Track 32
‘SHARP DRESSED MAN’ (ZZ TOP)
Christmas and New Year were over quicker than you could say ‘Frosty the Snowman’.
Lily and Adam made regular trips out to walk Monty even though there was a thick covering of snow blanketing the ground and dulling every noise, like soundproofing.
It was ridiculously cold and Monty had discovered a real affection for snow.
Adam and Lily laughed hysterically when they saw the confused expression on the dog’s face as he tried to eat some and it melted as soon as it made contact with his long floppy tongue.
The canine was nothing if not tenacious.
By the time they got back to the car he was soaked and the odour of wet dog permeated every fibre of their clothing.
‘Bloody hell, Monty, you need a bath,’ Lily informed the soggy black dog whose tail was still wagging frantically.
‘Now that will be an experience.’ Adam laughed.
‘Yeah, well, it’s an experience you’ll be having without me.’
‘Lil, you’re a spoilsport! I might need your help.’
She snorted. ‘Not a chance!’
Once they were ensconced at Adam’s house, back in the warm, Adam made hot chocolate. Monty was towelled off and Adam laid him by the radiator to finish drying his fur.
Handing Lily a steaming mug, Adam hesitantly spoke. ‘Sooo, I’ve got a favour to ask, Lil.’
She frowned. ‘Oooh, that sounds ominous. Be warned, I may tell you to eff off.’
He cringed. ‘You may, but I’m really hoping you don’t.’
She huffed impatiently. ‘Just spit it out, Adders. I have things to be getting on with, you know.’
‘Okay, here goes… Would you come with me to my work’s Christmas party?’
She scrunched her face again. ‘Oh, either they’re really organised at your school, and they are having it way early or they seem to have forgotten that Christmas has been and gone quite recently.’
‘Neither. The venue the rector likes was booked up too far in advance, and she insisted there was nowhere else she deemed good enough… sooo… it was booked for January.’
Lily laughed. ‘That’s what you call commitment. Anyway, can’t you go alone?’
He ran his hands through his hair. ‘Yeah, I could. But I really don’t want to. It’s a dinner dance. If I go alone, I’ll look like… like…’ His words trailed off and she immediately regretted her suggestion.
‘Okay, of course I’ll go with you. Silly arse.’
He scooted up the sofa and hugged her. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. You won’t regret it. Well, you might regret it… it might be as dull as ditch water… last year the food was okay but not fantastic… you may hate it… but if you do, I’ll owe you big time.’
‘You’re selling this very well. I can’t wait,’ she said sarcastically.
‘Anyway, it’s next Saturday. You need to wear a kind of evening dress-type thing, if you have one.’
‘Of course I’ve got one. You’d be surprised what I have in my wardrobe.’
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. ‘Hmm, I’ll bet, you saucy minx.’
She smacked his arm. ‘Clothing, Adders. I just meant clothing.’
After dropping Monty at his mum and dad’s house, Adam arrived at Lily’s place at seven fifteen in a taxi.
It was the night of the not-so-Christmas party.
Knowing Lil, she would probably be nowhere near ready.
He tried the front door, but it was locked, so he resorted to dinging the doorbell over and over until he received a response from the rather pissed-off Lily who opened the door in her robe.
He closed his eyes for a couple of seconds and ran his hand through his hair. ‘Oh, for Pete’s sake, Lil, you’re not even dressed!’
With a smirk, she began to unfasten her long, fluffy robe very slowly.
Adam felt he should look away but couldn’t.
He wondered if he was about to see her in her underwear right there in the hallway of her house and wasn’t sure why that caught his attention so much.
He gulped as she opened and dropped the robe to the floor.
‘Ha ha! Your face was a picture! Hilarious! I’ve been ready for ages, you nutter.’
He huffed out his held breath. ‘Funny, Lil. Very funny.’
She gathered up her robe and flung it over the banister. Turning, she walked back towards him and he swallowed hard.
She twirled around. ‘Will I do? It’s more of a cocktail dress than an evening gown, but I really like it and never get to wear it.
It’s designer, you know.’ She winked. Adam stared.
‘Oh God, say something, will you? Should I go change?’ Her cheeks coloured, which drew Adam’s gaze up from the figure-hugging black velvet off-shoulder dress to her made-up face.
He had never really seen her wear make-up before.
She was more of an au naturel type usually.
But here she stood, all smoky eyes and glossy lips.
Quite different. Quite, quite different.
He shook his head to dislodge the confusing thoughts he was having about his best friend. ‘You… erm… you… look… erm…’
She sighed and stamped her foot like a spoiled child. ‘Right. That’s it. I’m changing. We’ll be late now.’
‘No!’ He lurched forward towards her but didn’t make contact. ‘No, no, don’t change. You look great. And anyway, there’s no time, like you said.’
She folded her arms across her chest. This didn’t help Adam. All it did was push her breasts upwards, creating more cleavage.
Her lips were pursed and her nostrils flared. ‘Well, thanks, I think. Don’t overdo the enthusiasm or anything. I’m only doing you a huge bloody favour, Adders.’
He closed his mouth briefly, feeling a little confused. ‘Lily, I’m very sorry. What I meant to say was you look stunning.’
A smile spread across her face… Lily’s quite beautiful face. Shit, stop that right now, dickhead. It’s Lily. Remember? Lily who you’ve known your whole life? Get a grip.
Trying to rid himself of whatever the hell this feeling was, he gestured towards the taxi.
‘Come on, Cheesy, or we’ll be late.’ He turned and made for the car as quick as his legs would carry him. He heard Lily cursing and locking her door.
Drinks were being served when they arrived.
Adam quickly made his way to the bar and ordered a double Jack Daniels.
Lily opted for a more sophisticated glass of red wine.
He was unreasonably nervous. But then again, he was up for promotion to Head of English and at such a young age everything he did from now would create a certain impression. He had to get that job.
‘Go steady, Adders. You’ll be in no fit state to dance at this rate!’ Lily snorted as he downed the bourbon almost in one go. ‘Look, I’m off to the Ladies’, seeing as you rushed me out the door. Try not to get sloshed in the five minutes I’m gone, okay?’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, okay.’ He watched her walk away, hips swaying in the dress that accentuated every curve he’d never really noticed before.
He groaned. What the hell is wrong with me?
I seriously need to get laid. That’s it.
It must be. If I’m ogling my best friend, then it must be desperation point.
He noticed Jaz, real name Jared, as if that wasn’t bloody cool enough on its own, Malone across the room. The new American music teacher. He was every teenage girl’s fantasy and had caused quite a stir amongst the females at the school in the short time he had been working there.
He was all male-model good looks, messy dark hair, muscles, and coolness.
He had tattoos too, apparently. He had heard one of the younger female members of staff telling another in the staff room, ‘He has, you can see them when he wears his white shirt. They look all tribal. Oh, what I wouldn’t do to get a proper look. ’ The two women had swooned.
Adam secretly rolled his eyes when the image of male perfection came and stood next to him, beer bottle in hand.
‘Armstrong.’ He nodded as he spoke in his American drawl.
‘Malone.’ Adam nodded in return. God, he was the epitome of cool and it made Adam sick. He even makes a bloody penguin suit look good.
‘Your wife is smoking hot, man,’ Jaz informed Adam as he too watched Lily sashay towards the Ladies’.
‘She’s not my wife,’ Adam said plainly, regretting it immediately.
‘So, what then, fiancée? Girlfriend?’
Adam took a swig of the depleted contents of his glass. ‘Best friend.’
Jaz nodded and his eyes lit up. ‘Really? So, is she single?’
Adam scowled. ‘Erm, no. She’s in a relationship with some Spanish guy. I think it’s pretty serious.’ Whaaat? What am I saying?
A look of disappointment clouded Jaz’s features. ‘Oh, right. Yeah, that figures, I guess. Damn shame though, man. I bet you wished she was more than a friend, huh? With looks and a body like that, maaan, she’s got curves to die for.’ Jaz grinned as he shook his head. ‘What I wouldn’t give…’
Adam’s face heated rapidly and the urge to smack Jaz almost overtook him.
He slammed his glass down and opted to rein the urge in. ‘Actually, Lily and I have been friends since we were kids, so I don’t appreciate hearing her being objectified that way. She’s a person, Malone. And she’s off limits, got it?’
Jaz held his hands up in surrender. ‘Okay, my man. Sorry if I offended you. I can see you’ve got it bad, dude. I apologise.’
Before Adam could make further comment, Lily rejoined them at the bar. ‘Hey, Adders, who’s your friend?’
Jaz held out his hand to her. ‘Jaz Malone, music teacher at the fine institution your best friend here works at.’ Jaz emphasised the words best friend as if trying to get under Adam’s skin. It worked.
Lily blushed as she shook his hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Jaz. You’re of the American persuasion, I take it?’
‘Sure am. Seattle born and raised.’
Lily bit her bottom lip.
Adam’s gaze darted between Lily and Jaz. Great. She bloody fancies him too. The talented arse with the looks and the cool bloody accent. Typical.
‘So, Jaz, what brought you here to Scotland?’ she asked.
‘I came over for a study break during my time at U-Dub and fell in love with the place. My girlfriend and I decided to try and get work here so when study was over, we hopped on a plane.’ Adam saw disappointment flood Lily’s face.
‘So, is she here tonight? Your girlfriend?’
Jaz dropped his gaze momentarily. Oh, for God’s sake, now he’s going to play the heartbreak card.
When Jaz looked up into Lily’s face, his expression had changed. ‘Nah, me and Esther broke up not long after we arrived. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. And I’m hoping that maybe one day I’ll meet the right girl. Maybe a Scottish girl. I love the accent.’ His mouth lifted in a sexy half smile.
‘Yours isn’t so bad.’ Lily fluttered her eyelids at him and Adam suddenly felt nauseated.
Jaz lifted his chin at her. ‘So, where’s your guy tonight?’
Whoops… dammit!
Lily scrunched her brows. ‘My guy?’
‘Yeah… your Spanish love?’ Jaz chuckled.
Her eyes narrowed. ‘Rafael?’ She glanced at Adam, evidently confused as to why her booty call from years ago would have come up.
‘Oh, he and I aren’t an item. We just… erm…
enjoyed each other for a while. We’re not in a relationship.
’ Her eyes shot to Adam again. She was definitely a combination of confused and pissed off.
Jaz licked his bottom lip. ‘Oh? Well, maybe you and I could dance later?’ He gave her one of his all-American, handsome-as-all-get-out smiles.
Adam rolled his eyes as he watched Lily play with her hair. ‘That would be lovely. I’ll look forward to it, Jaz.’
The host announced dinner was to be served and asked for everyone to find their seats.
Lily whacked Adam’s arm as they walked towards the tables. ‘Why did you tell Jaz I was in a relationship with a Spanish man?’ she spat venomously as they took their adjacent seats.
Adam rubbed his arm and glanced around to check Jaz wasn’t watching. ‘Because he’s a womaniser, and I didn’t want you being a notch on his bedpost. That’s why.’
Lily gritted her teeth and flared her nostrils in true angry Lily style.
‘Adam, I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions about who I do or don’t sleep with.
And looking at him, I would certainly sleep with him, so do me a favour and stop the bloody big brother act for one minute so I can breathe, will you? ’
Hurt knotted his insides. ‘Well, excuse me for caring.’
‘I excuse you for caring, but I don’t excuse you for meddling. And how do you know that we might not hit it off and actually have a relationship?’
He lowered his head and spoke in a harsh whisper.
‘Because you, Lily, don’t do relationships.
You do sleeping with men and then leaving them if they get too close.
You never fall in love. It’s just not in your nature.
I’m not even sure you’re capable of it.’ He growled.
‘And he’s had more women than I can count since he’s been here, so you would end up as fuck buddies and nothing more.
But if you did happen to miraculously fall for him, you’d get hurt. ’
Lily sat there agape and he regretted his unforgiving words.
She was his best friend and in his own roundabout way he was trying to protect her.
Wasn’t he? That had been a protective instinct that had caused him to lie…
wasn’t it? It certainly wasn’t jealousy.
Absolutely not. What was there to be jealous about?
She opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water and just before she turned away from him, he saw tears welling in her eyes.
Shit.
He leaned across to her and reached for her arm but she snatched it away. ‘Lil, I’m sorry, okay? That was mean and unnecessary. Please forgive me?’ She didn’t respond at first. ‘Lily, please. I’m really sorry.’
She slowly turned to him with glassy eyes.
‘I have never been made to feel so cheap, Adam. I can’t believe you could be so cruel.
And you already know that I have been in love.
But I got my heart broken. No, not just broken, smashed to smithereens.
So excuse me if I’m not willing to give my fragile heart out to the first man who says he loves me.
And there is nothing wrong with enjoying sex.
If I were a man, you’d be patting me on the back.
Now I suggest you just don’t speak to me at all for the rest of the evening, and then when this is over, I would like you to leave me alone for a while, please.
’ She stood from the table, pushed her chair back, and excused herself.
His chest tightened as if he’d been winded. He’d really hurt her. She had never spoken to him with such venom. They’d had plenty of fights, sure. But this one was different. It had been real, and he hated himself for the things he’d said.
For the rest of the evening, he watched Lily and Jaz getting to know one another on the dance floor and off. She even left with him at the end of the evening, and Adam was sure she did it out of spite, but he couldn’t say a word. He had practically pushed her into it.
He went home alone, confused about why his stomach was so knotted and hating himself for being a cruel and heartless idiot.
The worst part was that Monty wasn’t even there to greet him.