“Yes, loved it. It followed on from The Avengers nicely. Loki really is a bad guy you love to hate, isn’t he?”
After all the credits, there was an extra scene when Thor returned to Jane, in true superhero fashion, embracing in a passionate kiss.
Alice sighed, “Sadly, only in a film, huh? Now you can take me home, Stuart.”
Outside Alice’s house, Steve left the car running so the heaters kept blowing.
“Thanks for a wonderful evening,” she said, unclipping her seatbelt.
“No, thank you. I had fun.” Going to the cinema wouldn’t be his ideal first date as it’s hard to get to know someone sitting in silence for two hours, but the evening had been enjoyable. They’d managed to talk over dinner and the film had been entertaining.
“So did I. Gosh, is that the time?” she glanced at her watch, “I’ve got work tomorrow.” She leant across and kissed him on the cheek. “See you at work.”
Steve waited to make sure Alice entered her house safely, then drove off. There had been no ‘let’s do it again’ or anything like that. Was he disappointed? Maybe Alice liked to keep it cool, and was waiting for him to ask again.
How he felt about Alice he wasn’t sure. Only time would tell.
Chapter 10
An icy November had arrived, dry but cold, and in the following week, Steve saw little of Alice. Either their shifts didn’t mesh, or she was incredibly busy in the spa. He managed to clear the air with Lydia though, especially as he regularly caught her in the canteen if she arrived early for her shift. It enabled Steve to joke around with her; usually teasing she had a smudge on her nose. Her fingers frequently had black ink marks, so she was easily convinced. His curiosity continued, wanting to know what else was in the sketchpad she carried. He’d notice her tuck it away underneath the reception desk at the start of her shift, with a couple of 2B pencils with chewed ends resting on top of it. He asked a couple of times if she’d added anything to it and if he could see, but she was still reluctant to show him. What would the little boy look like? Another cherubic child, with his electric-blue eyes?
He’d even pull funny faces, or use his best smile, if he passed her on reception, but she still refused, flustered, adjusting her headset, ignoring him, though the corners of her mouth would twitch where she tried to hold in a smile, or laugh.
His evenings were filled by playing Xbox with Callum and Brett, albeit remotely. Steve found it fantastic, how they could meet up online and play together. He’d become addicted. Currently they were blasting their way through a shoot ’em up called Battlefield 3.
“As it’s Friday, who’s up for a few beers and maybe even a club?” Callum stood zipping his coat outside the locker rooms. “Could do with giving the Xbox a bit of a rest.” He chuckled.
“Oh, yes, sounds like a good idea to me.” Alice joined him.
“Yeah, I could do with a drink,” Brett said with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
“If Ruby’s game, I’m game,” Steve said. “Lydia, you coming?”
Lydia shook her head as she buttoned her coat. “I’ve got some stuff to do, and besides it’s not really my thing.”
“Oh, come on, let me buy you a drink.” Steve slipped his own coat on. It was a rare occasion for them all to be finishing together. Before Lydia could refuse again, he grinned and said, “Go on, please. It is Friday.”
“Okay, but I need to go home and change.”
“Me too.” Alice popped her head over Steve’s shoulder, holding onto his jacket. Conscious she was close, he moved. Although he liked her and she always smelled of exotic, alluring scents, he wasn’t keen on her invading his personal space.
“Let’s meet up at nine thirty, then,” Callum said. They agreed on a pub to meet up in Bristol and who would pick up who in a taxi.
Steve noticed Ruby walking towards them, already with her coat on.
“Coming out with us tonight, Ruby?” Brett shuffled in, to walk beside her. Callum stifled a yawn.
“Oh, yes, okay, if Stuart is, I will.” Only Steve heard Ruby stutter over his name.
“Of course I am.”
***
Ruby and Steve arrived at the pub before everyone else. Their taxi was running early, whereas the others were running late, according to Callum’s text message.
Steve bought them both a drink, and being a busy, popular bar, found a place they could stand and wait. He hated wearing the glasses; they tended to steam up the minute he walked into somewhere hot, coming in from the cold, and they smudged quickly if he touched them.
He had never imagined he’d be able to stand in a trendy bar and not get recognised. It was like no-one would believe the actual actor, Steve Mason, would be standing there drinking bottles of Bud with the rest of them. Which, he gently reminded himself, he should not drink too many of. He did need to keep his wits about him.
Marie had called before they’d left, saying the media were going mad over some other actor, another heartthrob in LA. Luckily, a big movie release meant press coverage, and the rest of Hollywood could relax for a bit. She reassured him that he wasn’t being missed – there were enough celebrities out there for the papers and magazines to gossip about; they weren’t speculating on a missing Steve Mason – and to enjoy the peace.
Reality seeped back into his life as she also informed him a new version of the script had come through for his film, and she would forward a copy of it to him in the next few days.
Callum arrived and chinked his pint glass against Steve’s bottle, bringing him back to the here and now. The music seemed louder as Callum shouted over the noise.
“All right, Stu?”
Steve glanced around; only Callum and Brett had arrived. “Where are the girls?”
“They are making their own way here. You know how long it bloody takes them to get ready.”
Brett stood next to Ruby, awkward and quiet, while Callum bobbed to the loud music. Steve found himself tapping his foot and taking it all in. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been able to hang out in a pub like this. Brett wasn’t wearing his glasses – and yet he was blind without them, apparently. Steve wished he could take his damn things off – he didn’t need them, full stop.
Lydia joined them. Steve grinned at her, for a moment lost for words. She wore a figure-hugging jumper-dress with leggings, and knee-high boots, which added a couple of inches to her height. In the hotel, Steve was used to her in an unflattering uniform, like his own, and going home she tended to wear long floaty skirts, hiding the shape of her legs, and her figure. This outfit accentuated a superb figure he hadn’t taken much notice of before. When Alice flounced and flirted in front of him, Lydia often fell into the background. That’s why he liked the quiet time he usually got with her before starting their shifts.
“You look great,” Steve uttered the first words he could find in his scrambled brain. Well, he was supposed to be an amateur.
“Oh, thanks, but it’s really warm in here. It might not have been the right choice.” She fanned herself. With the bar getting busier and people bustling about, someone shoved Lydia into Steve. Reacting quickly, he put his arm out to catch her, his hand resting on the small of her back. As he breathed, her citrus, sweet perfume filled his lungs and he revelled in her softness against his hard form.
“Oh, sorry.” She stepped out of the brief embrace, looking at the floor and not into his eyes.
“Nothing to be sorry about.” He shrugged with a jolt of disappointment as she moved. Had it been that long since he’d been close to a woman?
Alice bobbed in front of him whilst handing Lydia her drink, quickly shaking him out of his thoughts. “Hello, gorgeous. Sorry we’re late.” She managed to nuzzle into the group, getting between Lydia and him.
“Shall we get another in?” Callum waved his empty glass at Steve and Brett. Both men nodded. Steve spied a shelf lined with half-drunk drinks and beer bottles, and ditched his bottle there, pretending it was empty. He had to remember to tak
e it steadily. He wasn’t used to drinking like Brett and Callum were, and the beers were stronger, too.
They had one more drink in this bar, then moved along to another. Alice linked arms with Steve; she probably needed the assistance considering the height of the heels she was wearing. Callum strolled, weaved, actually zigzagged ahead to search out the next drinking hole while Lydia hung back with Ruby and Brett. Did Lydia have a thing for Brett as Alice had suggested?
As they walked, there was an occasional bang and the sky was lit up with a flash, and then red, green and gold lights fanned out, or whites with purples; the remnants of fireworks from Bonfire Night, which had been earlier in the week. Steve associated fireworks with the Fourth of July now. He shivered, watching the sky for the next display, and stuffed his fists into his jeans. Clouds of mist formed as he uttered an ‘ah’ with Alice, confirming the coldness of the night.
The next bar they entered vibrated, the bass drumming through them, wall to wall with people. Frustrated, Steve quickly de-misted his glasses and put them back on. The large dance floor in the middle was crammed, and scantily dressed women walked by gawping men, including Callum who nudged Steve and Brett for approval.
They stayed in this bar because of the atmosphere. Everyone was having a good time, the music was upbeat and as he finished a beer, another was shoved in his hand. How long they’d been there, Steve didn’t know. He was drunk, or on the way, because he didn’t give a shit. So much for trying to take it easily. Caught up with the flow of enjoying himself and relaxing, he’d been keeping up with Callum and Brett and lost all thought about control. But he didn’t care; he was enjoying himself. His whole body relaxed, he chatted to girls. This was how he’d find his Miss Right. Alice didn’t bother him now, being close to him, he’d lazily move his hand around her waist. His cheeks ached from laughing, his whole body bounced with the beat.
Lydia talked to Ruby, not that Steve could hear, and Ruby nodded. Then Lydia waved good-bye. He waved too. What time was it? Steve glanced at his watch. Too early to be leaving, just past midnight. He looked up, searching for Lydia, to convince her to stay, but she’d gone.
Damn it, had she got in a taxi okay? Should he check?
Alice pulled at his arm. “Come on, let’s dance!” She took his drink out of his hand, placed it on a shelf near Brett and dragged him on to the dance floor, Callum following, Lydia soon forgotten.
Busy dancing, Steve had lost track of the time. When Ruby tugged on his sleeve, he lowered himself so she could speak into his ear over the music. “Bro, I’m going now.”
“No you can’t go. The fun’s just started.”
“I’m shattered.” Her expression said so too.
“Okay, okay, I’ll get you a cab.”
“It’s fine. Brett’s going to make sure I get one safely.” Brett stood beside her, Steve realised.
“Then you’ll come back, right, Brett?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.”
Steve, Alice and Callum danced. And danced and danced. With one good tune after another, Steve let any inhibitions go. He liked dancing, always had done, and he was good at it, too. He wasn’t born with two left feet, like Callum, who lacked the rhythm but hid it well by jumping up and down.
Callum went berserk when a rave tune blasted out and Alice disappeared from Steve’s side. He watched her flirting and dancing with some guy, similar in age. A small element of relief flooded over him. Although a beautiful girl, there was something about Alice that didn’t tick all his boxes. Not that he had boxes, but although they got on, he found her hard to talk to. Although they had similar tastes in films, he couldn’t quite find the right topics of conversations, and they didn’t share the same sense of humour. The things he found funny would go over her head.
He was nudged whilst dancing, and ended up bumping into someone else. A blonde girl, with full, glossy lips, large eyes framed by black kohl, and gorgeous tits. She appeared to be dancing with girlfriends, not a boyfriend in sight, so Steve took an interest and danced with her, Callum tagging onto a friend of hers. He tried not to stare at her assets that bounced beautifully in front of him, but he couldn’t stop thinking about them.
Oh yes, he was drunk. Happily drunk.
He weaved an arm around her tiny waist, and they danced together, hips gyrating, sticky, sweaty bodies pressed together. Then, his mouth found hers, blotting out the beat of the music, finding their own rhythm.
***
“Looks like we left at the right time,” Ruby said, shivering, waiting in the taxi queue with Brett. “It’ll be a nightmare later on.”
“Here, have this.” Brett took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. Thankfully, the taxis arrived quickly, and the queue moved fast.
“Cheers,” she said, smiling. “Won’t you get cold?”
“Nah, I’ve drunk enough beer to keep me warm.”
She giggled nervously. Brett placed his hands in his pockets, but stayed close. He was lying. She could see goosebumps on his neck.
“You can leave me if you like, and go back in the warm, to St-Stuart and Callum.” God, she’d nearly said Steve – again!
“No, I’ll make sure you get in a taxi first.” He fiddled with his pierced ear, then looked at his watch. “Actually, would you mind if I share your taxi?”
“What? And leave your best friend?”
“Callum’s a friend, and he’s contagious. You can’t help mucking around with him when he jokes about, but I can live without him.” He winked and as he smiled, surprise hit her, noticing those little half-moon creases around his mouth were attractive. She broke her gaze from his lips, hoping he didn’t realise she was blushing.
A taxi pulled up and Brett opened the back door to allow Ruby to get in.
“I won’t bother going back in. Callum will look after Stuart,” he said.
“Yes, of course, get in.” Ruby shuffled over the back seat, making room for Brett. “But who’s going to look after Callum?” Luckily, with wine inside her, confidence overcame a shyness she didn’t realise she had around Brett, allowing her to joke, because strangely, the close presence of Brett sent her insides warm and fuzzy.
“Alice?”
Ruby snorted. “Yeah, right, my brother is doomed.” She reeled in embarrassment, but carried on anyway, trying to put the slight worry she did have for Steve to the back of her mind. Maybe Brett hadn’t caught the unladylike snort? Instead, she kept the conversation light, because her brain couldn’t engage in anything more serious – they’d talked earlier, and got to know each other a little better. She’d found out there was more to her sous chef than his Xbox gaming.
Funny how when you get to know someone, they appear more attractive…handsome.
She’d never thought of Brett before in that way. Although in what way? Did he fancy her? Maybe he was just being friendly and gentlemanly, making sure she got home safely, and this meant nothing.
It probably meant nothing.
But she was glad he wasn’t staying behind. Which meant he wouldn’t find another woman…Ruby swallowed at the thought. What a ridiculous pang of jealousy, why would she be jealous?
“Where do you want to go, kids?” the taxi driver said impatiently, swivelling around.
“Oh, um,” Ruby stuttered, realising she’d been away with the fairies. “I must be tired.” Between them they gave the driver instructions, Brett adamant Ruby should be dropped off first, even though he lived closer.
Ruby didn’t want to stare out the window and watch the streets pass. She disliked the silence between her and Brett, too. Glancing at Brett, she met his gaze and smiled, then blushed.
“So…” She paused. “How long have you been single?” They had brushed over this conversation earlier, but now it was quieter in the taxi, Ruby felt compelled to know more.
“Lost track now, just before I got the job at Durdham Lodge.”
“You’ve been there six months.”
Brett nudged her. “Keeping track of me.”
“Not at all.” Ruby giggled. “I just have a good memory and you do a fine job. Is she the reason you changed jobs?”
“No, that was purely to further my career,” Brett beamed. “But we did share a flat together.”
“Is that why you moved back with your parents?” She couldn’t remember who had told her this – Brett or Steve. The idea that he didn’t have some bachelor pad where he could take girls back suited her. But at the same time…was he a man over mothered?
Brett fiddled with his earring. Hmm… I wonder if he has a tattoo. Ruby gave herself a mental shake as Brett sighed. “Partly, but also, although I didn’t want to move back home, it made sense. My mum and dad convinced me actually. They live close to Durdham Lodge, and I can save money for a deposit, so I can buy a house of my own.”
Ruby’s inebriated mind wandered to where Brett’s parents might live – a big house in Clifton?
“Yes, renting is a waste of money.” Steve hated that she rented her little house. “It’s a means to an end, and you have a secure job now.”
“Well, I really want to invest in my own restaurant – oh, maybe I shouldn’t have told you that as my boss.” He blushed as he confessed his intentions. But Ruby found it admirable that he had ambitions.
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Ruby tapped him playfully with the back of her hand. “I don’t want to be there forever, either.” Though what she wanted to do, she wasn’t sure.
When the taxi pulled up outside her house, Brett jumped out, mumbling to the taxi driver about waiting for a minute, and opened Ruby’s door for her.
Ruby stumbled out of the car – wine and heels don’t mix – and Brett instantly steadied her.
“Have you got your key?” he said in a caring tone, still holding her.
Ruby fumbled in her small handbag and found it, showing him. He grinned.
“Did you want to…um, have coffee?” Ruby said, nervously. Why was she asking him to come in?
He stood close, his hand holding her elbow, his eyes not leaving hers. With her heartbeat ringing in her ears, she focussed on his lips, the curves around his mouth, then remembered why she was warm and why he had goosebumps on his arms.
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