The Goldsworth Series Box Set

by Davie J Toothill

  The party was in full swing when he pushed through the front door and a wave of noise and smoke washed over him. He struggled through the crowded hallway and went into the lounge. He saw Tamar and Amal sat on the sofa, drinking beer and smoking, and he waved to them. Tamar grinned when he saw him, and Amal leapt to his feet, spilling his can, and pulled him into a hug.

  “Good to see you man,” Amal said as he released him from the hug. “Didn’t think you’d be back here, but shows you got some fucking balls, I reckon.”

  “Cheers,” Clint said, knowing he was speaking about testifying and he knew at once that Amal’s words meant that Amal wouldn’t be taking the stand himself.

  “So how’ve you been?” Amal asked. He sat back down on the sofa and Clint sat beside him, squeezing in between Tamar and Amal. Tamar started rolling a joint, and Clint felt relieved that Aurora hadn’t attended.

  Clint and Amal talked, and Amal filled him on how he’d spent his time inside. Sanjay came over, shook Clint’s hand and gave them each a fresh can, before kicking someone off the other sofa and sitting down. A blonde girl immediately went and sat in his lap, and Amal shook his head, laughing.

  “No wonder he didn’t want his bloody girlfriend here,” he said into Clint’s ear, “That Polish girl’s been all over him since she walked through the door.” Clint knew that Aurora had made the right decision in steering clear of this party; he knew she would be affronted by such talk. He opened his can and began to relax, satisfied that Amal and Tamar held no grudge against him for grassing up Troy and he found he could begin to enjoy himself for the first time since he had been back on the estate.

  As the beer flowed and the music got louder, Clint pushed aside thoughts of Aurora. He knew that she would be fine looking after Sienna. He was having fun, and he was pleased that he had agreed to come.

  Zoe joined them, looking first at Tamar and then at Clint.

  “I just wanted to say thanks,” she said, blushing. “For letting Aurora babysit for me tonight, she’s an absolute star.” She smiled warmly.

  “No worries,” Clint said. “She okay?”

  “Yeah, said she fancied a quiet night anyway,” Zoe replied. She started moving her hips to the music and turned to look at Tamar.

  “You all right there, Tam?” she asked.

  Tamar glanced to Clint and Amal, and Clint thought he saw panic in his mate’s eyes, but then Tamar nodded, holding up a can and grinning.

  “I’m going to get myself a drink,” Zoe said, giving Tamar a look that Clint couldn’t quite read. Tamar blushed.

  “Yeah, I’ll get one too,” he said, hoisting himself off the sofa and following Zoe out of the lounge. Clint looked at Amal, who looked as bewildered as he felt.

  “You don’t reckon those two are hooking up?” Amal asked.

  “No clue mate,” Clint shrugged. He had never thought Tamar and Zoe were that close, but their behaviour seemed different to how he remembered. Maybe things had changed, he thought.

  “Nah, Tamar’s been with girls well hotter than Zoe before,” Amal said, shaking his head. “I mean, he fucked Sasha, and she was a right sort. No way would he go with someone like Zoe, I mean, look at her.” He laughed, and Clint shrugged. It was nothing to him if they were getting together.

  “I need another can,” Amal groaned from beside him. “You want one?” He looked to Clint. “Or something stronger? We got some tequila.”

  Clint considered him a moment. It wouldn’t be long before he was a father and didn’t have the chance to party. It was good to be back with his mates and he grinned, and Amal knew what he was thinking.

  “Tequila shots it is then,” Amal shouted, giving a cheer as Clint laughed.

  * * *

  Adrianna felt Sanjay stir as she traced a line across his lips with the tip of her finger, a playful smile on his lips as his hand rested on her waist, keeping her balanced as she sat in his lap.

  She felt a little unsteady on her feet and knew she had probably had a few too many vodkas back at her flat. She didn’t regret it though, how could she when she was getting so much attention from him? She had not met Sanjay before, but she’d heard whispers at the party that he had been in prison and he was a name of sorts on the estate, and that was enough to make her interested in getting to know him.

  He was attractive too, with sharp features, tanned skin and cropped black hair. He was muscular, probably from working out in prison, she thought, and he was charming. She thought of Trent Banks, and she knew that if he could see her now he would be jealous, and that was all the more reason to keep it up.

  She was still pissed off after Trent’s dismissal this morning, and even if Trent never found out about what she’d gotten up to tonight, she would know that she’d got one over on him and that made her smile. She didn’t like being treated like a nobody, it was an affront to her, and if he wouldn’t treat her right she would find someone who would.

  Sanjay was warm and smelt of aftershave and whisky, and she kissed him, running a hand down his chest as his tongue explored her mouth, his hand slipping from her lower back. She knew he was aroused, and she playfully traced a line down his stomach and felt his breath catch at her touch. She loved the affect she had on men, and she was sure that she could have this guy if she wanted; and she did.

  “Should we go somewhere a bit more – private?” she whispered in his ear.

  She lifted herself out of his lap and took his hand. Sanjay’s palms were beginning to sweat and he led her from the lounge, people making way for them, and Adrianna felt powerful, enjoyed the curious looks people gave her. She wondered if they thought she was a real somebody, if Sanjay was interested in her. She smiled and knew she had made the right decision in setting her sights on him.

  Sanjay led her upstairs, kicking cans and people out of their way as he went, and opened the door to his bedroom. The room was messy but empty of people, and he closed the door behind them. Before Adrianna could look around, Sanjay’s hands were on her, his mouth on hers as he pushed her up against the back of the door. He was hungry for her, and Adrianna felt her own arousal peak as he pressed against her, one of his knees gently nudging her legs open.

  She knew he had a girlfriend, he had told her as much. She had reassured him that she had a boyfriend of her own and she was just doing this to get back at him. It was a good arrangement, she thought. Sanjay nuzzled her neck with his mouth, and his hands began to pull up her top to expose her breasts.

  Adrianna glanced over his broad shoulders to the bed, her arms around his neck, but Sanjay didn’t seem to care that they were in a bedroom. He unzipped his jeans, pulled up her skirt and in one quick motion had her knickers on the floor as he entered her with a moan.

  * * *

  The kitchen was crowded with party-goers and there were spilt drinks all over the tiled floor, and Zoe tried to keep moving her feet so that her heels wouldn’t stick to the floor. She poured herself a vodka and watched as Tamar cracked open a can. He came to join her in the corner of the room, leaning against the counter.

  “I’m glad you came,” Tamar said, smiling sheepishly. “I kind of thought you might bail, but its good you made it.”

  “Yeah,” Zoe agreed. “It’s a good party.”

  Zoe looked at Tamar and felt her attraction to him, stronger than before. He was wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, and there was a twinkle in his eye that she hadn’t noticed before. She had tried her best to look good, with some help from Aurora when she’d arrived at her flat to look after Sienna. Her red hair was straightened, she’d covered up her blemishes with a thick layer of make-up and she was wearing a low-cut top to show off her ample cleavage and a stretchy mini-skirt. She knew it must be working to some degree, because Tamar could hardly take his eyes of her breasts.

  “You look nice,” Tamar said, eyes flickering between her face and her breasts, grinning when he realised she had caught him looking. “Seriously, you look good.”

  Zoe licked her lips, as he inched clo
ser towards her.

  “You look fine yourself,” Zoe said, putting a finger playfully to his chest.

  He smiled, and closed the distance between them. His hand reached out to slide around her waist, and Zoe felt her pulse quicken with excitement.

  “What’s going on here then?” Amal called, coming over to them looking intrigued, a bottle of tequila and some shot glasses in his hands. “You two – together? No way, man,” he said, looking at Tamar with shock and amusement.

  “What?” Tamar said, stepping away from her. Zoe felt disappointment wash over her. “Us? Nah, man, we’re just mates, you know that.”

  Amal looked from one to the other, shrugged, and made to leave.

  “We’re doing shots if you two want to come join us,” he called over his shoulder as he departed the kitchen, swaying a little as he went.

  Tamar looked back to Zoe, his eyes down, looking abashed.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean –”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Zoe interrupted. She felt tears sting at the corners of her eyes and put a hand to her face, embarrassed by her emotion and Tamar’s horrified reaction when Amal had thought something might have been going on between them. Tamar was clearly embarrassed of her, she deduced.

  “I’m sorry,” Tamar said quietly. “We can go do some shots,” he suggested lamely.

  Zoe shook her head, still blinking away tears.

  “No, I should go,” she said. She downed her glass of vodka in one quick gulp and hurried out of the kitchen, unable to look Tamar in the face, knowing he would likely be glad she had saved him the trouble. Now he would be free to hook-up with a girl he could show off to his mates, not hide away in embarrassment.

  Outside the house, upset and humiliated, she burst into tears.

  * * *

  Amal poured out the tequila shots and passed them around, feeling generous as he celebrated his freedom and the alcohol began to hit him. Tamar and Clint were both grinning, and Amal was pleased to see his mates after such a long time. It was almost like the old days, except Brandy and Troy weren’t here to start arguments and put everyone in a sour mood.

  “Three…two…down in one!” Amal called out, and they all downed their shots. Amal felt his throat burning from the tequila and smacked his lips, feeling the alcohol rush through his body.

  A small crowd had formed around them to watch, and Amal caught the eye of a pretty girl, with caramel skin and her hair dyed honey-blonde, falling to her shoulders in curls, wearing pink lipstick and a blue dress that stood out in the room. He struggled to take his eyes off her.

  “Who is that?” Amal asked.

  “Shontelle Thorne,” Tamar whispered over his shoulder, following his gaze. “She’s hot.”

  Amal poured another round out into the shot glasses, making sure he stopped beside Shontelle, pouring her one with slightly unsteady hands.

  She gave him a bright smile and downed it in one, and Amal was impressed.

  After the tequila-pouring had been taken over by Tamar, Amal followed Shontelle as she slipped away from the crowd and went into the kitchen. She poured herself a vodka coke and turned, leaning against the counter, as Amal approached her.

  “Good party,” she said quietly, as he stopped in front of her. “Congratulations.”

  “Cheers,” Amal said, blushing slightly. “You’re Shontelle, right?”

  “Yeah,” she nodded. “And you’re Amal.”

  Amal nodded, pleased she knew his name.

  “I’ve been looking about for my sister, but God knows where –” Shontelle began, but Amal put a finger to his lips and hushed her. He didn’t really care about her sister or what she might be up to; it was a party and he was only interested in her right now.

  He closed the gap between them, dragging his hand along the edge of the counter.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, looking into her face, “Stunning, girl.”

  Shontelle smiled, a tinge creeping up her cheeks at the compliment.

  He went to slide an arm around her waist, but she put a hand to his chest to stop him. She glanced over his shoulder, and Naz approached them.

  “You want to give us some privacy?” Amal snapped at his cousin.

  Naz ignored him and draped an arm around Shontelle’s shoulders. Amal stepped back, shocked.

  “I see you’ve met my girlfriend,” Naz said, raising an eyebrow. He smirked at Amal’s expression, as he backed away.

  “No way man,” Amal gasped.

  “Whatever,” Naz said dully, scowling. “We’re going for another tequila shot.”

  He led Shontelle from the kitchen. Amal watched them go, desire for Shontelle still clouding his judgement. She glanced over her shoulder back at him, eyes apologetic, and then she was gone.

  * * *

  Aurora listened to Sienna’s gentle breathing and couldn’t help but wonder what was happening at Amal’s party. She knew that Clint would try his best to behave, but under the influence of alcohol and with Tamar and Amal at his side, she couldn’t be entirely certain that he wouldn’t do anything stupid. She considered texting, but she knew he would take it badly, thinking she was checking up on him, and besides if he had drunk too much he wouldn’t even check his phone.

  She tried to calm herself down. It was the first time Clint had been out with his mates since they had first left the Goldsworth to flee to Manchester, and he deserved a chance to relax and have a few drinks. He had done everything he could for both her and Kojo, and she knew he must feel exhausted from such efforts.

  The key sounded in the lock on the front door and Aurora felt a moment’s fear, before she heard heels clattering on the floor and Zoe called out for her.

  “What are you doing back so early?” Aurora asked, going into the hallway to greet her. “Sienna’s fast asleep, so I’ve put her in her cot.”

  “Thanks,” Zoe smiled, kicking off her heels. Aurora saw her eyes were red and her mascara had run, and she wondered if Zoe had been crying. She padded barefoot into the lounge, Aurora trailing after her. “And the party just wasn’t as much fun as I thought it might be, so I decided to call it a night.”

  “Is everything okay?” Aurora asked, concerned. “You look…upset.”

  Zoe tried to smile it off but her lips trembled and a tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away hastily, shaking her head with embarrassment. Aurora guided her to the sofa and sat down beside her, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder and listened as Zoe explained all about the situation with Tamar.

  “I don’t know if I really do like him,” Zoe concluded, “Or if I just like not being so alone. It’s pathetic, isn’t it?”

  “No, it’s not,” Aurora insisted. “But you can’t let him get to you like this, not if you find it so upsetting.”

  “He just looked horrified at the thought of me and him,” Zoe sighed.

  “Then he’s a fool,” Aurora said.

  Zoe gave her a thankful smile.

  “I’m going to jump into bed now,” Zoe said. “You could always go along to Amal’s party and see Clint if you want, I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see you.”

  Aurora considered it. It would be nice to see Clint, to put her mind at ease before she went back to her mum’s flat and tried to sleep.

  She bid Zoe goodnight and left the flat, going over the directions to Amal’s house that Zoe had given her. Zoe had warned her that the house was noisy so all she had to do was find the right street and she would find the party.

  As she crossed the courtyard she saw Tamar, who barely glanced at her. Perhaps he didn’t recognise her, Aurora thought, or maybe he was preoccupied with thoughts of Zoe. She wondered if that was where he was heading now, and considered texting Zoe to warn her.

  She fumbled for her phone but didn’t send a warning; what if Tamar wasn’t going around and it got Zoe’s hopes up? No, Aurora, decided, she wouldn’t get herself involved in their drama.

  Passing between the playing fields, she quickened her step, aware that it was da
ngerous to be walking around in the dark, in a spot known for its trouble.

  She reached the street that Zoe had directed her to and heard the music blaring from Amal’s house. A few people staggered away down the road and a few more lingered outside the front door, either throwing up or smoking.

  Aurora let herself in through the front door and shuffled between revellers, looking for Clint. In the lounge she caught sight of him, sat on the sofa chatting, a can of beer in his hand, looking drunk but cheerful.

  He grinned when he caught sight of her, and she smiled back, her worries and doubts vanishing now that she had seen her boyfriend was not up to anything, and she felt bad for not trusting him. She sat down beside him on the sofa and he put an arm around her shoulders, and Aurora nestled into him.

  * * *

  “I told you this party would be awesome,” Kent said, cracking open another two cans and passing one over to Kojo, who took it gratefully. The garden was a mess of crumpled cans and drunken bodies. “Such fucking hot girls, and all the alcohol we can drink. Plus, I reckon there’s some weed somewhere, if we’re lucky. I can smell it.”

  Kojo slurped at his can and felt pleased that he had ignored Clint and come to the party with his mates. He had spent too long listening to Clint and his rules, he thought, and it was time he started doing his own thing.

  He was beginning to feel drunk now, and he hoped that the dizziness would pass. His brain felt scrambled; his thoughts were disconnected from each other, though he knew he was having a good time.

  This was the first time he had been drunk, and he was glad he had finally experienced something the other lads seemed to have done loads of times before. He felt envious of them for this; they had been having fun the last few months, whilst he’d been stuck in Manchester bored out of his mind.

  “Hey Kojo,” a girl’s voice came from behind him. He turned and saw the most beautiful girl he had seen; and from the recesses of his mind he knew he remembered her from somewhere. “It’s Scarlett,” the girl said, reading his uncertainty. “I sat in front of you in maths, you know, before you left school.”