by S M Mala
‘And then what?’
‘I’ve been told to leave,’ I say, a surprise pang of jealousy going through my chest.
‘Really? A surprise for me?’
‘My final favour for him,’ I say pretending to be happy. ‘You’re going to have to curb his ways because he can’t keep screwing around.’
‘I will,’ she says smiling broadly and looking chuffed.
‘Okay, get in,’ I say as the lift appears.
‘Come with me,’ she says excitedly.
‘Room 512,’ I reply.
Before I know it she has grabbed me into the lift and pushes the button.
‘I’m not supposed to do this,’ I say knowing Hal wanted me out of the way so he could do his thing with her.
‘I just want to rub your nose in it,’ she says with a delighted smile.
‘And you haven’t done that enough to me over the years?’
‘We’re here,’ she says and pushes past me.
I stand in the corridor and watch her strut off and smile at her fun packed evening before I turn to press the lift doors. Bloody thing has gone back to the ground floor and there’s only one lift. Great!
I stand in the corridor and wait patiently. I don’t know why I feel so edgy about doing this. Thankfully the lift comes back and I wait for the doors to open.
Then I hear a scream.
I turn to see a horrified Joan running down the corridor with her hand over her mouth.
‘You bitch!’ she yells before jumping into the lift and starts to sob.
‘What’s wrong?’ I shout as the doors close.
I don’t know what to do. I look down the corridor and don’t see Hal. I slowly walk to the room, wondering if something bad has happened and push the door open.
I stand there shocked.
Hal is very calmly lying in bed as Meg rushes around putting her clothes on then he spots me and his face changes to a slight panic.
I’m speechless.
I’m also in combined shock and fear at seeing Meg.
She looks at me and double blinks. I can see the anger creeping into her face.
‘You fucking told her to come as well!’ she screams and there are tears falling down her cheeks. ‘You bastard!’
‘What’s going on?’ I ask, knowing full well, as I see a used condom on the floor. I feel a little giddy at the sight.
‘Piss off!’ she screams at me. ‘I suppose this is what you wanted, isn’t it? You’re nothing but a slut!’
‘I think that’s a bit rich,’ I quickly say and see Hal shake his head.
‘You slept with Josh!’
‘Yes,’ I say gulping hard and looking at her. ‘I’m really sorry.’
‘I bet you are,’ she spits at me. 'Joan’s right, you can’t keep your hands off any man that’s taken.’
‘That’s not true,’ I say feeling really bad and seeing she’s on the verge of beating the living crap out of me.
‘And then I saw you slobbering all over Hal. You know he’s been seeing me, don’t you?’ she sneered. ‘He was trying to make me jealous but it didn’t work.’
‘I see,’ I say glancing at him as he looks away as my confidence plummets to an all-time low.
‘It made me sick to the stomach when I saw you. And you!’ she says turning to Hal and screaming. ‘I hate you!’ Meg then pushes past me as I stare at Hal who’s shaking his head.
‘What have you done?’ I ask trying to get my head around the situation. ‘I thought you were going to do something nice for Joan?’
‘I did,’ he says shrugging. He then gets up, totally naked, and puts a towel around his waist. ‘I thought I told you to go.’
‘You’ve been shagging Meg!’
‘Yes,’ he replies not making eye contact.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘It wasn’t important,’ he shrugs.
‘You’ve bloody well set me up!’
‘You weren’t supposed to be here!’ Hal snaps.
I feel a churning inside my stomach. I want to cry or laugh or both. I don’t know why. I’m not happy.
‘How long has it been going on?’ I ask feeling sick.
‘I think you should go,’ he gently says.
‘Oh you make me sick!’ I reply suddenly angry because there are all these emotions firing through me and I now want to burst into tears. ‘You’ve lied and used me all along!’
‘There’s more to this than you think,’ he says quietly. ‘I’ve not lied to you about anything.’
‘You’re screwing Joan’s godson’s wife. You’ve been sleeping with Meg.’ I stand there and look at him. ‘Were you with her when you were seeing me? You obviously were!’
‘Why do you want to know?’ he gulps and opens the mini bar knocking back a miniature.
‘Joan’s going to think I set this up!’
‘You should have gone then you wouldn’t have had to see any of this,’ he says, still not turning to look at me
‘Is she the one you’ve been spending time with, the one you really like?’ I gulp hard.
This is bloody typical isn’t it? Both the men I know have shagged Meg and seem to want her whereas, when it comes to me, I’m easily dumped. Life is not fair.
‘I had to do this Belle, believe me. I’m not prepared to jump through hoops to keep Joan happy.’
‘Why Meg?’ I say, wondering if he knows he’s also hurt me in a weird warped sort of way. ‘You’re really not a nice person sometimes.’
‘I’ve given you Josh back haven’t I?’
Twenty Six
‘Just open up!’ I plead, banging on Joan’s front door. ‘I have a key you know.’
There’s no answer and I’m worried.
I bolted out of the hotel as I couldn’t say another word to Hal, who was acting as if nothing had happened. I took care to avoid Meg on the way should she have murder on her mind.
‘Please Joan. I had no idea that was his idea of a surprise. I thought it was something nice not… not him porking Meg!’ I say and hear a thud against the door knowing she’s in there. I’m her next target. ‘I don’t know what he’s playing at!’
Even in a moment like this I’m not telling the truth.
He says he did it for me so I could get Josh back which
I’m not totally convinced about
‘I hate you!’ she screams and I hear the blood curdle in her voice.
‘I didn’t know. You have to believe me!’ I shout even louder and notice from below one of her neighbours looking up, her face etched with concern. I wave and she snootily opens her door and walks in. ‘Bloody rude cow!’
The door is flung open and she looks at me, all teary mascara eyed with a menacing expression on her face.
I can honestly say I am positively shitting myself and in two minds whether to step into her home.
I need to placate her.
‘You look like shit,’ I say as I see big fat tear drops trickle down her face.
‘I could murder you!’ she says and I know she’s not joking.
‘I had no idea, I really didn’t. The way he put it I thought he was going to do something romantic not him banging someone at least forty years younger than you!’ Shit. I shouldn’t have said that because she looks like she’s going to explode. ‘Maybe thirty?’
‘You did this purposely, didn’t you? Did you come up with the idea when you were being a little scrubber round his the other night?’ she spat.
‘No! I didn’t know he was sleeping with Meg,’ I gulp and I look at her earnestly.
Joan rubs her forehead with her fingers so vigorously that it looks as if her skin’s going to fall off. She then walks back into the flat and I follow.
As we get to her living room she sinks to the sofa and puts her hands over her face.
‘I can’t believe he has done this to me again,’ she sobs. ‘He told me he wouldn’t touch her.’
‘You knew he fancied her?’ I say. ‘I told you only minutes before he’s n
ot a one man woman.’
‘You told me he was going to give me a surprise not a bloody heart attack,’ she yells and I sit on the sofa next to her, minding not to get too close.
I’ve never see her look this unhappy. You know I don’t think I’ve ever seen her sob like this not even at Kai’s funeral. If she was an animal I’d put her down due to the noise coming out of her mouth. She can see I’m staring at her.
‘What the bloody hell are you looking at?’ she snaps and I edge further away from her.
‘Nothing,’ I meekly reply and see more mascara streaming down her face and the foundation getting lighter where the tears have trickled down.
‘Go and get me a bloody drink and explain what went on there!’
I do as I’m told, pouring her a large brandy as well as myself. I take a quick swig, because I have to calm my nerves too, and I walk back, handing it to her. She grabs it and knocks it back.
‘Steady on,’ I say seeing she’s holding the empty glass towards me so I tip my brandy into her glass and watch her repeat the action. She must be upset as she’s not concerned about catching germs from me.
‘I bet you knew he was screwing her, I bet you arranged it to break us up,’ she says looking up at me and her spiteful face coming through.
‘No I did not,’ I say slowly. ‘He asked me to help get you to the hotel room but he didn’t tell me he was shagging her for goodness sake, my nemesis.’
‘Did she smack you in the mouth when she saw you?’ Joan asks and her mood has lightened slightly.
‘No she didn’t!’ I reply and am momentarily pleased Hal’s upset the old bag.
‘What did Hal say?’ she asks as a sob catches her throat.
‘Nothing,’ I lie.
‘Did you ask what he was up to?’
‘I could see what he was up to by the used condom on the floor,’ I say as her face turns to thunder. Blimey too much information. ‘Didn’t you see it? It was right at the bottom of the bed.’
‘You are such a stupid bitch!’ she says standing up and I step back as I can see she’s going to thump me.
‘If you say so,’ I diplomatically reply knowing she could tear me limb from limb right now.
‘I’m going to have to tell Josh,’ she says, shaking her head as if someone has hit it while it reverberates. Wish that could have been me as she has the look of a wild animal. ‘He needs to know.’
‘No he doesn’t!’ I say. ‘It’s got nothing to do with us.’
‘She’s sleeping with Hal!’ Joan screams. ‘Her husband is my god son! Can’t you see how awful it is?’
‘You didn’t mind Hal getting a leg over with me?’ I say, trying to justify the situation and am met with a pissed off look as she puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. ‘At first you did but then-.’
‘God, how many times do I have to tell you? I didn’t give a shit about him shagging you as you’re not exactly any competition are you?’ she bellows and right now I’m really pleased she’s in all this pain.
‘Why are you over reacting? Just because-.’ I know what I’m going to say is mean but come one, she’d knock me if I was down. ‘She’s beautiful, tall, talented, has a great personality and is so,’ I emphasise the ‘so’ for about 5 seconds, ‘much younger than you.’
‘Are you trying to make me feel better?’ she says with a half-smile which wasn’t the actual reaction I wanted.
‘Yes,’ I lie and see even me putting the boot in isn’t working.
‘Shall I let you into a little secret?’ she says and now she is glaring at me. ‘You might find it amusing.’
I expect I won’t.
‘Carry on,’ I say sitting on her sofa knowing this is going to be bad.
‘You see, the night of the party, the one I gave for Josh and Meg, when Josh realised you were an old slapper blah, blah blah,’ she says waving her hands. ‘There was more to it.’
‘How much more?’
Why do I ask because I know she’s going to upset me!
‘Hal met Meg on several occasions then and I noticed they were getting a little bit too friendly. Well, knowing him, it was only a matter of time before he’d bed her but I didn’t want that to happen because she’s married to my god son.’
‘Fool you,’ I say slightly aggrieved again about her shit stirring.
‘Then Josh goes and declares his undying love for you and I could see it all unfolding in front of my eyes. Hal going off with Meg and-,’ her hesitation is interesting as she’s really searching for something to say it clearly. ‘I knew she’d be the one who would end our relationship because I was like her when I was young.’
‘You were never young,’ I snipe and she shakes her blond mane at men’s Meg has always had the propensity to be an old slut then?’ I smile broadly at my comment and she sniffs at me before walking to her drinks supply and pouring out another brandy.
‘Hal noticed our similarities when he met her and I could see he was instantly smitten. I wasn’t going to let it happen so I had to stop it.’
‘How?’
‘Why do you think I whisked you off for a few days in Devon?’ she asks as if I’m being thick.
‘To give me some time to sort my head out?’
‘It was so Josh could realise he should stick with his wife,’ she says dismissively. ’Because even though he thought you were being a slut for sleeping with the married architect, he was afraid someone else might come along.’
‘How do you know?’
‘He told me that night, after you passed out drunk,’ she sighs. ‘The boy called me and said he still loved you so I had to get you out of the way.’
‘You dragged me to Devon to stop me being with Josh!’ I’m livid. My hands are shaking and I wish they were wrapped around her neck. ‘You mean he really loved me?’
‘Up until he found out you shagged Hal a few days later, I suppose he did,’ she smiles.
‘How would he know that?’ I snap then I look at her raised eyebrows. ‘Not even you knew that!’
‘Who do you think told him?’ she sneers. ‘I added a few tears for affect so Josh would see how much of a cow you are. I made up that you slept with Hal in Devon but little did I know.’
‘You deserve all the shit that comes your way, do you know that?’ I say, furiously standing up and I swear I’m going to go for her.
‘I had to do something for Christ sake if only to give the couple a fighting chance!’ she says loudly and returns with half a glass of brandy.
‘Don’t you mean giving yourself a fighting chance? You didn’t want Meg around because you knew Hal would want her more than you!’ I glare at her knowing how screwed up the whole thing is.
‘Except Hal goes and complicates it by screwing you again and again then forced me take part in the sharing game,’ she shrieks.
‘You said I’m no competition so why would you care?’ I snap. I look at her and know she’s not telling me something. ‘You did care though didn’t you? He likes me.’
‘Liked. Past tense,’ she spits out.
‘He still likes me Joan, I know,’ I say challengingly and see her glare with such an intensity at me. ‘You hate it don’t you?’
‘I don’t care,’ she dismisses.
‘Okay so he beds me several times. Why doesn’t he make a play for Meg? She split with Josh at one point and so she was fair game.’
‘I don’t know,’ she snaps. ‘I was worried stiff so I agreed to him seeing you so he’d have a new toy to play with.’
‘I was sleeping with him before you agreed anything.’
‘You’re always causing problems for me!’
‘Stop blaming me for everything!’
‘I suspect Hal forced himself to sleep with you to see if Meg would be jealous. Why do you think he wanted it in the open?’ she snarls.
‘Basically I was bait for the pair of you?’ I snap. ‘And now Hal shows you your relationship is over by making you catch him in bed with Meg.’
�
��Our relationship is not over!’ she screeches.
‘Now Meg’ll have to split up with Josh, Hal gets Meg, you get dumped and I-.’ I need to pinch myself when I say it hopefully. ‘I get Josh!’
‘Not in your bloody wildest dreams!’ she yells then laughs. ‘He’s not going to want you now!’
‘He’ll understand if he loves me.’
‘Not really,’ she says half laughing. ‘I mean, come on, take a look in the mirror Belle and what do you see?’
‘Get stuffed,’ I reply as she has a point. I get up and pour out a generous glass of brandy before sitting in the armchair opposite her. ‘In the end of the day we’re left with no one, aren’t we?’
Her face crumbles and she starts to cry again but this time she’s not covering it up, she’s in pain and I know her reaction is due to a broken heart.
My heart gives in seeing her like this and if it were anyone else I would put an arm around them and give them comfort. It’s her and I can’t.
‘Oh my god, don’t compare me to you,’ she sobs. ‘My life is over!’
I’m not sure how to take that comment.
Twenty Seven
I find myself on Hal’s doorstep constantly pushing the doorbell. I know he’s in there.
The pair of them! What a bloody nightmare! I’ve been used and abused.
‘Can you open the door?’ I shout through the letter box. ‘I’ve left Joan who is in a bloody state. I need to speak to you! Open the bloody door!’
I can see a figure walking to the door and as he opens it. He has a pissed off expression. I notice he is clutching a large drink.
‘Hello,’ I say as he averts eye contact and hands me the glass.
‘Come in,’ he says walking barefoot back down the corridor, heading for the living room.
I follow him and see a bottle on the coffee table. Hal is looking out of the window and not saying anything.
‘You haven’t been knocking this back have you?’ I say examining the half-drunk bottle of brandy before sipping the drink that makes me shudder.
‘I’m not drunk,’ he shrugs.
This is not going to be easy as I could throttle him with my bare hands.