When she got home, she dropped her bags in her bedroom and called Pippa. She still felt guilty that Pippa was with their grandparents because Tasha really felt that she should be there, with her, her and Dan. They were both her responsibility, always had been, her younger siblings. She did however understand her grandparents and Pippa’s decision to have chosen an alternative; Tasha was busy and hoped to develop her career, she also wanted her relationship with Jim to progress and gain some permanent normality, and she would have been forced to have found somewhere bigger to live if Dan and Pippa were with her permanently. Pippa sounded happy, safe and settled, which was how she should always have felt, they all should have felt that way. She shuddered as she thought of her life at home.
“Hi, Tash,” cried Lucy as she flew into the lounge.
Tasha smiled at her big grin. “Good day?”
“The best. I have the lead on design and selection for some English actress, Natasha, somebody, and Ryan would love to move in here with me.”
“Well congratulations, and congratulations again. Be careful with the actress though, they can be complete divas.”
“Should we celebrate? We could go dancing and drinking,” suggested Lucy.
“Tonight?”
“Yes,” laughed Lucy.
“I dunno. Jim may not be too thrilled about it,” said Tasha.
“Don’t tell him then.”
Tasha laughed, but shook her head. “That is not even worth thinking of. He would find out and flip big style. He hates being lied to, even lies of omission,” she said, quoting his own phrase.
“Then text him and if he’s not too keen we could bring the party here.”
“Okay.” Cautiously, Tasha selected Jim from her contacts and wrote the message very carefully and hoped this wasn’t going to become an issue. Surely one night out, or a party night in wouldn’t bother him, would it?
Chapter 36
That really didn’t bode well, but Tasha was in no way surprised by his reaction.
“Bugger,” she muttered and realised that anyone he came into contact with from now on would hate her for his mood. She looked at the time on her watch, half past six, which meant he was only on half past ten.
Tasha actually had to reread his message three or four times before she had absorbed his words, thoughts and inferences. Feeling more than a little annoyed with his suggestion and Jim himself she replied.
She sent the message without rereading it which she knew from past experience was normally a bad idea and came back to bite her, but arses to his idea that she would cheat on him and be anything other than loyal. If she was anything it was faithful and his suggestion that she would ever be anything but saddened and annoyed her in equal parts. She could deal with his control freak, crazy ass stuff, she really could, but this was getting ridiculous. He had been married six times and cheated on more than one wife. Why was he so hung up on other men wanting to be with her? Did he really believe she was so lacking in respect and restraint that she would just shag Ryan’s firemen friends without a reason beyond being horny or lonely? She had deliberately omitted the kiss, see how he liked being on the receiving end of her fury.
Tasha read and reread his words, confused that they weren’t angrier or somehow trying to push the blame for her own anger back on her. Her mind was still deliberating this when another message arrived, the one she had originally been expecting.
p.s. I will return your x when you have earned it.>
Was there even any point to this ridiculous argument or whatever it was they were becoming embroiled in? Tasha had no desire to squabble and fight but this was important to her. Jim needed to realise and accept she would never stray, not like he meant, no matter how lonely she was. Moreover, she wanted, needed him to understand that those type of accusations had no place in a strong and resilient relationship. The sort of relationship she wanted them to have.
T x>
Lucy returned from her room. “So, are we all set for a big night out?”
Tasha shook her head, “Not yet. I have somehow managed to get myself into a huge row, and the subject of a big night out has barely been touched on.”
Lucy laughed and then frowned. “Sod him, let’s just do it. Everybody else is up for it, although Gerry reckons he may have to join us later because he is finalising some stuff at the gallery before he can come out. Jake is bringing his new totty so there will be even more chance that we will get our faces in the paper with you and her together and the fact that you’re the ex and she is like your replacement on the show. Then there’s you and Gerry,” Lucy said, genuinely excited.
“You do know that with the addition of Gerry to the mix and the possibility of pictures in the press with speculation and comparisons about Jake’s ex and current squeeze mean you are likely to be having a big night out without me?” She shook her head.
“Then we’ll party here.” Lucy was unfazed by Jim’s issues or Tasha’s concerns.
“I don’t know if that will be any better. Look Luce, it’s your celebration, yours and Ryan’s. We, you and I can have our own celebration later. Decide what you want to do and I will worry about James bloody Maybury.” Her phone beeped and even her message alert sounded pissed off.
Tasha stared down at the screen as a myriad of thoughts ran through her mind. Holy fuck. He has changed his flight. He must be really mad now. Shit. How the hell has this deteriorated so quickly?
She sent her brief message before moving onto the full message and verifying the change in flight.
“Luce, I really have to sort this, he has only gone and changed his bloody flight. Sorry, plan your night and we will see whether I will be with you or not, but probably not.” She grinned at her friend’s amazed expression.
She smiled, happy to see the x back. Presumably she had earned it, although she wasn’t sure how. She checked her emails and he had changed his flight to one leaving L.A. at six that night and due to land at Heathrow at noon the following day.
“Shit!” She hadn’t quite believed he would change his flight over a night out or a night in, although she knew it was about far more; their misunderstandings, her family, work and also her plans to meet up and celebrate with friends.
Lucy reappeared wrapped in a towel. “So? We on?”
“He says to do whatever I want.”
“So?” Lucy expected her friend to leap into action and begin getting ready.
“Sorry. I need to phone Carly and see if she can do my waxing. Jim is going to be here, London, lunchtime tomorrow so I have to preen, buff and pack.” She grinned at that realisation.
“Do that tomorrow. You were due at Carly’s tomorrow anyway,” protested Lucy weakly.
“No can do. There’ll be no touching and showering straight after a Brazilian which means I need Carly’s services tonight to ensure my skin is not red and certainly not sore,” she said seriously.
“You’re sex mad since you’ve met him. You were bad enough with Jake and Gerry, but he is something else.” Lucy laughed. “Although, do you remember that dancer you picked up that night? I thought you had given yourself to the church with all of your cries of God and Jesus Christ.” She laughed again.
Tasha laughed too at her friend’s words and the memory. “Tony. He was seriously fit and bloody gorgeous. I think he must have taken Viagra because he went for twelve hours straight, not even a breather between sessions.”
“Why was he only a one-night wonder then?” asked Lucy curiously.
“He was a twenty-four hour wonder actually. I brought him home at five in the morning on the Sunday and sent him packing at five in the morning on the Monday. But as brilliant as he was, by Sunday afternoon he was trying to talk and unfortunately I couldn’t cope with his Scouse accent. Shallow I know, but shagging him long term and not allowing him to speak was the alternative and that seemed a little unfair.”
“You are
terrible, Tash.” Lucy giggled. “Can I ask you something, without offending you?”
“Course, but hurry, I need to call Carly,”
“This thing with Jim, are you sure it’s not just sex?”
Tasha shook her head. “It was for the first couple of days and we’ve had lots of hot, dirty sex, but there’s something more.”
“Okay,” Lucy replied, but clearly wasn’t done with her thoughts and concerns. “I love you, Tash, and I’m worried that if you commit to him and the sex fizzles out you could be out in the cold and with six ex-wives he doesn’t have a good track record, does he?”
Tasha nodded. “Luce, you’re not saying anything I haven’t thought myself, but he is more than sex.”
“If you’re sure.” With the subject apparently closed, Lucy returned her attention to her night out. “I’m off to get dressed then. You’ll be in bed when I get back, so if I don’t see you before tomorrow have a fab time. Text me when you’re coming back and I’ll make sure it’s tidy and that Ryan and I are both dressed.” Lucy gave a cheeky wink.
Tasha was sitting in her car outside Carly’s salon when she quickly sent Jim a text.
Lucky Seven Page 45