Lies Love Tells (Eastcove Lies Book 1)

by Gina Dickerson

  ‘Can I have a glass of champagne before I decide?’ I countered, my heart racing. I didn’t know whether I was impressed by him or pissed off with him for presuming I needed him to defend me.

  Posted: 23:30 8 Sazements

  SxyGrrl: Sounds like your ex has some unresolved issues. I’m writing this from a hotel room with a view over The Seine. Waaah!

  FlatT: Sluts.

  Saze Monnivan: I’ve never been to Paris. My ex wasn’t one for spending money on holidaying. We went to Devon, when Daughter was three. He booked us into one of those caravan sites and spent most of the time at the bar or perving over half-naked women in the pool. He thought he looked really cool. He must’ve used ten bottles of fake tan in a week!

  FlatT: You’re a weak, fat whore who’s so desperate she’ll sleep with any bloke.

  Saze Monnivan: Another weirdo BLOCKED.

  D-Vow-R: I see you sitting at a table in your kitchen.

  Saze Monnivan: Anyone could’ve guessed that. It’s pretty obvious I’m on a computer.

  D-Vow-R: Could anyone guess you’re wearing a baggy nightdress and slippers? And not much else by the looks of it. Fat bitch.

  ***

  Friday, 8th March 2013

  Dry Scum and Cool Heat.

  07:30

  I slept fitfully as I kept wondering if someone was outside watching me or whether D-Vow-R was really someone who knew me and knew I’d be sitting in the kitchen in my PJ’s. Obviously I had managed to fall properly asleep at some point as I woke to discover the duvet thrown back and the opposite side of the bed cold. Mr Dry had snuck out, when, I don’t know. Somehow I’d been played. Again.

  08:00

  I missed Daughter and her chattering at breakfast. Alone, my thoughts turned to Mr Cool and how I feared he thought I was an idiot. Admittedly, I was. I’d gone from Mr Him to Mr Dry. A man who obviously just wanted me for sex. A thought struck me: I’d thought the same thing about Smith at the beginning of our relationship. The memory of Smith saddened me so I busied myself with washing up while listening to the radio at full blast.

  I wandered the streets after breakfast; past Mr Him’s house, and found myself on the bench outside the entrance to Daughter’s school. My fingers took on a life of their own and text Mr Him, asking whether Daughter had slept well last night. He replied almost immediately.

  “She moaned cos Sam wanted to pick what dvd to watch. She was a pain.”

  Honestly the man was an imbecile. I thumbed a quick response. “You’d better get used to the bickering. They’re children.”

  “If it carries on then she can’t come over. It’s upsetting Kelly.”

  Furious, I contemplated hurling my mobile phone into the gutter and had it poised when I heard a cough behind me. Separated by the school fence stood Mr Cool.

  ‘Wondering if it would bounce?’ he asked, a light smile flitting across his face. ‘I doubt it would,’ he continued. ‘Trust me, I’m a competent loser where mobile phones are concerned. I dropped one into a milkshake. Needless to say it ceased functioning. I’ve also been known to lose one in my bath. Another launched out of my hands and into the toilet.’

  I laughed. ‘Not very fortunate, are you?’

  Mr Cool winked. ‘I think I’m very fortunate today bumping into you. Still on for tomorrow evening?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Good, very good,’ said Mr Cool briskly. ‘I need to prepare assembly. I’ll pick you up at eight.’

  I spent the remainder of the day in a state of euphoria and making vanilla cupcakes until having to collect Daughter from school. I scoffed two cakes as soon as they were iced but couldn’t help wondering if Mr Him had a point about the baking. Was I likely to end up with an arse the size of a dinner tray?

  Posted: 16:00 0 Sazements

  ***

  Bubble Perve.

  19:20

  I was halfway through painting Daughter’s fingernails a soft pink when my mobile vibrated across the table.

  I retreated into the kitchen before answering it.

  ‘You bitch.’

  ‘What?’ Momentarily confused I held the phone away from my ear and clocked the caller ID.

  ‘You’ve been doing him for ages, haven’t you?’ the voice on the other end of the line continued.

  I snorted. ‘It’s nothing to do with you.’

  ‘He’s been talking about it at work.’

  ‘I don’t care what he says,’ I lied, wondering if Mr Dry had indeed been talking about me or whether Mr Him was lying.

  ‘Don’t matter ‘cos we signed new contracts today. The new boss-man is in and I’m gonna get that lazy tosser outed. The smug bastard’s been telling us all how you sat there in your sexy dress and lifted one leg onto our sofa.’ A large burp reverberated down the phone line.

  ‘MY sofa,’ I corrected, before realising the incident hadn’t even taken place. ‘You’re living with Kelly, why do you care what I’m doing?’

  Mr Him burped again. ‘I don’t want MY daughter upset.’

  I laughed hysterically. ‘You should’ve thought about that before you left us. YOU are the one who ended this.’

  ‘Maybe I don’t want it ended.’

  ‘What?’ I spluttered.

  ‘You and me don’t have to be over,’ Mr Him continued.

  ‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’

  ‘Come on,’ Mr Him cajoled. ‘You know what I mean. We’ve known each other for years. It’s easy. I don’t want you being with anyone else. I know you too well. I can make you want it; I can give it to you real good…’

  My hand shook as I ended the conversation.

  22:25

  I’d just sunk into a soapy bath when my mobile phone vibrated once more. I dried my hands and answered it. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Can I come over?’

  ‘No way.’

  ‘But I want to see you.’

  I slid further into the bath water.

  ‘Are you in the bath?’

  ‘I’m not telling you.’

  ‘Are you naked? I bet you’re covered in soapy bubbles.’

  I looked down at the bubbles. ‘Is there something wrong with your brain, haven’t you got the message? I don’t want anything to do with you.’

  ‘I bet your tits are all slippery and soft, I can imagine them, begging to be touched.’

  ‘Piss off, pervert.’

  ‘Or would you rather I sucked them? You like that, don’t you?’

  ‘For goodness sake, I’m not interested. You’re pissed. I didn’t want to have sex with you when you were here, I definitely don’t want you coming back for it.’

  ‘You’ve been doing it with that wanker, why not me?’

  ‘Because I HATE you!’

  ‘You want me.’ Mr Him laughed. ‘I know you do. I know you like playing games. You want to pretend? I’m gonna come over, sneak in through the back window, tie you down and slide my hands around your throat so you can’t move and then I’m gonna—’

  I flung the phone on the floor and slipped into bubble oblivion.

  Posted: 22:45 4 Sazements

  D-Vow-R: He should slide his hands around your throat and not let go until you stop breathing. Fat bitch.

  GeoffBD: I know someone who can track this idiot down. Shall I action it?

  Saze Monnivan: I’m not scared. How are you and “SxyGrrl”?

  GeoffBD: Still in Paris! I think I’m converting her to my way of thinking. Watch this space!

  ***

  Saturday, 9th March 2013

  Dream Thief.

  I was ripped from a terrific dream imagining Mr Cool in a super-tight pair of swimming shorts by the rude ringing of my mobile phone.

  ‘LEAVE HIM ALONE!’ yelled a voice, abusing my sleepy ear drum.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Stop phoning him,’ continued the voice at such a glass shattering level I feared for the safety of my bedroom mirror.

  ‘Who? I haven’t phoned anyone.’

  The v
oice harrumphed. ‘Don’t act innocent. Leave him alone and stop messing with his head. He’s mine. He’s told me all about you trying to seduce him.’

  ‘Kelly?’

  She’d hung up. It was satisfying to know the relationship thief felt threatened. I wondered if she’d overheard Mr Him on the phone last night, checked his call list or if he had made up a spurious tale of me calling him. Then I wondered why I was wondering, of course Mr Him would blame the whole incident on me. Mr Him suffocates. He wanted someone who would do exactly as he wished, when he wished yet refused to reciprocate. Could I ever tolerate him back in my life simply because Daughter would love it? I think not.

  Posted: 09:50 0 Sazements

  ***

  Waiting For Mr Him to Ring.

  12:30

  Daughter and I popped to the shops so I could buy a new outfit for the date with Mr Cool. While shopping, Daughter asked for a pet rabbit – give me strength.

  18:15

  No sign of Mr Him and no reply from his phone so Daughter dialled Kelly’s but there wasn’t any answer from her either.

  18:30

  My mobile phone rang and I grabbed it before Daughter had a chance to.

  ‘Stop bugging Kelly,’ Mr Him spat.

  ‘That’s rich considering she called me this morning ranting and raving about flirting with you.’

  ‘You’re jealous,’ Mr Him yelled. ‘I don’t want you anymore. Get it through your thick head!’

  ‘When will you be here?’ I demanded before he had a chance to say anything else.

  ‘I’m fucking busy!’ Mr Him shouted. ‘Stop bothering me with your useless fucking whining.’

  ‘You’re late,’ I replied, trying hard not to swear back at him.

  ‘The time’s not set in fucking stone.’

  ‘I’m supposed to hang around waiting for you, am I?’

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Mr Him snarled. ‘Keeping you from your shag-fest? I’ll be there when I can.’ Mr Him hung up.

  18:55

  The intercom buzzed, signalling the stately arrival of his lordship. I was so cross I didn’t speak to him for imagining shoving my new shoes down his throat. It would be satisfying to rip his gullet but what a waste of footwear.

  Posted: 19: 00 1 Sazement

  SxyGrrl: I’d want to smack him over the head with a blunt object every time he opened his mouth. My sister called, the fella she stole from me has emptied her savings account. I transferred some money to her. I’m still not speaking to her. That’d be a step too far.

  ***

  Expensive Champagne and Shattered Dreams.

  Mr Cool escorted me to his, cool of course, car. He chattered during the drive and I didn’t know or care where we were going as I was enraptured by his chiselled profile and the deep timbre of his voice.

  Poignantly, he took me to the four-star restaurant at the golf club. I enjoyed a starter of jalapeno peppers stuffed with cheese. Mr Cool opted for the same and an extravagant bottle of champagne which I recognised as the type Mr Dry and I had shared that other night. I told myself not to think about Mr Dry and his lackadaisical attitude but my mind wandered to him, comparing Mr Cool’s actions to his. Mr Cool kept the champagne flowing throughout our meal and by the end of the bottle I’d almost forgotten about Mr Dry until my phone beeped.

  In the safety of the foyer I opened a message from Mr Dry.

  “Sorry, I’m going through a difficult time.”

  I text him back, “Don’t care. Go take a long walk off a short pier.”

  I was one step away from the restaurant door when a hand furled around my elbow and twisted me to its owner. ‘What are you doing here?’ I demanded huffily. ‘I’m on a date.’

  ‘I know,’ Mr Dry muttered darkly. ‘I saw you and I don’t like it.’

  ‘Tough.’ I shook his hand from my arm. ‘I’m enjoying a meal with someone who’s prepared to be seen with me, not someone who sneaks in and out of my bed.’

  Mr Dry held out a beseeching hand as I pushed the door open. ‘Saze, wait!’

  ‘No!’ I spun on my heel to face him. ‘I don’t want anything to do with someone who tells my ex exactly what’s happening in my sex life.’

  ‘Saze!’ Mr Dry raised his voice. ‘I haven’t. Don’t walk away from me!’

  I ate dessert without even tasting it. I was incensed with Mr Dry’s jealousy, his air of ownership, and that he made me tingle despite my anger. The roads merged into one on the drive to Mr Cool’s house although I recognised most of their names. A long driveway led to a large house which was subtly lit. Mr Cool was ever the gentleman, opening and closing the car door for me.

  ‘Coffee or more champagne?’ Mr Cool asked, showing me into the reception hall.

  ‘Champagne, please.’

  ‘Go through.’ Mr Cool gestured to a door. ‘I’ll fetch a bottle from the cellar.’

  I watched him disappear before opening the indicated door. The double aspect room was white-walled and elegantly styled. A high backed chair faced onto what I assumed was the garden and from it hung a hand with a cigarette dangling from the fingertips. Intrigued, I moved closer until the person was in full view.

  ‘Hello.’ A completely naked, long-legged, blonde-haired woman took a draw on her cigarette and blew out a perfect smoke ring. ‘I wasn’t expecting visitors.’

  ‘I think there’s been a mistake.’ Embarrassment flooded my face.

  ‘Evidently.’ The woman uncrossed her legs and rose to her bare feet, seemingly unfazed by both her nakedness and my presence. Her legs reached to her ears and her hair swung in a glistening blanket down her toned, slender limbs.

  ‘Sorry,’ I mumbled, edging to the door. I didn’t wait for Mr Cool to re-emerge but fled into the night air and, without further thought, selected a number from my phone’s memory.

  Mr Cool rang my phone countless times whist I ran up the drive and stumbled onto the lane outside. Luckily a rather helpful hedge a distance away offered me some shelter from the elements of the night. I turned my phone off and waited impatiently. I wanted to walk but knew I was too far from home. Just when I was about to phone for a taxi, a car slowed as it neared the driveway entrance.

  The car drew up opposite me with its windows down. ‘Get in then.’

  I opened the passenger door and slunk in.

  Mr Dry leant across the gear stick and kissed me firmly. ‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’ He turned the car around and set off.

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘I suppose you didn’t expect to be ending the evening with me, did you?’

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘Do you want me to come back with you?’

  ‘Nope.’

  Mr Dry thumped the steering wheel. ‘Can’t you say anything other than “Nope”?’

  I stared at the fields rolling past the window and smiled to myself. ‘Nope.’

  Mr Dry swung the car onto the field; bumping it across the cracked and hardened mud before stamping on the brakes. ‘Out,’ he ordered in a low voice.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You heard me.’

  ‘You’re not taking me home?’

  Mr Dry sprung from his seat without replying and strode to the passenger side, wrenched the door open, and prised me from the seat. His hands encircled the tops of my arms and he marched us to the front of his car. The field was dark, the lane devoid of streetlamps and there was not a house in sight. I felt my throat constrict, fear rising from my stomach as his grip tightened and I was lifted off my feet and placed onto the car bonnet.

  ‘What are you doing?’ I whispered.

  ‘Nothing,’ Mr Dry replied, his soft mouth consuming mine with dark lustfulness.

  ‘I thought you were mad at me,’ I managed to say between kisses.

  Mr Dry ran his hands down my waist and across my thighs. ‘Nope,’ he said.

  I laughed, poking him in the ribs. ‘I pissed you off. Admit it.’

  ‘Okay,’ he said, his voice somehow sounding deeper in the emp
ty night air. ‘You pissed me off.’

  ‘Now what?’ I teased.

  ‘Do you even need to ask?’ Mr Dry groaned hoarsely, his fingers teasing the hem of my dress. ‘You’re dangerously sexy in this dress; you could make a man do strange things.’

  ‘Are you cold?’ Mr Dry asked a while later.

  ‘A bit,’ I admitted, snuggling further into his arms. ‘It’s peaceful.’ I gestured at the twinkling stars above.

  ‘Come on.’ Mr Dry withdrew his warmth ‘I’ll take you home.’

  I couldn’t help but study Mr Dry as he drove. From time to time he cast his eyes in my direction, a brief smile lifting the corners of his mouth. I must have dozed off at some point because the next thing I knew he was shaking me awake.

  ‘Coming in?’ I asked.

  He instantly stiffened. ‘Look,’ he began.

  ‘Forget it!’ I jumped out of the car.

  ‘Saze!’ Mr Dry shouted through the window as I flew up the pathway.

  I unlocked the main door and ignored him. If I’d turned to face him, the street lights would have caused the tears on my cheeks to glisten beacons of sad stupidity.

  Posted: 10/03/13 00:50 3 Sazements

  Orange Michelle: You poor thing. I just got back from session with counsellor – not sure it’s helping, suspect I’m getting worse. I leave the children with my mom during my session and I have no idea what my husband’s up to. Everything’s a mess.

  SxyGrrl: I thought this headteacher fella may be the one! Who the hell was that woman? Have you checked out my blog? My sister thanked me for the money and begged to meet up so we’re meeting on Monday. G said bridges need to be mended. I’ll keep you updated! I’ll be back to check on your constantly evolving love-life.