Rock Stars Don't Like Big Knickers

by Nikki Ashton

  Martha shook her head. “Nope.”

  He was right; she’d hardly slept a wink. Everything that happened last night was running around in her head and banging on the inside of her eyelids every time she tried to close them. Her feelings were in turmoil – she was so proud of Luke for what he’d achieved by performing, but at the same time she wanted to slap his stupid face and tell him how much she disliked him at the moment. She also couldn’t get out of her head what he’d said about Rachel. That she was insisting that it happened and that it was quick and unsatisfying. Just the thought of him touching Rachel’s skin or kissing her, never mind having sex, made Martha’s skin crawl. So, as soon as she’d got out of bed, Martha had called Pete asking if he could take her to pick up her car instead of Luke.

  “Is there no chance you can sort things out with him?” Pete asked. “There’s obviously something there still on his part, and I know that you still love him.”

  “There’s nothing there on his part, the way he speaks to me makes that obvious.” Martha bit at her thumb nail and stared through the car window at the drizzle and grey skies that echoed her mood.

  “He wouldn’t have helped you last night if he didn’t care, and I could see when we were in the pub that night, that he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

  Martha shrugged. “Maybe, but that doesn’t alter the fact that he slept with her.”

  “Ah, but he says he didn’t.” Pete smiled warmly. “He keeps telling you that, so maybe you should listen to him. What reason does he have to lie now?”

  “That’s easy,” Martha replied. “Because the great Sex God of Rock has never been dumped in his life and hates the thought of little old me, the humble housekeeper doing it. Anyway, he told me that if I ask her, even she’ll say it happened.”

  “But he’s still denying it.” Pete reached across and squeezed Martha’s shoulder gently. “So maybe he’s telling the truth. Have you ever thought it could be her getting revenge on him?”

  Martha nodded. “Yeah I did, briefly, but the photographs pretty much prove it, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t know,” Pete replied with a shrug. “I haven’t seen them, but unless they actually show them in the act then who’s to say it really did happen?”

  “Oh, I don’t know anything anymore,” Martha rubbed her tired eyes and sighed, “except that I still bloody love him even though he behaves like the biggest prat walking the earth. Speaking to me like dirt and flaunting his bloody bathroom quickies with random women in front of me.”

  “Yeah, that does sound like the work of a prat, I must admit,” Pete laughed. “But, at the risk of sounding like I’m sticking up for the brotherhood, we men do stupid things at times.”

  “I don’t know many men that would do that though,” Martha replied indignantly.

  “Erm well, I did.” Pete gave Martha a thin lipped smile. “I’m not proud of it, but I knew that Zoe was coming to pick up her stuff, so made sure I was having a ‘good time’ with a girl I’d picked up at the gym that morning.”

  “Oh Pete, you didn’t.”

  Pete nodded and blew out a long breath. “On the stairs, so that she’d see us as soon as she walked through the door. You know what the shitty thing about it was though?”

  “No, what?” Martha asked.

  “She didn’t care, but the poor girl I’d used was mortified. She ran out crying once she realised what was going on. She was a nice girl too.”

  “She still slept with you after only knowing you a few hours.” Martha had to wonder what sort of girl did that.

  “Yeah, because I told her what she wanted to hear, and because she was lonely. She’d just split from her fiancé, who’d cheated on her.” Pete’s face was a picture of disgust.

  “Oh God, poor girl.” Martha felt sorry now for being so judgemental. “What did Zoe do?”

  “She didn’t get mad, or upset,” Pete laughed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “She just smiled and pushed past us and went to pack up the last of her stuff.”

  “Luke wasn’t the one who’d been wronged though, was he? Not like you.”

  “No,” Pete said with a sigh. “But if what he’s saying is true, and you didn’t believe him then it must have hurt, and we all do stupid things when we’re hurting.”

  Martha sighed and moved her gaze back to the passing scenery. Pete was right, everyone made mistakes when their heart was hurting, but she wasn’t sure Luke’s was.

  A couple of hours later Martha finally pulled up outside her cottage. Having called them while she was on the way, the breakdown services were waiting for her when she and Pete arrived at her car. It didn’t take them long to fix the problem, but the mechanic had told her that she ought to think about replacing Fiona in the not too distant future. Martha sighed heavily; a new car was the last thing that she could afford at the moment. The agency work didn’t pay much and she really needed to knuckle down and find herself a full-time job. With a groan, Martha grabbed her handbag and heaved herself out of the car.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Luke strode towards her, his face full of anger.

  Martha slammed the car door shut and started toward the cottage. “To get my car, but what’s it got to do with you anyway?” she replied, determined not to look at him.

  “I was going to take you; we agreed that I would take you!” Luke said, walking close behind her.

  “Well Pete took me instead, anyway we didn’t make a definite arrangement.” Martha said over her shoulder. .

  Luke reached forward and caught hold of her elbow, forcing her to stop. She turned and glared at him. “I was worried about you,” he said. “You’ve got no car and yet you’ve been gone for over two hours and you didn’t answer your phone.”

  “Oh I’m sorry,” Martha cried, pulling away from Luke’s grip. “I didn’t realise I had to report my every move to you. And if you remember, there’s no bloody signal where my car was.”

  “You don’t have to report to me, no, but when people make arrangements the polite thing to do is tell them if the bloody plans change. And I don’t think I like you going out with this Pete bloke, how much do you know about him?”

  “Seriously?” Martha laughed and shook her head.

  “Yes, seriously.” Luke took a step forward. “I care about what happens to you.”

  “Well it’s a pity you didn’t think about that when you shagged Rachel and that woman in the bathroom,” Martha yelled, “and then, in no uncertain terms, told me that I was paid to clean, and then insinuate that I was some sort of prostitute when you handed me my wages in the pub.”

  “I hardly think I made you sound like a hooker,” Luke replied. “You’re being a little bit dramatic there, babe.”

  “But you don’t deny the other things I notice.”

  “I’m sorry about Victoria,” Luke said, dropping his head in shame. “It was a dick’s trick and you didn’t deserve to see that.”

  “Yeah but I did,” Martha cried. “Why would you do that?”

  Luke shrugged. “I was hurt that you didn’t believe me, and she reminded me of you. There was nothing more to it than that. And I need you to know that I was careful, I took precautions.”

  “Oh that’s alright then,” she said sarcastically. “You still had sex with her, Luke.” Martha recalled Victoria’s plum coloured hair and bristled. “You shallow bastard, and you want me to believe that you didn’t sleep with Rachel? No chance.”

  Luke sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t have this conversation with you again, Martha. You don’t believe me, I get that, you’ve made that clear, but I thought we’d made progress last night and could be friends.”

  “Hah,” Martha snorted. “We were making progress until she called you.”

  “Like I said, it’s not what you think.” Luke looked down at the ground.

  “Oh whatever, Luke. Just leave me alone, and don’t try and tell me who I can and cannot go out with.” Martha turned on her heels and strode res
olutely towards her front door.

  “Please, babe,” Luke cried. “Can’t we just go for a drink and try and sort something out?”

  “No!” Martha shouted over her shoulder. “And stop calling me babe; I’m not your bloody babe anymore.”

  Luke winced as the door slammed shut so forcefully that the knocker rattled. With a sigh he turned away. Why did he always have to act like such a tool and wind her up, when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss the life out of her until she promised to never leave him? Why, because he was Luke fucking Mahoney, the biggest dickhead in the world.

  Chapter 33

  The warmer weather took it’s time to arrive with most of May filled with rainy days, but towards the end of the month came sunshine, and a warm breeze. Betty had taken her last exam, and in one of his more affable moments, which were getting few and far between, Luke had given Noah the summer off so that he could spend time with Betty before she went off to university. So, they’d packed up Noah’s car and decided to travel around the country, going from music festival to music festival and camping in between, meeting up with Em, Ruby and Em’s new boyfriend Dan, along the way.

  “Can you believe that Luke managed to get us tickets for every festival?” Betty jumped around like a toddler who’d eaten too many E numbers. “I’m so excited.”

  Martha rolled her eyes. She didn’t want to dampen Betty’s mood, but she really didn’t want to hear what a hero Luke was. She hadn’t spoken to him for almost two weeks, despite seeing him on a couple of occasions in close proximity in the shop. Luckily both times she’d been on her way out, so simply passed him without even looking in his direction – not only because she was still mad at him, but because she knew if she looked into his beautiful emerald eyes, he might just see the yearning in her own for him. Her resolve was weakening rapidly after having had three erotic dreams about him. One had seemed so realistic that when Martha woke up she actually reached across the bed for him, like some clichéd scene in a romantic film.

  “Have you got everything you need?” Martha asked, hiding an envelope of emergency money in the inner pocket of Betty’s suitcase. “What about something to wash your clothes with?”

  “What?”

  “You’ll want to wash your clothes, underwear, and stuff like that...won’t you?”

  Betty shook her head and grinned. “That’s why I’m coming home to you Mum. I mean, like who washes clothes on holiday, unless they’re old like you?”

  Martha sighed and zipped up Betty’s case wondering when her daughter had become so cossetted.

  “Okay, you’re all packed.” Martha pulled Betty to her chest and hugged her tightly. “Please, please be careful. Don’t take a drink from strangers, stay with Noah all the time, even if he’s annoying you, and don’t take any drugs.”

  Now it was Betty’s turn to roll her eyes. “Mother! Please, give me some credit, apart from the fact that you’ve told me this a thousand times already.” Betty kissed Martha’s forehead.

  “I worry, you’re the most precious thing in my life, and I’m going to miss you.” Martha coughed to hide the break in her voice. “Six weeks is a long time.”

  “I’d like to say I’ll miss you too, but…”

  “I know sweetheart, you’ll be having far too good a time.” Martha laughed and ruffled Betty’s hair.

  “You could always call for Luke, if you get too lonely.” Betty nudged Martha and smiled. “I’m sure he’d like to keep you company.”

  Martha stood back a pace and thrust her hands to her hips. “When did you join team Luke?” she asked. “Oh when he got you all those festival tickets, I suppose.”

  Betty chewed at her bottom lip while she looked at Martha warily.

  “He misses you Mum. He’s miserable without you, and he’s still adamant that he didn’t do the deed with she who shall not be named.”

  “Yeah, well he would say that.” Martha turned away from Betty and started rearranging her rucksack. She didn’t want her daughter to see the tears that were threatening to fall. Plus, she was embarrassed that even after all these weeks, she was still so affected by him.

  Betty sensing Martha’s distress moved over and put an arm around her shoulder.

  “You still love him don’t you?”

  Martha looked up at her, smiled sadly and nodded.

  “Well at least talk to him then.”

  “I don’t know if I can Betty. We just seem to end up arguing, and he’s hurt me so much.” Martha sniffed loudly. “And how do I be just friends with him, it would be so hard?”

  “Well it would be a start,” Betty replied. “Just think about it, okay?”

  “Okay, I will.” Martha hugged Betty. “Now, get going, Noah will be here any second.”

  Then right on cue there was a knock at the door, and minutes later Martha was waving her daughter goodbye. As she turned back up the path, she spotted Luke standing by the open gate to his driveway, also waving off the happy campers. She smiled and lifted her hand in greeting. It was a start, but all she could manage for now.

  As Luke walked back up the drive, he groaned as striding towards him, blond hair blowing in the breeze, was Jake. He and Tom were staying over for a few weeks while the band did a series of T.V. and radio interviews announcing their comeback. Luke could see that Jake’s face was pulled into a snarl and his hands were fisted at his sides – what the hell had Tom done to upset him now?

  “You stupid, stupid, fucker!” Jake cried as he reached Luke. “What the hell are you thinking?”

  “What?” Luke replied leaning back out of the space that Jake had invaded.

  Jake poked him in the shoulder. “You swore to that girl down there,” he said pointing to Martha’s cottage, “that nothing happened between you and Medusa.”

  “Oh for Christ’s sake,” Luke groaned. “How many more times?”

  “So why the hell is she sending you text messages asking what time you’re going over tomorrow?” He poked Luke again. “Eh, go on tell me.”

  Luke blew out an extended breath and linking his hands behind his neck looked up at the sky.

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah shit Luke, so?” Jake crossed his arms firmly across his chest, waiting for an answer.

  “It’s not what you think, and why the hell are you reading my text messages?” Luke started past Jake, but he pulled him back.

  “I need to know what it is, if it isn’t what I think.”

  “And I need to know why you read my text messages.” Luke edged towards Jake menacingly.

  He loved Jake like a brother, but at this moment he could quite happily land him a good one to the jaw.

  “Because I’m a nosey fucker, and you’re reason is?”

  Luke pushed the heel of his hand against his forehead. He didn’t want anyone to know that he was seeing Rachel, but now Jake knew, and probably Tom too, he’d have to talk to them about it – beg them to keep it quiet.

  “Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you.” Luke walked off not looking back to see if Jake was following.

  Once they reached the Pool room, where Tom was waiting for them, Luke turned on Jake.

  “How dare you read my fucking private messages, you nosey prick!” Luke picked up a pool ball and juggled it between his hands.

  “You gonna throw that at me?” Jake asked pointing at the ball. “You gonna cave my head in for reading your text messages.”

  “No, I’m not going to throw it at you,” Luke replied with a snarl, throwing the ball back onto the table. “It was keeping my hands busy so I don’t lamp you one for sticking your nose into my business.”

  Tom sighed and moved in front of Luke. “Your phone kept ringing, it must have gone about ten times, so then when a text came in we figured it must be important.” He passed Luke his phone. “You’re always leaving the damn thing lying about, and since when have we stopped answering each other’s phones?”

  “Yeah,” Jake added. “It’s something we’ve always done. So,
if you want to start being bloody secretive you should make sure you take it with you.”

  Luke snatched the phone from Tom’s outstretched hand. “Thank you,” he muttered.

  “That still doesn’t answer what the hell you’re doing though, Luke.” Tom stooped to look up at Luke whose head was down studying the phone.

  Luke sighed and slipped the phone into the back pocket of his jeans. He knew that he’d have to tell them everything.

  “I’m seeing Rachel again,” he said taking a step back from them.

  “You stupid dick,” Tom snarled. “Martha was the best thing to ever happen to you.”

  “Let me finish.”

  “This better be good Luke, because honestly at this moment I really want to bitch slap you.” Jake thrust his hands into his jeans pockets and moved over to flop down on the huge leather L-shaped sofa.

  Luke joined him and nodded for Tom to take a seat.

  “I’m seeing her again so that I can get her to admit that nothing happened between us.” He stared at two of his best friends, desperately hoping that they’d understand his actions. He had to prove to Martha that he hadn’t betrayed her. His anger at her not believing him had subsided and he could finally accept why she didn’t. Plus, seeing her with the postman guy had shaken him. He needed to resolve this before their relationship got serious – if indeed proving himself would even win her back.

  “Are you telling us the truth?” Tom was the first to speak. “Really, that’s your plan?”

  Luke nodded. “A pretty stupid plan, no doubt, but it’s all I’ve got at the moment.”

  “Shit, Luke,” Jake groaned. “Let me get this right; you’re doing the nasty with Medusa again so that you can prove to the love of your life that you didn’t do the nasty with Medusa in the first place?”

  “Well, sort of,” Luke replied.

  “That’s some fucked up plan,” Tom said grimacing.

  “I’m just not doing the nasty with her.” Luke coughed nervously. “She thinks I’ve got an STD.”

  “What the…” Jake shot up from his seat and started to pace up and down. “What if she goes to the press with that little nugget?”