Playing Catch-Up

by Zoey Lennox

  “Well, you can’t win ‘em all!” Corey laughed.

  “Unless it’s you,” Jed snapped.

  “Hey, don’t knock me, man,” Corey said. “I’m not going to apologise because my parents were cool about it. I’d wish that for everyone if I could, but it’s not that simple and you know it.”

  Jed let out a puff of air and swigged a mouthful of Coke. “You’re right.” He avoided Corey’s eyes. “Sorry.”

  Footsteps filled the ensuing silence, and in the next moment Kenya strode into the room with a luminous smile and a huge bowl of popcorn in her hands.

  “Who wants a snack?”

  “Me!” Just about all the kids said, scrambling out of their seats.

  Kenya set the bowl on a nearby coffee table and dodged the stampede.

  Ramie looked at her watch. “I think that’s our cue to leave,” she said, pulling Alexis to her feet. “See you later everyone!”

  “Bye!” several of the kids yelled.

  The smile on Kenya’s face melted. “You’re going already? But Hector isn’t here yet. I thought we could go through some of the issues we’re experiencing with the fundraiser before you leave.”

  Alexis rolled her eyes. It was obvious Kenya still harboured some residual feelings for Ramie and was exploiting Ramie’s devotion to the centre for her own benefit.

  “Sorry,” Ramie said, proving once and for all that she did have a backbone when it came to Kenya, “but Lex has been gracious enough tonight already, and I already told you we have a dinner reservation. I’ll swing by tomorrow if you want to talk. I’m sure it’ll keep for another evening.”

  She crossed the room and opened the door, motioning to Alexis that she should step into the street first.

  “Oh right,” Kenya muttered in their wake. “I forgot you’ve got more important priorities now. Have a good night. Don’t worry if you can’t make it tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll be able to find someone who can spare a few minutes of their time for the kids.”

  Ouch. Alexis glanced over at Ramie and caught the hurt expression that flickered across her face before it hardened into an emotionless mask.

  Chapter 14

  An hour later, Alexis and Ramie were seated at one of the numerous circular dining tables littering the interior of Julian’s. Classical music wafted into the dimly lit room from hidden speakers while waiters and waitresses wearing a smart ensemble of black trousers and red waistcoats attended to their customers’ every whim.

  Alexis tucked into her pan-fried steak, savouring the red wine and mushroom sauce as it awakened her taste buds, and grinned when Ramie appeared equally enamoured with her peri-peri chicken.

  She hadn’t broached the topic of Kenya since leaving the centre, not wanting to upset Ramie further, but maybe now some time had passed, Ramie would be willing to talk.

  “So…” she said, treading carefully. “What’s up with Kenya? Those were some shitty parting words earlier.”

  Ramie made a face. “Tell me about it. Every time she acts like that, it’s a reminder of why we broke up.”

  “Which was why again?” Alexis couldn’t help herself. The lid on her curiosity had burst open.

  “Kenya’s got a lot of issues. Far too many for me to take on. Sadly, I had to learn that the hard way, and I got burned more than once. We’ve been apart for a year and a half, but I’m still reaping the fucking repercussions of her actions.”

  Alexis chewed her food slowly as she attempted to decode the cryptic words. Was she talking about the debt Maddie had mentioned?

  “Okay, I’m just going to throw it out there.” Ramie cleared her throat. “Kenya’s got a huge spending addiction. She racked up thousands of pounds of debt in her name, and then went behind my back and took out credit in mine. By the time I found out, she’d gone through my entire life savings and maxed out my overdraft. The loan she took out in my name was the final straw. There’s only so much a person can take.”

  Alexis reached across the table and stroked Ramie’s hand. This was worse than she’d imagined. “And you had no idea?”

  Ramie shook her head. “I was aware she was spending a lot, but I never thought for one minute she was forging my signature to get credit.”

  What a bitch. “Did you confront her?”

  “Not at first. Like the idiot I am, I made excuses for her. I didn’t want to accept that the person I loved could betray me like that. When I did finally challenge her about it, she snapped. Things went flying around the house, and she accused me of pushing her to spend because I didn’t pay enough attention to her.”

  “I can’t imagine you not paying her enough attention. You’ve been nothing but attentive towards me.”

  Ramie gave her a sad smile. “I know. That’s the worst part. I put everything I had into that relationship, but when it came down to it, even that wasn’t enough. I know she loved me. In a way, I think she still does, but spending is something she loves even more. She’s still not learned her lesson. Only last week, she asked for a loan so she could pay her rent.”

  “Did you give it to her?”

  “Of course not. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”

  Ramie deserved better. She was one of the kindest people Alexis had ever known.

  “Not as sorry as I am. She cost me everything. Even my house. It might have only been a rental, but I considered it my own. Once she’d ruined my credit, no landlord would touch me. I don’t know what I would have done if my aunt hadn’t left me her narrowboat when she died. Probably still living with my mum is my best guess.”

  What a grim thought. Alexis was coming to realise just how lucky she was to have a place of her own. There were many more unfortunate souls scraping by.

  “I made a promise to myself the night we split to never be taken for a ride again. If that whole episode taught me anything, it’s the importance of honesty in a relationship. If Kenya had just told me about her spending addiction, we might have been able to sort things out, but instead she lied and went behind my back, ruining not only our relationship but my life.”

  Guilt charged through Alexis like a high-speed freight train. She had told a whopper of a lie herself at the centre. It certainly wasn’t malicious, but looking back, she could easily have gotten away with sharing her coming out experience with Lauren instead of weaving some elaborate tale. Why hadn’t she thought of that at the time? She was a horrible person.

  “Hey,” Ramie said, dipping her chin to try and meet Alexis’s lowered gaze. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

  Alexis plastered on a smile and tried to wash away her guilt with a gulp of wine. “I’m wondering if it’s bad to admit I’m glad the two of you broke up. What happened to you was terrible, but if you’d stayed together, we wouldn’t have found each other like this.”

  “Now that’s something I hadn’t considered. I guess there’s a silver lining in every cloud.” Ramie eyed Alexis curiously as she took a sip of her drink. “Seeing as we’re in sharing mode, do you mind if we talk a bit about your time on the streets? It kills me to know you went through all that by yourself. Where did you sleep?”

  Alexis shifted uncomfortably. “Um… under the bridge by the railway track.” Talk about stereotypical, but it was the best she could come up with on the spot.

  “I’m sorry.” Ramie squeezed her arm. “Experiences like that have a way of scarring your soul.”

  “They do.” Alexis would surely go to Hell for such brazen deceit.

  When Ramie opened her mouth with no doubt more invasive questions, Alexis rushed to steer the conversation onto a safer topic.

  “How do you feel about sharing a dessert?”

  Ramie thankfully took the bait and grabbed the menu. “That sounds like a great idea. What do you fancy?”

  Chapter 15

  The following Friday after work Ramie borrowed Maddie’s car and drove Alexis to her childhood home to pick up the rest of her b
elongings. She’d put this visit off as long as possible, not wanting to face Carol and her father.

  “Would you mind waiting in the car?” Alexis asked as Ramie backed into the driveway. She wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible and didn’t feel like explaining who her ‘friend’ was.

  Ramie nodded and gave her a kiss of encouragement. “Shout if you need me. I think I’m better off staying here anyway. I’m not sure what I’d say to the man that chucked you out onto the streets at sixteen. Shout if you need me, all right?”

  “I will.”

  Alexis cringed at hearing Ramie’s damming statement, guilt washing over her as she got out and headed to the front door; she frowned when her key would only fit halfway into the lock, not wanting to believe her suspicions.

  “What do you want?”

  Alexis looked up at the voice and spied Carol’s sour face sticking out of an upstairs window.

  “I’ve come to get the rest of my stuff.”

  “You should have called first.” Displeasure was written all over Carol’s face. “You no longer live here. It’s rude to turn up unannounced.”

  “Where’s Dad?” She hadn’t seen him since their showdown but was certain he wouldn’t bar his own daughter from entering her childhood home.

  Carol sniffed. “He’s gone on an errand, and it’s a good job too. The last thing I want is you upsetting him. If you must come inside, then hurry up. I’ll have to let you in because I’ve changed the locks.”

  Alexis extracted the tip of her key from the front door. So, her suspicions had been right. Was it really such an awful thing for her to have free entry into the house?

  The door flew open and Carol stepped aside. “You’ve got ten minutes. It shouldn’t take you long. I’ve already boxed up your things.”

  “What are you doing going through my stuff?” Alexis’s skin crawled knowing Carol had been sifting through her personal possessions.

  “I can do as I please. It’s my house. You should be thanking me, young lady, not giving me lip. It took me over an hour to clear your room so I could make way for my new home gym.”

  “Your house? A gym?” This was her father’s house, the last time she’d checked. Who did Carol think she was?

  “You heard me,” Carol snipped. “Now get a move on. I’ve got better things to do than talk to you all evening.”

  Alexis ascended the stairs, pausing when she reached the door to her old bedroom. After a deep breath, she gave it a gentle push and felt her heart constrict when her former sanctuary came into view.

  Devoid of everything it had once symbolised, the room was now filled with shiny new exercise equipment. Ghostly footprints of her bed and chest of drawers were still embedded into the faded dusky pink carpet, but the paisley wallpaper that had once been so lovingly hung was half shorn off without apparent thought or consideration.

  With a heavy heart, she crossed the room and bent to heft one of the haphazardly stacked cardboard boxes full of her possessions.

  “I see you’ve found them then,” Carol said when Alexis passed by on the way out the front door.

  Alexis ignored her and headed for the car. She wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing the tears in her eyes. Ramie had released the catch on the boot, and she deposited the first box. She was on her way to collect another box when her father came bumbling up the drive. His footsteps faltered upon seeing her, and he rung the newspaper in his hands.

  “Alexis? What are you doing here?” His cheeks were pink, and he avoided all eye contact.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” she snapped. “I’m getting the rest of my stuff. It’s nice to know I’m so easily replaced with a home gym.”

  She returned to the house and collected another cardboard box, staggering under its weight as she descended the stairs.

  “Don’t be like that, sweetheart,” her father said as she brushed past him. “Carol’s been wanting a home gym for a while. With your room empty, it made sense to finally invest in one.”

  “The only thing that room was empty of was me, Dad! My bed was still there, as well as all my possessions. It’s nice to know you’ve washed your hands of me. It looks like Carol’s finally got what she wanted. Me gone. And you couldn’t give a toss. You’ve not once bothered to contact me to find out how I was.”

  “You texted to say you were safe.”

  “Yes, I was safe, but not happy. Do you even care?”

  “Of course I care.” Her father closed the gap between them. “I was giving you time to cool off. To realise we’re not out to get you like you seem to believe we are. I had a long talk with Carol after you left, and I made it clear that I don’t condone her behaviour. Did you get the money I sent you?”

  Alexis stared at the ground. “Yeah, thanks,” she said grudgingly. “You didn’t have to do that. I’ll pay you back.”

  “There’s no need, sweetheart. That money’s yours fair and square. In fact,” he pulled open his jacket and retrieved his phone, “let me transfer some more over to your account. You’re going to need it now you’ve struck out on your own.”

  He just didn’t get it. Yes, the first deposit had been a godsend, but that didn’t mean he could keep throwing money at her and expect it to miraculously fix everything. Still, he had a point.

  “I appreciate the money,” she admitted. “But what about the wedge Carol’s managed to drive between us since she slithered onto the scene? You wasted no time finding a living, breathing replacement of mum.”

  Her father dipped his head and stared at the ground. “Don’t bring your mother into this.”

  “Why not? It’s your grief that pushed you into such a toxic relationship. I can’t believe you were so desperate for companionship that you’ve taken that conniving bitch on.”

  With that, Alexis got into the passenger seat and yanked on her seat belt until it gave way. “Can we just go, please?” she asked a startled Ramie. “I want to go home.”

  Alexis kneeled in front of her shiny new bookcase, carefully placing the contents of her DVD collection into their new home. She’d spent the past few hours meticulously unpacking her belongings. Every item had seemed to trigger a memory as she’d turned it over in her hands.

  The white gold bracelet her mother had given her for her eighteenth birthday made her heart ache for one more hug. The stuffed panda her father had won for her from a passing funfair reminded her of how inseparable they’d once been. By the time the last of her things were stowed away, tears were streaming down her cheeks unchecked.

  “I might as well have lost both my parents the night my mum died,” she said sitting down on the futon next to Ramie. “It’s like Carol’s brainwashed him or something. Does he even have a heart? How can he let her erase the life he built with me and mum as though it was nothing?

  Ramie wrapped an arm around her shaking shoulders. “I’m sorry, Lex. Just give it some time. We all deal with grief in different ways. Your dad might surprise you and offer an olive branch.”

  Alexis pressed her tearstained face against Ramie’s chest. “He can fuck his olive branch. Too much has happened for me to pretend everything’s okay now.”

  Her body slowly relaxed as Ramie ran her fingers through her hair. The action was soothing and moved in tandem with the heart beating steadily beneath Alexis’s head.

  This had quickly become one of her favourite pastimes. There was something regenerating about lying motionless in the comfort of Ramie’s arms, away from the worries of the outside world. Completely safe and cocooned.

  She nudged her nose between the soft valley of Ramie’s breasts. The scent of jasmine was always strongest there, and she found herself returning to the spot repeatedly. Ramie was like a drug, and Alexis wanted to forget.

  “That feels good.” Ramie sighed, momentarily stilling the movement of her fingers in Alexis’s hair.

  “Tell me what you want.” Alexis brushed a soft trail across Ramie’s t-shirt with her lips. “Do you want me here?” She s
tuck out her tongue and laved a pebbled nipple through the thin cotton material.

  “Mmm, yes.” Ramie’s breath quickened. “Keep doing that. Please don’t stop.”

  She needn’t have worried. Alexis didn’t plan on stopping for a long while yet. If anyone could distract her, it was Ramie, and she planned to block it all out for as long as possible.

  She breached the hem of Ramie’s t-shirt and wrestled it from her body. “I love these,” she said, gently fondling Ramie’s bare breasts. Silky smooth, they fit into her palms as though made especially for her hands. She dipped her head and pressed a gentle kiss to a freckle above Ramie’s right nipple.

  “Suck them,” Ramie ordered. Her stomach contracted beneath Alexis’s hand. “I need to feel you on me. Please, Lex.”

  Alexis’s mouth was already on a collision course. She pulled the turgid flesh between her lips, her eyes closing as sexy little moans escaped Ramie. She could spend hours exploring Ramie’s magnificent body.

  “Harder,” Ramie begged when the suction on her breast waned.

  Alexis repositioned herself on the futon and gripped Ramie’s hip in a bid to gain some purchase. One of the first things she had learned about Ramie was that she was a breast woman. Alexis’s or her own, she was all about giving the wanting flesh its due attention. Alexis wasn’t complaining; she was starting to discover she was a breast woman herself. She sometimes felt as though an invisible string was tethered between Ramie’s chest and her mouth.

  After giving Ramie’s breasts a few minutes of undivided attention, she came up for air. “You doing okay?”

  “Oh yes.” Ramie pulled her in for a passionate kiss. “You drive me crazy. Do you know that?” She snaked her hand between Alexis’s legs and rubbed firmly against the seam of her jeans. “Is that good?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

  Alexis groaned and threw back her head. Her clit was pulsing so hard it was reverberating in her ears.

  “Ramie, I—”

  Her mumbled words were cut short when a knock sounded at the door.