Chapter Three
Maya
We get ourselves settled in at the bar and order some drinks, another cocktail for me, of course, and a beer for Tommy, just before our friends seem to congregate around us at the bar.
“Maya! God, it’s been a while since I’ve seen your gorgeous face,” Max says, coming in for a hug. Over his shoulder, I can see Tommy giving him the death stare.
Tommy’s younger brother, Max, looks just like him. The only difference is that Tommy is all man, and Max is more of a cheeky chappy. Always flirting and messing around.
“Hi Max, it’s good to see you too,” I laugh as he releases me from the tight squeeze he had me in.
“Listen, I’m single and ready to mingle. Which one of you gorgeous ladies fancies putting a man out of his misery?” He winks, laughing at his own joke.
“Oh, behave, Max, leave my girls alone,” Fallon says, exasperated.
“Don’t be a bore, sis,” he replies, but then walks along to the next group of lucky ladies.
“Wow. He hasn’t changed one bit, has he?” I laugh.
“Nope, not at all,” Tommy says in a flat tone. “Try living with him; he does have his own place, but he’s never out of mine.”
“Aw, that’s cute though, wanting to be with his big brother.”
“It would be cute if he weren’t 26 and driving me insane,” He mutters, making me giggle even more.
After we finish our drinks and have chatted to our friends for a while, I feel a tug at my hand. The sudden jolt of electricity at such a simple touch has my head flying up in search of the culprit, while the thought that I had never experienced that kind of reaction to Jake floats through my head.
Tommy pulls me along, leading the way over to the dance floor. Teenage dirtbag by Wheatus is playing, the same song we used to dance along to in his mum’s kitchen, with all of his siblings, when we were younger.
“Do you remember how often we used to dance to this?” I ask.
“Of course I do. I loved it when it came on the radio, and my mum would turn it up for us to have a dance party. We must have been so young. I’ve got to say, though, it’s much better now that there’s alcohol involved.” He states with a grin.
“Go on then, Tommy, show me those moves,” I demand.
He doesn’t hold back. There is nothing as sexy as a man showing off his confidence. Not giving one single shit about what anyone thinks, Tommy sways his hips and grabs a hold of my hands. He pulls me in and twirls me around the room before bringing me in close.
I feel so light and free. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this way. Is it the alcohol, or is it just him?
Four more songs go by, and we’re still dancing and messing around on the dance floor. I can’t contain my laughter as he spins and dips me down low.
“I love it when you smile, it’s so infectious.
Tell me more about what you’ve been up to.
I want to know everything I’ve missed,” He asks as he guides us over to a booth in the corner.
I take a seat, and Tommy slides in next to me, his leg brushing against mine as he sits close enough that we can hear each other over the music.
A rush of heat follows where his leg touches mine, and I squirm a little in my seat.
He wants to know everything, but do I tell him about Jake?
“There isn’t much to tell. I still work in the salon with the girls.
I have moved though, I bought a cabin on the river in Bewdley, I love it there,” I tell him with a proud smile on my face.
Buying my own little piece of heaven has been my biggest achievement so far, finally getting out of the hellhole I was brought up in.
All the hard work at the salon, working fourteen plus hours a day, finally paid off.
“That’s amazing, Maya! I am so made up for you. I would love to come by for a tour sometime.” Oh Tommy, I’d love to give you more than a tour, I think to myself. “But tell me, I’ve been dying to ask, are you seeing anyone?”
Well fuck.
I put on my big girl panties and tell him the truth.
“It’s complicated. I am, but let’s just say it’s not going very well.
We’re meeting up tomorrow so I can end it officially.
I’ve not been having the best time with him, to be honest,” I say, my breath catching as I rush to get the words out.
My skin itches, and I feel dirty, afraid that I sound like an adulterer.
“Ah”, He mumbles, anger crossing his features. He thinks I’m a whore, great. “What did he do?” he asks, and I feel rather than see his hands clench under the table.
“Nothing physically. I’m dealing with him tomorrow anyway, so everything will be okay,” I tell him. Grateful that the anger is aimed at Jake rather than me.
Before he can get another word in, a gorgeous specimen of a man strolls over to the booth and takes a seat opposite us. He reaches his hand across the table to take mine.
“Hi, gorgeous. I’m Jenson. A very dear friend of Tommy here. I don’t need your name, but your number will do.” He says with the cockiest smile I have ever seen. Wow, this man could give Max a run for his money.
I burst out laughing.
“Nice to meet you, Jenson. I’m Maya. Sorry, I don’t give out my number to men I’ve just met,” I answer him. Jenson is a stereotypical Italian stallion, tall, dark and dreamy.
Blair strolls over at this point, sitting next to him and seductively leaning back, crossing her legs.
“You know, you could at least buy the girl a drink first,” She laughs, holding out her hand towards him. “I’m Blair, and happy to give you my number.” She throws a wink his way.
Jenson leans back, joking aside as lust mists his eyes. He takes her hand and lifts it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blair.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” She replies huskily.
What would it be like to be as carefree as this pair? I can already tell these two are going to be trouble together.
“Well, aren’t I the luckiest man here getting to speak to both of you beauties tonight. Come on, Blair, I would love to buy you that drink.” As he leaves, he turns and gives Tommy an odd look, to which Tommy subtly shakes his head.
Strange.
I wrack my brain, thinking of anything I can say to avoid the conversation from turning back to Jake.
“Tell me about you. I can’t believe you have an apartment here now.
I’d love to see it. Is it close by?” Turning to me, he raises his eyebrows, and I realise how that may have come across.
“Oh my god, I didn’t mean it like that, I’m just being curious.
” My cheeks heat to beetroot red, wow, how embarrassing.
If he didn’t think I was a whore before, he definitely will now.
Luckily, he just laughs.
“Don’t worry, I knew what you meant. Yes, it's walking distance, just overlooking the river.” How funny, that even though we’re miles apart, we have both picked a place with a view of the same river.
“But honestly, other than work and the odd night off with the boys, I have no life.” So, no girlfriend. Interesting.
“Are you planning on staying up here more often then?” I ask.
“For now. I’m staying up this way for a few months whilst the new office finds its feet. I thought it would be handy to have a place to crash.”
“That’s amazing. You’ve done so well for yourself.
I’m really proud of you.” And I am. I always knew he’d do well in whatever he put his mind to.
He has that passion for life about him. We’re sitting so close to each other now, the fire in his eyes burning into mine.
He blinks, and suddenly it’s like someone has snuffed out that fire.
He grins sheepishly and moves ever so slightly away, his eyes flitting over to where Fallon stands, watching us from across the room.
I told Fallon how I felt about Tommy once.
I was 17, and he was 20. She was so worked up about it that she didn’t speak to me for almost two weeks, and she made me promise that I would never go there with him, that I’d never tell him how I felt. I have always kept that promise, but being in his proximity makes it so much harder.
So I never told him. For all I knew, he never felt the same way anyway.
Whenever he came up to visit, I’d make sure I wasn’t around and avoid their parents' house like the plague.
In my head, it was only me it was affecting by staying away, though I knew Fallon could tell I was distant whenever he came.
She had never mentioned it, though, not then and never in any of the years since, probably glad that I did stay away.
The silence stretched on between us, and my mind started to whirl from a combination of too much alcohol and the dizzying effect that this man had on me.
I need to stop this before I end up doing something that I regret.
As much as things aren’t great between Jake and me, he is still my boyfriend, and until I deal with that situation, I shouldn’t be behaving this way. Jake shouldn’t be such an afterthought.
I had to end it with him. Tomorrow.
I glance over at Tommy, and he’s staring straight back at me with a gorgeous smile on his lips. My heart jumps in my chest at the sight. Why does this man affect me so much?
The high I had been feeling from our girls' night was quickly dissipating. We had been having such a good time, loving every minute of it, so why do I feel so deflated now?
Reality is a big kick in the dick.
The guilt currently flooding through my nervous system must have shown on my face, as Tommy is suddenly frowning at me,
“Listen, I should go,” I say, “It was so good to see you and thank you for the dance.” He would never know how much I needed tonight, just to feel alive and free. I stand, picking up my bag, and he follows my lead.
Before he gets a chance to reply, I lean in for a hug. That spark of electricity is still there, compelling me to hold him closer, and as if he feels it too, he holds on to me just as tight. Maybe all this time it wasn’t just in my head?
I don’t want to let go, but I know that I must. Taking a step back, I ease myself out of his embrace. Without saying goodbye, I turn on my heel and head over to the girls, letting them know I’m heading home.
Fallon eyes me up and down, assessing me. “Text me when you're home, okay?”
I nod and give her a quick squeeze.
“Thanks for tonight, Fal,” I whisper, and she smiles in return.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Maymay,” Gracie shouts across to me. “Love you.” They’re all just as drunk as each other. Laughing, I wave and head out to the taxi rank.
As I’m leaving the bar, I force myself not to turn around and look for him. I can still smell his scent lingering around me, Can feel his hands on me from when we danced. What I would give to feel his hands travel all over me.
This feels like torture.
Luckily, as I head towards the taxi rank, there are plenty queued up along the street.
I hop into the first one and tell the driver where to go.
Sitting back in my seat, I finally get my phone out of my bag and check for any messages.
I have never gone this long without checking it since I have been with Jake.
Twelve missed calls.
Five texts.
Even a Facebook message.
All from Jake.
The feeling of dread I’ve become accustomed to recently churns my stomach.
The same feeling I’ve had for months, ever since we started dating.
This can’t be what all normal relationships are like?
I open the thread of messages from him. My heart stalls, and my arms shake as I read through them.
The further I get, the more my hands begin to sweat from how tightly I’m gripping the phone.
Jake – Where the hell are you?
Jake – Why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve been to the salon, so I know you’re not there.
Jake – I bet you’re out with that whore again, aren’t you? What the fuck are you playing at? Ring me now!!!
What. The. Fuck.