Where There's a Will...

by M. B. Feeney

  “I admit, it was hard to get up this morning, but as ever, I have a never-ending pile of work to get through.”

  “Well...?”

  “Well what?” I feigned innocence.

  “Did the two of you shag like bunnies?” I grinned at the flashback of Will gripping my hips as I rode him hard and fast, before he flipped us over and changed the pace to slow and sensual.

  “That would be telling.” I could hear Will walking down the stairs to the office. “I’ve got to go, I’ll phone you later.” I hung up and looked back at the pages of emails on my screen as Will hovered in the doorway. “Morning.” I sat back in my chair and looked up at him.

  “Morning yourself.” He stepped into the office, turned my chair so that I was facing him. He then took a step forward so that he was stood between my legs. He bent down and gave me a slow kiss. “I was cold when I woke up to an empty bed.” He actually pouted, which was more than a little adorable.

  “I’m sorry, but some of us work regular hours rather than swanning around with a band all the time.” I teased.

  “Talking of ‘swanning around’, as you put it, I need to leave soon to start editing the reel from yesterday.” For someone who had just had no strings sex with an extremely good-looking guy with plenty of stamina, who was due to leave the country soon, this news shouldn’t have made my stomach flip the way it did. The last thing I needed was to get attached to him.

  “Do you want me to get you coffee and something for breakfast?” Was all I could manage to say without betraying my conflicted emotions.

  “Stay there, just point me in the direction of a kettle and toaster. I’m a big boy you know.”

  My laugh escaped before I could stop it.

  “Yeah, I do know.” I pointed in the direction of the kitchen, mortified by what I had just said out loud.

  “I might keep you around if you keep saying stuff like that, great for my fragile male ego.” As soon as he was out of my sight, I headbutted the desk, cursing my lack of brain to mouth filter.

  Will kept me company for a couple more hours while I worked, and set up the bar ready for the lunch rush. Casey said nothing when she turned up for her shift to find Will and I kissing like horny teenagers on the bar. He decided to leave as I opened the doors.

  “I’ll try to come by and see you tomorrow. It all depends on how the editing goes.”

  “You’re editing it here in the UK? I assumed you’d fly back to L.A. and do it there.”

  “That was the original plan, but I’m using equipment that my friend from college, Reece, has. He moved to London about three years ago, so we’re staying a while longer. Gonna do the whole touristy stuff. I’m fond of sightseeing...” I didn’t need the lascivious look he levelled at me to know he was mentally undressing me.

  “Get out of here, and go earn your money.” I shoved him out the door, laughing. I walked into the lounge to find Casey sat on a stool in my spot.

  “Well?” was all she needed to say.

  The next few days were thankfully uneventful. Life was plodding along as it had done before all the excitement of the band, and Will, showing up. None of them had been in for a drink since the video shoot, but I hadn’t expected them to. I assumed Sam and Preston were working out their issues, which made me smile and hope that things could start to work back to how they were. The new guys were nice enough, but it simply wasn’t the same, even after all this time. Preston probably wouldn’t return to the band, but knowing that the guys were still close was enough for me and most fans.

  The visiting fans had left to return home, leaving my flat feeling very empty and quiet. I loved being surrounded by people, which was why I went into the pub trade, but sometimes it was nice to escape to my empty flat and relish in the alone time. Because of the space, I was always willing to put friends up; I loved having the company, yet when they went back home, it always left a bit of a hole. That was where I was right now. I’d gotten so used to having so many people around, that the sudden lack of bodies around me was a jolt.

  As it was the working week once more, my regulars came back and gave me the usual banter. I listened to their stories about their weekends and how crappy it was in their offices, I offered advice when asked for it, and I smiled throughout the entire process. It was my job, and I took it seriously. A few enquiries about my weekend went largely ignored or played down. I was a pretty private person, and tended to keep most things to myself. It was only with good friends did I share everything.

  As a huge thank you for all her help, I gave Casey a few days off, which left me mostly working on my own throughout the week. I knew Gwen would help me out if I needed it in the evenings; during the day, I borrowed a member of staff from the bigger pub around the corner for the lunch-time rush, but beyond that, it was just me. My regular customers were pretty cool, and didn’t mind a bit of a wait if they saw I was busy.

  Friday lunch had just finished, and the pub was fairly quiet. I was keeping busy by cleaning the glasses and putting them away when the phone rang.

  “The Bridge Inn, Zoe speaking.” I kept one eye on the emptying lounge.

  “Hey. Do you have a DVD player in the pub?” I smiled at the sound of Will’s voice.

  “Yes, I do. I’m fine, thanks for asking, how are you?” Sarcasm was my forte.

  “Sorry. How are you?” I could hear the smile in his voice.

  “I’m good. It’s lovely and quiet in here.” I leaned against the counter revelling in him talking to me. I wasn’t sure when he’d be going back to the states and I wouldn’t see him again. This fact was starting to bother me more than I expected or even wanted it to.

  “Feeling lonely, are you?” Will teased me, causing bits of me to tingle deliciously. I didn’t consider myself ‘lonely’, but I was missing certain parts of the previous week more than others.

  “Nah, Old Bert is in his usual corner.” I heard the door open and close. “Look, I have to go, got a customer.” I hung up without waiting for a response and walked out to the lounge. Will was sitting on a stool at the bar, grinning at me.

  “That wasn’t very polite now was it?” He grinned as he spoke, tucking his phone into his back pocket.

  I poured him a pint of beer and placed it in front of him. Just as I pulled my hand back, he grabbed it and kissed my knuckles gently.

  “Well, when I hear the door, I assume a customer has walked in. It’s not good business to keep the customer waiting. Seeing as it’s just you, I’ll go back out to the phone, shall I?” I teased.

  “I’d rather talk to you face to face, as horny as your voice makes me.” I had no retort for that. I simply watched Will’s mouth as he drank his lager.

  When I was at the peak of my fangirl crush on Preston, I was obsessed with his beautifully plump lips - among other things. Although Will’s weren’t as full and sensual, there was still something about his mouth that wouldn’t let me pull my eyes away. Then I remembered how it felt to have them on my body... everywhere. A shiver of pleasure ran through my body at the memories.

  “Er...” What the fuck?

  “Did I render you speechless? I thought you had an answer for everything.” The fucker was smirking at me.

  “You did that on purpose. Bastard.” I was just about to give him flashbacks of our night together of his own when the door opened, and Mary walked in with Preston and Sam.

  “Hey Zoe.” Sam bounded up to me and pulled me in for a tight hug. “Thank you.” He whispered in my ear.

  “What for? I didn’t get Preston here.” I poured them all a drink; everyone except from Mary smiled their thanks as they picked their glasses up.

  “You kinda did, actually.” The man himself came and joined Sam and myself. “If it wasn’t for you tweeting, and getting hundreds of retweets, about the show here, I wouldn’t have known where they were. So, thank you from me too.”

  He leaned over the bar and kissed me on the cheek, causing me to blush. So many old fantasies about him came to the forefront of my
mind, making me feel a bit giddy; he also smelled really good. He excused himself when his phone rang. A smile lit up his features as it became obvious he was talking to his son. I watched him pull his cigarettes out of his pocket as he walked outside. As I watched him walk away, I caught Will’s eyes as he watched me watching Preston. There was a weird look on his face as he returned his attention to his pint.

  “Can I have a word?” Sam’s voice distracted me. I led him into the back room once more, a feeling of déjà vu washing over me. “What’s going on with you and Will?” He cut to the chase.

  “No offence, but what business is it of yours?” I wasn’t sure why I went on the defensive, but I couldn’t help myself.

  “It’s not, but he’s my friend and I don’t want to see him hurt.” His grey eyes were boring into mine, but there was no malice or accusation in them.

  “Sam, as far as I thought, this ‘thing’ between Will and I is just temporary. It can’t be anything more realistically.” I came across as cold, but I knew he knew that I was telling the truth. We’d spoken about it before after all.

  “I know it can’t be more, with the whole long-distance thing, but at least while he’s here in London, surely the two of you can spend time together.”

  I thought about it.

  “We have been.” Sort of…

  “Yeah, surrounded by all of us, and his very bitter ex.”

  That was the second time someone mentioned Mary in that way to me. As far as I was concerned, she was their work colleague and I would continue to think of her that way.

  “I had noticed her glaring, but what can I do? I work all hours, and then when I do have time off, a band book my pub for a video shoot.” My voice was still hard and I hated it.

  “Oh...” I nodded and began to walk back through to serve customers. “I’m sorry for butting in.” Sam put his hand on my arm, stopping me. I turned to look at him.

  “You’re just worried about your friend. I’m not planning on breaking his heart. A, I’m not that cold hearted and b, I highly doubt he thinks so much of me to allow me in that much.” I patted Sam on the arm as I walked past him.

  When I got back into the bar, I found that Phil the karaoke guy had turned up. I’d forgotten about him in all the excitement. He came in the last Friday of every month like clockwork.

  “Hey Zoe, what’s with all the yanks?” I rolled my eyes at him.

  “They’re friends, so shut up and set up. You may be pleasantly surprised tonight.”

  Visions of Sam and Preston getting up to sing made me smile. Our usual singers were nowhere near the talent of Cosmic Tush, bless them.

  “Why, you singing tonight?” For years, Phil had tried to get me up on karaoke after Casey had told him she’d overheard me singing in the kitchen. The pair of them often ganged up on me, and I knew she would join in again once she turned up for her first shift after her break.

  “Nope.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s about time you regaled us with a number.” I shook my head and walked back behind the bar. “I’ll get your mates to talk you into it then.”

  “Talk her into what?” Sam asked.

  “Nothing, isn’t that right Phil?” I glared at him as he set up his gear.

  “Yo, Phil. Managed to get Zoe to sing yet?” Casey walked in, her big mouth arriving before anything else, as usual.

  “Not yet. You know me Case, never one to give up.” I glared at the pair of them.

  “Why won’t you sing?” Sam was grinning now that he knew what was going on.”

  “Come on Zo, I even programmed in all them Cosmic songs for you.” I prayed for a giant tornado to come and take me away, Wizard of Oz style.

  “Oh, did you now?” Preston had come back in and was also joining in. I looked over to see him and Will grinning as if I’d been caught having a pee in public.

  “Yeah, I admit, they don’t get many people picking ‘em, but they’re not bad at all. Made me buy their albums. Zoe was like the cat that got the cream when she found out. She’s always going on about ‘em.”

  Casey was wetting herself at the look of utter horror on my face.

  “What songs does she bug you with then?” I wanted to slap Preston.

  “There’s two. Forever and Stars. Those were the one she was always playing.”

  Kill me now!!! My eyes were raised to the ceiling in the hopes someone or something was listening and would grant my silent wish.

  “Oh really?” Preston smirked at me. “I think you should sing Stars...”

  “Know of the band, do you?”

  Phil’s innocent question made me snigger.

  “A little.” Preston turned to me. “You sing one, I’ll sing one.” I gaped at him. It had been two years since Preston had been seen to sing any Cosmic Tush songs.

  I glanced over at the ‘new’ guys who had turned up at the beginning of the conversation, and were looking a bit nervous at this turn of events. I couldn’t blame them; now that Preston seemed to be back on the scene it gave them even more of a reason to feel left out, despite how well the fans had taken to them over the weekend of the video.

  “This is a great idea.” Sam jumped onto the bandwagon. “I already know what I’m going to sing.” He ran over to Phil to grab a pen and some paper. I watched him scribble on two or three sheets and hand them back.

  “Oh, I hope he sings something slow.” I knew the effect his voice in ballads had on Casey.

  I had managed to escape the crazy that was taking over my pub, and have a shower in the hopes that while I was gone, everyone would forget about me singing. I pulled on my comfiest jeans, biker boots, and a simple tank top and headed back down into the pub.

  Cosmic Tush were sat along the bar as if they were in an episode of Cheers, and I felt all their eyes on me as I walked past them.

  “Like what you see? Take a picture, it lasts longer.” I snapped at them a little, causing them all to look down at their drinks which made me feel guilty. Only Will continued to watch me unashamed. I raised an eyebrow at him, causing him to smirk.

  “Ready for your big moment?” Johnny asked me. I hadn’t seen him arrive, but he was already halfway through a pint, so had obviously been here a while.

  “What big moment?”

  “Singing Stars with Will?” I stared at him; he wasn’t even here when all that nonsense had gone on. How quickly had everyone filled him in while I was upstairs?

  “What? I never agreed to that.” Sam was slowly sinking lower and lower in an attempt to hide from me. “What did you do Hollis?” I levelled my death gaze at him.

  “You better tell her before she melts you with the power of her glare.” Will sniggered.

  “I signed you and Will up to perform together.” I had no words as he pointed to Phil, who was smiling widely like a madman.

  “No fucking way.” I practically yelled. “No offence Will, I just don’t do performing.” I looked over at him. He simply shrugged, completely unfazed by my words.

  “Too late buttercup, you’re first up.” Phil shoved a microphone into my hand and dragged me over to the monitors. “You don’t sing, I don’t come back.” He knew I would never stop karaoke night in the pub. It brought in too many walk ins and made the pub a decent amount of money.

  “I fucking hate you.” I muttered to him and Sam both.

  Will sauntered over, a shit eating grin on his face. I was about to snap at him when the music started, causing every person in the pub to look over at us. Instinctively, I began to sing at the right time.

  When it got to Sam’s part just before Will’s rap, the man himself jumped up and took over from me. Phil was watching us with a strange look on his face.

  It’s a universal fact known to all women everywhere, that men who can dance are usually good in bed. As I watched Will breakdance in the middle of the pub as I sang the rest of the song, I had more flashbacks of him pinning me against my door, making me orgasm with the movement of his hips. Thankfully, the song ended, and I was able
to escape the eyes on me.

  I ran down to the office for a breather, unable to believe I had let those fuckers corral me into doing that. I would never ever admit that I’d enjoyed every moment to any of them, ever. How many fans got to perform one of their favourite band’s songs with the band in attendance?

  As much as I’d enjoyed it, it was never going to happen again, with or without the band in the pub. I sank into my chair to try and relax for a bit, before heading back upstairs where I could hear someone killing a 90s boyband song.

  “You sang that better than Preston in my opinion.” Will’s voice made me jump. He stood in the doorway of the office, smiling at me.

  “Yeah, okay. You obviously need your hearing tested.” I pulled my secret stash of whiskey out of my draw and poured myself a shot. “It’s not that hard a song to sing, there’s no challenge in it. No offence.”

  “None taken.” He wasn’t going to press the singing thing thankfully. “Are you coming back up to watch that lot get drunker and louder?” He jerked his head to indicate the racket coming from upstairs.”

  “Yeah. I’m giving them time to get into their stride so that they don’t make me sing again.” I watched as he sat down on the spare chair and turned to face me. “What?” I looked down at my top to check I hadn’t spilt my drink.

  “Can’t I look at you?” He didn’t sound hurt. If anything, the look he gave me was flirty.

  “Sure, you can. There’s not much to see.” I turned away from his gaze to pour another drink, this time passing one to him.

  “I beg to differ, there is plenty to see when I look at you.” I felt the blush flood my face as I rolled my eyes at him. “I’m not just feeding you a line here.”

  “Good to know. I hate guys that do that.” Internally I was thinking that he didn’t really need to feed me a line as we’d already fucked like rabbits. I must admit, I was kind of hoping he was buttering me up for some more. I could have gone for round two before he buggered back off to the states. It wasn’t like I had guys queuing up to talk to me. Get served beer yes, conversation no.