’t mind where they ate. Driving into Clairnbridge they pulled up beside the newly opened Subway. Amy pondered that it didn’t matter where you went in the world you could get some comfort in the fact that you could get the exact same food as home. It was raining hard the entire journey and she now cursed her selection of footwear. The peep toes, while going beautifully with her black pencil skirt and cream knitted short jacket, were not very practical for getting in and out of cars on such a rainy day. She should have brought a pair of tights. Yes, tights would definitely be the death of her. Then again, she should know better it being winter time.
After ordering their sandwiches and finding a seat in the busy restaurant, Sean pulled out a chair for Amy to sit down.
‘Very gentlemanly of you my dear’ Amy smiled at him as she took her seat.
‘No problemo’
‘You know, it’s been ages since we did this’ Amy declared, eyeing Sean to see his reaction.
‘I know’ Sean looked out the window not really catching her eye.
‘We should do it more often you know and not be waiting around before we’re forced to hang out’.
He unraveled his bread roll and dug into eating it.
‘It seems like we’ve both been avoiding each other the past while’ Amy squinted over her glasses whilst taking a sip of water. She knew she had to try to fix what had gone on with them. After all, it seemed to her that she always caused the fights between them.
‘Well, that’s my fault isn’t it’ answered Sean finally looking directly at Amy.
‘No it’s not, I’m as much to blame you know. I don’t mean to explode at you but you know my temper has a mind of its own’
‘Hah! Do I know...’ Joked Sean ‘Seriously though, can we just forget about all that crap from before. I miss the crack we used to have and I’d rather put it all behind us?’
‘I completely agree’ Amy smiled and raised her water bottle ‘let’s toast to it’
‘Ah jeeeeesus Amy do you know me at all’ laughed Sean ‘you can’t toast with water’
‘Well, it’s all I have you know’ she looked around her raising a hand to demonstrate the lack of alcohol.
‘We’ll fix that later, what do you think?’ He knew that she wouldn’t bite but said it nonetheless.
‘Well, my good friend, I might just be up for that’ Amy hadn’t been out in a while. She shuddered remembering the last night in Adams parents’ house. Reckoning that they were well capable of putting the past behind them at this stage, she was ready to celebrate that she had her good friend back.
‘Serious?’
‘Yes, serious’
‘After work then, we’ll head to town what ya think?’
‘Sounds like a plan so’ Amy was so happy that she had this conversation with Sean. She had wanted to for a long time but never found the right time. There was always something in the way.
After their meetings in the hotel in Clairnbridge, which didn’t last long, they set about gathering their belongings to make their way to Ballinasloe. Running back to the car in the pouring rain, they jumped back into the car. It had turned very cold the past few weeks and they both felt it. Already tired from the day, they agreed that they would be happy to be back in Galway. Already a little behind schedule, Sean started the car.
‘Eh what’s that’ Sean stated a look of uncertainty on his face.
‘What’s what?’
‘That’
‘Yeah, still not a clue what you’re on about’ Amy shrugged her shoulders indicating she had no idea what he was talking about.
‘The bloody noise coming out of the car’
‘I don’t hear anything. You haven’t even started the car’
‘Well, that’s the thing I have’ Sean was getting frustrated.
‘Oh!’
‘Yep. Oh is right!’
‘Fuck’
‘Fuck’ Sean repeated Amy’s swear looking out the window and back to Amy.
‘What do we do now?’
Sean shrugged his shoulders. ‘I have no idea’ He tapped his hand on the steering wheel looking out the window again, hoping for something to come to him.
‘Well, I guess sitting here isn’t going to hel
p any’ suggested Amy ‘Come on, we’ll head back and go into the hotel and call someone’. Both knowing there was no way they could get to Ballinasloe on time now Amy rang and cancelled their last meeting. Sean went to reception and waited for them to call a mechanic to fix his car.
‘Should have brought my car’
Sean eyed her without saying anything but let her know, that was not helping.
‘Just saying’ she raised her hands up in defeat.
Realising that there was no point walking up and down wearing a path around the lobby, they went to the bar where Sean ordered a couple of drinks.
‘It’s not like we’re driving anywhere anytime soon!’ came Sean’s explanation when he arrived at the table Amy had chosen.
‘God, we shouldn’t be drinking. We’re working you know!’ she said as she grabbed the glass and swallowed half its contents.
‘I rang Tom to explain. He nearly had an aneurism on the spot’ Sean followed suit downing his drink, the same as Amy.
‘Oh fuck him, the prick. Why did you call him? Isn’t he away. He wouldn’t have been any the wiser! Did you call a taxi?’
‘No, not yet. Reception said the mechanic would be out in an hour and to hang tight’
‘Well what good is it now even if they fix the car? You’ll be wasted by the time they get here!’
‘Oh yeah... never thought of that’
‘Well look’ Amy mused ‘We’re not getting to Ballinasloe now. It’s already three o’clock and by the time we got back to town, there’d be no point in going back to the office to turn around and go home again.
‘I like your thinking’ Sean smiled.
‘Sooooo, I suggest we have our few bevies here and get a taxi home when we feel like it’
Amy had no intention of letting this ruin the nice day they were having. It was the first day in a while that they were getting on and she didn’t want to jeopardise it. With that, they decided to forget about work and wait for the mechanic whilst enjoying a few drinks. They weren’t long relaxing and settling themselves beside a big roaring fire in the corner of the empty bar.
‘Now, this is more like it’
Amy took off her peep toe shoes and curled her legs up beside her on the big arm chair. She melted into it’s soft luxurious velvet fabric surprised it was as clean as it was in a busy hotel.
‘You can sing that one’ Sean too, was relaxing in an oversized armchair.
Throwing caution to the wind and with a bit of dutch courage Amy asked about Sean’s new girlfriend.
‘So….tell me who was your one with you that day in BT’s’
‘Who?’
‘You know that one I met you with ages ago’
‘Oh!’ Sean raised his eyebrows ‘Why. who wants to know?’
‘I do’
‘Why, are you jealous?’
‘No’ replied Amy a little bit too quickly. There was no way she wanted to let him know that she was indeed jealous. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to hit the perfectly preened bitch square in the jaw.
‘Owey, owey, owey. I do declare that someone is jealous’ sung Sean.
‘Oh bite me you big headed eejit. I’ll have you know, I’m not one little bit jealous I’m simply....curious!’ she had no idea if he believed her or not.
‘Yeah, sure’ Sean was hopeful ‘she’s my sister you big tool’
Amy nearly choked on her sauvignon blanc.
‘Your sister!’ sitting upright and trying to recover ‘you don’t really look alike’ Amy said with a bit too much enthusiasm.
‘No, we never did. I always said I was adopted’
‘Hmmm’
‘You are too jealous’ Sean realised noticing her reaction.
‘Oh screw you!’ Amy looked away curtly, dismissing him again.
‘I wish!’
They both looked at each other silently. Both of them with a smirk looked away afraid to say anything else.
‘Jesus, what time is it?’ Amy changed the subject.
‘It’s seven and that gobshite of a mechanic never turned up!’
‘Ah well, at least its Friday and we’ve no work tomorrow’
Deciding that there was no point in worrying, they ordered another bottle of wine and some food. Laughing their way through that bottle, they soon found themselves a few sheets to the wind and with no sign of both giving in and ordering a taxi to go home. After dinner and laughing their way through desert, they decided the best thing to do was to check in for the night.
‘Dya know this wash a mighty ideee mah pet’ Amy slurred as she leaned up against Sean, searching to no avail for their rooms.
‘Sthop will ya. I can barely walk with you throwing yourself at me’
‘Am not throwing mesel anywhur’ she fell against him giggling.
‘Don’t know what you is laughing at. Yuuuul be the wan wish a sore head in the morn’ Sean was laughing too.
Both were too drunk to consider contemplating what class of a head they would have in the morning. Falling in the door of Amy’s room, both unable to stand up anymore, they fell to the ground laughing. Amy, landing right on top of Sean, rolled around on the floor finding it all too funny for words.
All of a sudden, Amy sat bolt upright, the laughter stopping. Much too quickly, the room started to spin.
‘Move quick’ she yelped, stumbling from her knees and trying to get herself upright.
He crawled aside making room as she made her way to the bathroom as ungracefully as anyone ever could.
‘Christ Amy, are you alright’ Sean chuckled unable to keep a straight face.
‘Fuck no, I’m as sick as a dog’ at which point he heard the gushing sound of her getting sick into the toilet.
That was far too funny for Sean not to laugh at. Highly unimpressed, Amy slammed the bathroom door closed.
Not feeling very hectic himself, Sean clawed his way onto Amy’s bed and was asleep before his head hit the pillow. Amy, after eliminating the entire contents of her stomach threw herself beside Sean on her bed.
‘Are you ok?’ asked Sean hardly able to lift his head off the pillow.
‘I will be’ came her near lifeless response.
‘See you in the morning Ame’
‘Yeah, in the morning’ her eyes were closed as she curled her legs up to her chest.
‘I love you’ Sean whispered as he closed his eyes and turned off the light.
Amy was already asleep.
17
Amy was more than afraid to contemplate opening her eyes. Her head was pounding and she still felt sick to her stomach. What on earth were they thinking drinking so much? They should have more sense. She wondered how Sean was feeling as she suddenly realised that he was still in the bed beside her. Warmth was coming directly off his body. She smiled even though her head pounded at the laughs they had shared the night before. Her sides even hurt. Thinking back, it could very well be from falling onto the floor when they got back to the room. Another guest had come out of his room to see what the commotion was in the hall as the two of them whacked off the walls whilst walking down a slight incline in the narrow corridor. The man rudely awoken from his slumber, didn’t find it half as hilarious as the two drunken eejits who were barely able to stand up straight.
She wondered, in the stark light of day or early morning given that it was not even seven, what Adam might think if he saw that Sean lying next to her. Amy didn’t know if it was a good or a bad thing that she didn’t mind him sharing her bed. There should probably be some element of guilt but neither of them did anything wrong. Turning beside her Sean groaned and slapped his hand to his head.
‘What have you done to me you witch?’
‘I was going to ask you the same thing! My head is going to explode’, came her self-pitying answer.
With that, her phone started to vibrate beside Sean. Handing it to her, he made a sheepish expression and said he was going for a shower. Seeing it was Adam calling, she now caught on as to why he legg
ed it. Afraid to answer but at the same time wondering what she should say if she did, Amy decided to call him later. Her head was in no state to explain where she was, who she was with and how they had gotten there. Instead, she found her handbag and rooted around for a rennie and a headache tablet. Lucky for her, her handbag resembled a small pharmacy.
Brushing her hair and wiping a dark line of mascara away from her eyes, she could hear Sean humming away to himself in the shower. They had always been comfortable around each other but things had changed over the past while. Wondering why she had been so jealous at his female companion when they had met accidently those weeks ago, she now put it down to a simple protective sisterly instinct. Since Sean had said those three words to her, before he had stormed out of her house, she guessed she didn’t want any other female around him. It wasn’t that she loved him, it was simply a possessive impulse.
Tidying around the room Amy noticed that Sean had left his clothes on the bed before he hopped into the shower. She hadn’t taken in any of her surroundings when she saw that Adam had been calling her. Maybe she was feeling slightly guilty. All of a sudden knocking over her bag and spilling the contents onto the floor beside the bed she bent over mumbling to herself for being so clumsy. Fumbling with her make-up, she busied herself collecting her possessions. She jumped nervously when she saw a half-naked Sean coming out of the shower and banged her head sharply on the bedroom table just above her head.
‘Jesus H Christ’ she screeched as she raised her hands to soothe her aching head.
‘Now that’s hardly going to help your hung over head now is it’ laughed Sean as he came to her aid.
Scantily clad in a small hotel towel, she could see the contours of his muscular stomach and instantly felt dizzy.
‘No, I’m fine, I’m fine’ came her high pitch reply.
She wasn’t fine at all, as she attempted to scurry away from him. Her head was spinning from all the alcohol consumed the night before, hitting if off the table by accident, getting up too quickly and now seeing her very handsome friend with barely any clothes on. She wondered which affected her the most.
Whiplash Hotel Page 15
