Chapter Three
Maya
We get ourselves settled in at the bar and order some drinks, another cocktail for me, of course, and a beer for Tommy, just before our friends seem to congregate around us at the bar.
“Maya! God, it’s been a while since I’ve seen your gorgeous face,” Max says, coming in for a hug. Over his shoulder, I can see Tommy giving him the death stare.
Tommy’s younger brother, Max, looks just like him. The only difference is that Tommy is all man, and Max is more of a cheeky chappy. Always flirting and messing around.
“Hi Max, it’s good to see you too,” I laugh as he releases me from the tight squeeze he had me in.
“Listen, I’m single and ready to mingle. Which one of you gorgeous ladies fancies putting a man out of his misery?” He winks, laughing at his own joke.
“Oh, behave, Max, leave my girls alone,” Fallon says, exasperated.
“Don’t be a bore, sis,” he replies, but then walksalong to the next group of lucky ladies.
“Wow. He hasn’t changed one bit, has he?” I laugh.
“Nope, not at all,” Tommy says in a flat tone. “Try living with him; he does have his own place, but he’s never out of mine.”
“Aw, that’s cute though, wanting to be with his big brother.”
“It would be cute if he weren’t 26 and driving me insane,” He mutters, making me giggle even more.
After we finish our drinks and have chatted to our friends for a while, I feel a tug at my hand. The sudden jolt of electricity at such a simple touch has my head flying up in search of the culprit, while the thought that I had never experienced that kind of reaction to Jake floats through my head.
Tommy pulls me along, leading the way over to the dance floor. Teenage dirtbag by Wheatus is playing, the same song we used to dance along to in his mum’s kitchen, with all of his siblings, when we were younger.
“Do you remember how often we used to dance to this?” I ask.
“Of course I do. I loved it when it came on the radio, and my mum would turn it up for us to have a dance party. We must have been so young. I’ve got to say, though, it’s much better now that there’s alcohol involved.” He states with a grin.
“Go on then, Tommy, show me those moves,” Idemand.
He doesn’t hold back. There is nothing as sexy as a man showing off his confidence. Not giving one single shit about what anyone thinks, Tommy sways his hips and grabs a hold of my hands. He pulls me in and twirls me around the room before bringing me in close.
I feel so light and free. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this way. Is it the alcohol, or is it just him?
Four more songs go by, and we’re still dancing and messing around on the dance floor. I can’t contain my laughter as he spins and dips me down low.
“I love it when you smile, it’s so infectious. Tell me more about what you’ve been up to. I want to know everything I’ve missed,” He asks as he guides us over to a booth in the corner. I take a seat, and Tommy slides in next to me, his leg brushing against mine as he sits close enough that we can hear each other over the music. A rush of heat follows where his leg touches mine, and I squirm a little in my seat.
He wants to know everything, but do I tell him about Jake?
“There isn’t much to tell. I still work in the salon with the girls. I have moved though, I bought a cabin on the river in Bewdley, I love it there,” I tell him with a proud smile on my face. Buying my own little piece of heaven has been my biggest achievement so far, finally gettingout of the hellhole I was brought up in. All the hard work at the salon, working fourteen plus hours a day, finally paid off.
“That’s amazing, Maya! I am so made up for you. I would love to come by for a tour sometime.” Oh Tommy, I’d love to give you more than a tour, I think to myself. “But tell me, I’ve been dying to ask, are you seeing anyone?”
Well fuck.
I put on my big girl panties and tell him the truth.
“It’s complicated. I am, but let’s just say it’s not going very well. We’re meeting up tomorrow so I can end it officially. I’ve not been having the best time with him, to be honest,” I say, my breath catching as I rush to get the words out. My skin itches, and I feel dirty, afraid that I sound like an adulterer.
“Ah”, He mumbles, anger crossing his features. He thinks I’m a whore, great. “What did he do?” he asks, and I feel rather than see his hands clench under the table.
“Nothing physically. I’m dealing with him tomorrow anyway, so everything will be okay,” I tell him. Grateful that the anger is aimed at Jake rather than me.
