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“Let’s go…” Kate gave up trying to shout above the racket and grabbed Bob’s arm, weaving him through the throbbing mass of bodies towards the exit. Out in the fresh air, she took a large gulp of air. Beside her a couple were leaning against the wall. If the bloke tried to stick his tongue any further down the girl’s throat, he might get stuck in there. She pulled Bob further away from the building till she could hear herself think.
“Bob, what are you doing here? I didn’t have you down as a clubber?”
“Not a clubber,” he slurred. “Colleague’s stag do. Had to come. Didn’t want…”
“Bob, are you OK?”
Bob had turned an alarming shade of grey, sweat beading his brow as he began to shake.
“Bob?”
Bob held up a hand to stop Kate from talking. Next thing she knew, he’d disappeared behind a bin. The bin was too small to hide such a large man, and Kate watched his shoulders heaving up and down as he brought up whatever vile booze he’d consumed that evening. When he was done, he leaned against a wall, wiping his mouth on his expensive shirt sleeve.
“Sorry about that,” he said, giving her a weak smile as he staggered over.
“Don’t worry about it, happens to the best of us.” Actually, Kate thought, it didn’t happen to her. Only once, and that was when she’d been spiked.
“Need to get home.”
“I don’t think you’re in a fit state to be going anywhere. Come back to mine. You can sleep on the sofa.”
“Thanks, Kate, you’re an angel.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure about that. Let me try calling Maddie. I don’t want to leave her on her own in there.” Kate thought it unlikely Maddie would hear her phone ringing, but if she could avoid going back into that sweat pit, she’d try anything. She took her phone out of her bag and saw three missed calls and a text from Maddie.
Met someone. B hme latr. By xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcccxxxccc
Kate took a deep breath. The message had been sent an hour ago. So Maddie had left her for the sake of some bloke. She could have got a decent night’s sleep after all, rather than sitting in the corner of a club like some loser, waiting for a friend who wasn’t even there.
Kate turned her attention back to Bob. “Come on,” she said, “put an arm round me. You seem a bit unsteady on your feet.”
Bob’s arm was surprisingly heavy. Kate felt like a walking stick as he leaned his whole weight on her. She had to practically drag him along the pavement to keep him moving. As they waited to cross a road, he bent over to kiss her cheek, but missed, nearly choking on a mouthful of hair. Kate was grateful for her sensible boots as they trudged their way along the high street. It was busy on the main street, groups of girls staggering arm in arm, a gaggle of teenage boys half hidden inside a shop doorway.
At her front door, Kate propped Bob up against the wall and fished her keys out of her pocket. Thank goodness she’d given Maddie a spare, or she’d have to wait up for her.
“Come on, in you come.” Kate guided Bob up the front steps and to the purple sofa. She prayed he wouldn’t throw up again. Purple velvet would be a nightmare to clean.
The arm of Bob’s shirt was stained lime green where he’d wiped his mouth. Bob was already snoring away, but Kate carefully undid his shirt buttons and somehow managed to wriggle his arms out and roll him enough to get the shirt free. She avoided looking at him semi-naked and was glad she’d left the light off.
Kate fetched a bucket from the kitchen and placed it beside the sofa. She grabbed a throw from the spare sofa and tucked Bob into it as a mother would a child. Her body was screaming for sleep, but at least the fresh air had gone some way to ease the pain in her head. Back in the kitchen, Kate coated the arm of Bob’s shirt with stain remover before putting it on a wash cycle. She let herself outside, brushed her teeth in the outside bathroom and flopped on her bed, falling asleep in seconds, her silk shirt creasing beneath her.
*
A large figure appeared at the end of Kate’s bed and she let out a scream.
“Sorry, sorry, didn’t mean to wake you, or scare you, for that matter. I’m just making my way to the facilities.”
“Bob? Are you alright? What time is it?”
“Yes I’m fine thanks. It’s eight thirty.”
Kate flopped back against the pillow. She was known as an early riser, any time after seven counting as a lie in, but she was relieved she’d been able to get some sleep. She sat up again and smiled at Bob. “You go use the loo. I’ll get a pot of coffee going.”
“You’re an angel.”
Kate laughed. “You said the same last night.”
“I did? Oh.” Bob shuffled out of the room, blushing as he went.
