Lowering herself into her bath, Tasha picked up her phone that had several messages waiting. She began to read them as her body sunk beneath the hot water and bubbles of the bath.
Tasha smiled as she thought of Jim missing her but really didn’t want to deal with questions about her family, not because she didn’t trust Jim with the ever darkening and sick things her dad was capable of, but because she felt ashamed of them. Also, she and Jim currently had little enough time together without having to waste any of it on her parents. She composed her reply and hoped it would be enough and they could move on.
Tasha loved that Jim read her so well when they were together, but wished she could shield herself from it sometimes, like now when he was digging and not necessarily going to be happy when she revealed details of the visit to her family home.
He sounded angry now, angry with her dad, with her and Liam. She knew he was right, but what would she do if her dad demanded money before Jim arrived? The police? They were no strangers to their home, but who wanted this level of dirty linen airing in public? And the press would jump on theFormer Soap Star’s Family in Child Sex Trade Scandal. She shuddered as she thought about it.
Tasha thought he’d forgotten about her doctor, or at least been blindsided by her father’s behaviour and threats. Clearly not. The final part of the text made her laugh as she imagined Jim’s face when he read her reply.
“Tash, pizza’s here,” called Lucy from the other side of the bathroom door.
Tasha physically jumped as her mind was shifted from thoughts of desperation, wetness, nakedness and sharing a bath with Jim.
****
Tasha and Lucy were still drinking and talking at midnight. Tasha had told Lucy all about Jim and in return her friend had reciprocated with a blow by blow account of Lucy’s week long relationship with Ryan. There had been a small electrical fire at the studio the previous Friday and it had been Ryan’s watch who attended the call.
“So, he impressed you with his ability to handle his hose.” Courtesy of the wine Tasha laughed a little too much at her own joke.
“He has impressed me with his hose more since the fire,” replied Lucy with a dead pan expression.
“Be careful though,” Tasha seemed to warn in a very serious tone. “You know what they say about playing with fire—it gets you burnt.”
“Hmmm, but that’s the thing, Tash, I’m not playing with fire, but a firefighter.”
Tasha shook her head at her friend’s cheeky grin before choking on her wine as her friend spoke again.
“And whilst playing with fire might get me burnt, playing with a firefighter gets me wet.”
