Chapter Eleven
Tommy
“Are you happy to give the go-ahead on the ARP project, Mr Jackson?” My assistant asks.
“Yes, thank you, Lara.”
Lara has been a lifesaver since opening the Midlands branch in my business, T.Jackson Construction.
I never expected the business to grow at the rate it has, starting out as a small work yard and now a multimillion-pound company.
One day I’m up some scaffolding, helping the lads with labouring, and the next I’m the CEO of a nationwide construction company as well as advisor to other smaller businesses.
All the blood, sweat and tears paid off.
Lara is beyond professional, gets my shit in order and knows what I need before I even have time to ask for it.
Where she is beautiful and always impeccably dressed, her wife is the complete opposite.
Whenever they’re together, her demeanour completely changes, from professional to laid back and in love.
“Perfect, I’ll get on it asap.”
“Thanks again, what would I do without you?”
“Not much, that’s for sure,” She laughs, leaving my office to get on with her day. Chances are, I will be needing her help shortly with the next project I’m about to start.
I still can’t get over how busy we are. It was a huge risk expanding in this part of the UK, but being so central has proved to be crucial in our expansion.
I try to get my head in the game and work for the rest of the day, yet all I can think about is Maya. How she looked last night, how she tasted. Fuck, I can’t be getting a hard on in work. That’s got HR written all over it.
Why is she so troubled over being with me?
Is it because she has only just broken up with that dick head?
We need to talk tonight. I can’t carry on wondering what’s going on; it’s driving me insane. I have wanted her for so long, I won’t be waiting any longer. I can’t.
I don’t remember the exact moment it started to become more than friendship, but I do remember when I was sure it was more. It was the night she kissed me, she was eighteen, and I was twenty-one.
Pulling up at the bar where Fallon told me to meet the girls for a ride home, I see Maya standing on the front waiting for me. She has this look on her face that doesn’t sit right with me, like she wanted to be anywhere else but here.
“Maymay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s just not really my crowd in there. I only agreed to come for Fal. You know how much of a social butterfly she is.”
“You don’t always have to do things to make other people happy, you know that, right?” Her reaction to my words surprised me as her expression became even more troubled.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I can tell she’s been drinking. Her eyes are glassy, and she is swaying slightly from side to side. I knew she didn’t drink often, given how much she hated seeing her mum do it. So this isn’t like Maya at all. Her head lifts, and her eyes pierce into mine.
“I wish I could do what I want. Not giving a shit about the consequences,” She’s studying me now. “Maybe I should.”
“You should what?” I ask, feeling myself hanging on to every word she says.
“Do what I want.”
She leans towards me, her hands coming up to the side of my face. On instinct, I grab a hold of her hips. Then she is kissing me, not the messy kiss you’d expect from a drunk girl, but a kiss that is soft and tender, like she’s been waiting for a long time to do this. Like she was savouring it.
I remember that kiss like it was yesterday. How much I wanted it to never end. The day after it, I had tried talking to Maya about it, but she had no idea what I was talking about.
“I barely remember getting home last night. Thank you so much for picking us up. What would we do without you?”
And that was that.
I never mentioned it again as she clearly didn’t remember. I had always assumed it meant nothing to her and that I was just a horny young lad. The feeling of wanting to be with her has never left me, though and ever since that night, I have compared every other woman to her.
The workday has dragged, as soon as it gets to five o’clock, I’m practically sprinting out of the doors, shit, I’m acting like a pussy whipped teenager. After last night, maybe her pussy has got me whipped.
I nip home to shower and change and head to Maya’s cabin for half past six. Pulling into her driveway in my black Lamborghini Huracan, I switch off the engine and go straight to her door.
Maya’s cabin has her name written all over it.
She told me plenty of times growing up how she wanted something exactly like this.
Wooden exterior with beautiful seating areas scattered all around.
Rose bushes and planters surround the fences.
There are no other homes overlooking it, making it peaceful and quiet, just like she dreamt of.
Before I get a chance to knock, Maya is already pulling the door open with a shy smile on her face.
“You don’t need to knock, I heard your car coming a mile away,” She says in jest.
“I thought since we’re driving out of town, we may as well have a bit of fun driving to our destination,” I wink.
“Where are we going?” She goes to pick up a pair of small heels to match her dress and tights.
“It’s a surprise, I would recommend flat shoes and a warm coat though,” I hope she isn’t disappointed when she realises it isn’t a restaurant.
“Ooo, this is intriguing. I guess I’ll find out when we get there?” she finishes lacing up her Doc Martens. This woman looks bloody appealing in anything she wears.
“Yep. Now come on, I’m starved.” I say as I grab hold of her and pull her along to the passenger door, helping her in, then rounding back to my side.
“Tommy, this car is like a spaceship. What the hell do you need all of these buttons for?” The look of exasperation on her face is adorable.
“For entertainment. Strap in, we’re going to have some fun.”
She still hasn’t clicked on to where we’re heading. After a quick fifteen-minute drive, we’re pulling up at a random patch of grass hidden off-road, and her eyes widen.
“Tommy, I haven’t been here since the last time you brought me,” she says with a gasp. I have to look at her to make sure it’s not horror written all over her expression. Thankfully, it isn’t. “Are we going to our meadow?”
Fuck, I love how she calls it that.
“Yes, baby, I thought you might like it. Don’t worry, though, I’ve brought you food too.
” I remember well how angry she can get when she’s hungry.
I get out of the car, rounding to the boot, putting on a backpack and taking the picnic basket.
By the time I’m sorted, she’s met me at the back of the car.
“You ready, Maymay?” I ask, holding my free hand out to her.
“Oh my god, yes,” She’s practically bouncing on the spot with excitement.
Thank fuck for that.
It only takes us five minutes to enter the clearing, then another five to find our perfect spot. The one we always used to frequent. Setting the basket on the grass, I start laying out the supplies from the backpack. A blanket, a bottle of wine and two bottles of water.
“This is perfect,” She hums, leaning back on the blanket. I watch her for a moment, the serene look on her face. So beautiful.
“I didn’t cook, so don’t be too worried over what’s in here,” I glance at her sideways.
“I heard you say your favourite Italian is near my work building, so I ordered us some takeout.” It took a lot of convincing to get them to agree, saying they don’t have the time.
They soon changed their tune when I offered a grand for it.
The dearest fucking carbonara I have ever bought.
“Oh Tommy, this is amazing,” She beams.
That look on her face just made it all worth it.
We tuck into our food in silence, listening to the slow trickling from the stream. The animals prancing around that only come to life at night. That’s why this was our escape place.
Once we’re both finished, we tidy all the mess away, and I pour us both a glass of wine.
“So…”
“So.”
“I don’t know where to begin,” She says, her face looks so sad, and it kills me, I can't stand seeing her in pain.
“Start at the beginning.”
“Okay. Well… I don’t know if you know that I had a crush on you when I was younger. I never wanted to act on it, because you were more than that to me, you were my best friend too.”
Hmm, that can’t be the only reason, though. It doesn’t explain why she ghosted me for years, too.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t keep it from you. It was eating me alive. I was just so scared that you wouldn’t feel the same way,” she turns from me then, shying away.
“Maya, I’ve always felt the same way. Ever since that night you kissed me years ago…”
“Kissed you? I had never kissed you until the night in your parents’ kitchen?” The look of confusion marred her pretty expression. So she didn’t remember it.
“You did, it was after you went to a club with the girls. I picked you up, and you kissed me before they came outside. You were pretty drunk, though.” Why do I feel so disappointed? I always knew she didn’t recall it.
“Oh my god, Tommy! I do remember… It’s just that the memory was that fuzzy and surreal, I assumed I had dreamt it!”
“It’s in the past now, Maymay. We have more than made up for it,” I wink. My mind goes back to having her spread wide open for me on that desk. Fuck now I’m horny, again. What is she doing to me? I’m dying to know more, but trying hard to not be the pushy bastard I am.
“Anyway, it was before that night. I thought before I spoke to you about it, it was best to give Fallon the heads up,” She trails off, sadness there again as she drops her head resigned.
“She flipped. Wouldn’t speak to me for weeks.
I promised her I’d stay away. She even made sure I was never around when you came home.
I’m so scared, Tommy, I can’t lose her as a friend. ”
What.
The ever-loving.
Fuck.
All this time, Fallon is the reason Maya stayed away.