AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 35
Friday 12th March
It takes a few attempts to get hold of my housemate, and by the time I do manage to speak to him I’m tearful and panicky, sobbing as I tell him, without going into detail, that I’m suddenly terrified about what’s to come.
‘Mary, calm down. You’re just having a mild panic attack or something. I’m going to be with you, OK? I’d never let anything bad happen to you, you know that, don’t you? Come on, breathe. Of course you’re scared; you wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. But I promise you, you’re going to be all right.’
Gradually, gently, he talks me down, and by the time I’m back on the M4 I’m feeling better, especially as he tells me he’ll be home tonight after all. He’d been due to see Megan as promised but, I suspect to his relief, he’d had to pull a last-minute late shift in the office, so she decided to go out with friends instead. At seven, when I’m back in Cheltenham and snuggled up on the sofa, he texts to say he’ll be home between 10.30 and 11, adding:
Grabbing some fish ‘n’ chips on the way back. Want some?
I decline, thanking him but telling him I’m not hungry, and that I’m exhausted and planning an early night.
Can’t keep my eyes open. Would love to see you when you get in but might be asleep at this rate!
I text back, and he replies with a sad face emoji. For some reason, that makes my heart flutter a little, and although I really do feel wiped out, as the clock ticks round to 11 I’m still valiantly trying to stay awake by watching TV in bed, choosing one of my favourite old episodes ofSex and the City, the one where Carrie and Mr Big meet for lunch and end up falling in a lake. Even though I’m expecting Pete’s arrival, I don’t hear the front door opening or his footsteps on the stairs, so when there’s a sudden tap on my bedroom door I jump, instantly on full alert, my heart thumping,
‘Bloody hell, Pete. You could have called up the stairs or something. You scared the life out of me,’ I snap, as he pokes his head into the room.
‘Oh, bugger. Sorry babes.’ He walks in, coat still on, takeaway bag in hand, a contrite expression replacing the grin on his face.
‘I should have thought, especially at the moment. Would a chip do as an apology?’
I glare at him, my heart still racing, then sniff. There’s a rather enticing aroma coming from the bag in his hand, and my stomach growls.
I haven’t eaten since lunch, have I? Maybe I am hungry, after all.
‘Possibly,’ I say. ‘What else is in that bag?’
He smirks.
‘Knew you wouldn’t be able to resist. Battered plaice, onion rings, mushy peas. And two forks.’
I sigh.
‘Damn you, Chong. You know my weak spots, don’t you? I can’t resist an onion ring.’
And, it seems, for some reason at the moment I can’t resist Pete Chong either. He gives a whoop and leaps onto my bed, but after only a few minutes of nibbling on the contents of the bag, he leans across to wipe a dribble of tartar sauce off my chin and then, very slowly, runs his finger across my lips, and my stomach flips. Our eyes meet, and we stare at each other for a few long moments. And then we’re kissing, panting, our hands ripping at each other’s clothing, and as I’m already in bed and wearing just a T-shirt, it’s not long before I’m naked, groaning with pleasure as his fingers roam my body. The sex is, as it was the first time, delicious, and afterwards he stays with me, one long, muscular leg thrown across mine, his breath warm on my neck. I lie there for a few minutes, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his chest against my back, trying to process how I’m feeling.
Even more guilty, about sleeping with another woman’s boyfriendagain?Definitely.
But happy?
Also definitely, I realise, and whether that’s a good thing or not, I’m simply too tired and emotional to figure it out now. I fall asleep with my fingers entwined in his and, I’m pretty sure, a small smile on my face.
