Chapter 25 #2
Immediately, his laid-back demeanour changed.
‘No . . . no . . . I’ve known – we’ve both known for a long time we weren’t right.
She was originally in love with Tony but, of course, he kept messing her around, so she’d confide in me and .
. . well, I suppose she saw me as Mr Steady. God, when I think of it.’
‘Right, well sounds like it’s not quite over between them . . .’
‘To be honest I’m not sure it ever really was.’
‘Nice.’ Ally was beginning to feel thoroughly pissed off on Pete’s behalf.
‘Anyhow, apparently she’s going to Spain for Christmas with the two boys and he’s going to sail up to meet with them.’
Ally couldn’t help giving a rueful laugh. ‘On his yacht? I can’t help feeling like he’s coming out of this pretty well, for a fraudster. So, dare I ask . . . When is he going to pay you back – or is that a rude question?’
‘Tomorrow, apparently. At least, that’s the promise.’
‘Oh my God, Pete, this is incredible.’ She held up crossed fingers.
‘Come here . . .’ He stepped towards her, took her face in his hands and kissed her gently.
Then, scooping Patsy up under his arm, he led her up the dusty, creaking steps to the high, bare room, illuminated by the city lights, where a medium-sized tent was placed in the centre.
It was like living on a traffic island, she thought.
‘Oh, Pete, this is . . . fantastic. I feel like I’m eighteen at Electric Picnic.’
‘I never went, can you believe that? I was always too busy.’
‘Ah well, it’s never too late.’
A thought occurred to her, and Pete seemed to read her mind . . .
‘And Tony’s on a yacht . . . fuck him anyway. He doesn’t have you . . .’ He slid a hand inside her coat and caressed the bare skin of her back. Meanwhile, Patsy padded off and lay down cosily in his bed beside the heater.
‘Sssh,’ said Pete, supressing a giggle. ‘We better not wake him.’
‘He’s only a baby,’ whispered Ally. She felt the rough beard stubble rasp across her lips as she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue inside, and he cupped the cheeks of her bottom.
‘You’ve an amazing body,’ he whispered.
‘Really?’
‘Oh yeah . . .’
She unbuttoned his flannel shirt, sliding her hand across the rough hairs of his chest and belly.
‘I’ll have to cut down on the chips,’ he muttered, making them snigger.
His hand slid up between her thighs and inside her knickers, as she wrapped her leg around his.
‘You’re so wet . . .’ His fingers slid inside her yielding pussy, as she felt the hardness of his cock pressing against her.
‘Wait,’ she squeaked, almost overbalancing on her high heels as she pulled the floaty satin dress over her head and let it slip to the ground. For a moment they gazed at each other’s semi-naked bodies in the orange glow of the streetlights.
‘I need to get inside you,’ he breathed.
‘Not out here, everyone can see us from the street,’ she hissed, so they crawled into the tent. He wriggled out of his jeans and underwear, shoving her bra above her breasts and flicking his tongue across her nipple. She moaned and arched her back, opening herself to him.
‘Uh, just . . . hang on . . .’
There was some scuffling in the tent as he rummaged around and finally produced a condom from his jeans pocket, holding it between his teeth and ripping it open.
She breathed in the smell coming off his body: fresh sweat, sex and something else that was uniquely him, but didn’t feel strange.
As he slid inside her, it felt like coming home.
* * *
Ally woke to find her face pressed against a mop of something soft and fluffy, which turned out to be Patsy. The puppy had crept into the tent during the night and found the cosiest spot, which turned out to be right between their heads.
‘Pete?’
‘Mmmm?’
Just then Patsy was lifted out of the way and she found herself face to face with Pete.
‘Hi,’ he murmured as she moved closer and fell back into a doze, with her head on his chest, in the early-morning quiet before the rest of the world woke up.
Without even intending to, they made love again, because it was the natural thing to do.
Then she drifted for a while between waking and sleep, remembering at least that they were already at work.
Eventually, she became aware of a glow in the darkness, as Pete prodded at his phone.
‘Pete, what’re you doing?’ she whispered, conscious that Evelyn was already downstairs.
‘Looking to see if he’s transferred the money.’
‘It’s kind of early.’
‘Nope, Turkey is three hours ahead.’
She watched his face, which was furrowed in anticipation, melt with relief.
‘It’s there.’
‘What? You’re kidding . . .’
He turned the phone around to show her the figure and then put his finger to his lips. She gasped.
‘Oh, my God, Pete, I’ve never seen that many zeros on a bank account in my life.’
‘That’s not all he owes me either . . . but that’s for another day.’
‘Wow.’
‘And it’s not all mine to go mad with, trust me . . . Most of it is due on tax and unpaid debt. Still, at least there’s some people I can face again.’
‘How do you mean?’ said Ally with a trace of anxiety. Was he thinking about his old life?
‘People I owe . . . You know, I often thought about what this moment would be like – feeling triumphant and vindicated. But it’s weird, I don’t feel like that at all.’
‘Things never feel the way you expect.’
‘I’m going to help out Dave . . . This place is running into the ground. It’s barely ticking over. I’m going to make him an offer if he’ll sell it . . . turn it into a landmark destination. How do you feel about being front of house?’
‘Like what we talked about in the pub? Are you serious? I’d love it, I think.’
‘You know, Ally, it’s funny . . . I’ve stayed in the flashy hotels, but I never felt more like I’d finally arrived than last night with you.’
She stroked his face. ‘Me too.’ Suddenly, she felt the pressure of his change in circumstances. ‘But Pete, I’m not a model or an influencer or anything like that.’
‘No, but you’re beautiful and smart and real, and I know I can trust you. You were with me when I’d nothing . . . so now I want to give you everything. Mam sent me a text last night: Got it right at last, son. Don’t let her go.’
‘Hang on . . . how did she know about us?’ said Ally, incredulous. ‘I told her we weren’t together.’
‘Yeah, smart lady, my ma.’
‘You told her?’ She gave him a playful slap. ‘Pete, she knew more than I did.’
‘Sorry, I just didn’t want to make any more promises that I couldn’t keep.’
‘That’s a little weird but . . . sweet.’
And in that moment, Ally felt like she understood just a bit more the passionate, driven, complicated guy that was Pete, although she sensed she could spend a lifetime unravelling his secrets.
‘Oh God, it’s nearly eight . . . I’d better get moving. Evelyn will be wondering where I am.’
‘I’d say she’s guessed.’ He grinned.
‘What are you going to do?’
‘Coffee, then get on the phone. I’ve to get the accounts unfrozen, then there’s a lot of people who will be glad to hear from me before Christmas . . .’
And it was true, Ally reflected – nothing happens, and you think it’s forever, then suddenly, out of nowhere, everything happens.
He nuzzled her neck. ‘Meet you here after your shift?’
* * *
Ally crept downstairs, wearing the same clothes as yesterday. At least she’d been able to wash and put on her makeup, so she felt able to face the world.
Evelyn just smiled. ‘Kettle’s on.’
They went about their normal chores of setting up the tables and displaying the sandwiches and scones, except that everything was transformed – it just wasn’t showing yet.
At eleven, the phone in her back pocket buzzed.
Where the F did you go last night?
Long story ?? meet you Los Banditos tomorrow early bird?
OMG you didn’t??????
?? ?? ??
Knew it!!!!