Riding Solo

by Woods, Karen

  Amanda stuttered and seemed lost for words. “I think you’ll know when the moment is right for a kiss. You can’t just expect it at the end of the night, it has to come naturally. You need to touch her face slowly and stroke your fingers across her cheeks like this.” Her chest was rising faster than normal and her eyelids flickered as she continued caressing him. “Then, you’ll know by her reaction if she wants to kiss you or not.”

  Harry knew he shouldn’t have but he tried the move on Amanda. “Do you mean like this?” Something was happening to the couple and their lips were moving towards each other as if by magic. Loud knocking at the door filled the room. The moment was gone and Harry jumped up rubbing his hands together. “That will be the takeaway,” he dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled ten pound note. “You get the plates out and I’ll go and pay for it,” he softy patted her shoulder. “Come on, move your arse slug, I’m starving.” Amanda seemed in a deep trance. Harry pushed her shoulder again that seemed to make her come back to the real world.

  Amanda and Harry sat scranning their food. Harry was eating greedily and he’d forgotten he was on a date, he was a right pig. Curry sauce dribbled down the side of his mouth and every now and then he belched out loud. Amanda was nibbling on a Nan bread, every now and then she dipped it into the curry sauce. Eating in front of her first date was always a nightmare and it was something she’d always struggled with in the past. Harry sat back in the chair and undid the top button of his pants. His small gut hung freely and it made Amanda blush. She could see a sprinkle of dark hairs leading up from his belly button and she had to force herself not to keep looking. The food was gone and Harry sparked a cig up. Once he’d necked the last gulp of his Tango orange drink, he let out a loud burp and he seemed contented. Amanda shoved her plate to the corner of the table. This was the biggest meal she’d eaten in a long time, usually she would just pick at food, she’d never had a big appetite, unlike Harry.

  Amanda reached for a cig from the packet and lit it slowly. Blowing the smoke from her mouth she spoke with a serious tone. “If Jenny came back to you, would you have her back in your life?”

  Harry was thinking, tapping his fingers on the side of the chair he answered her. “I probably would you know. I feel like she is my life and without her I feel numb inside if you know what I mean.”

  Amanda delved deeper. “What, even though she left you for another man, you would forgive her and welcome her back with open arms?”

  Harry dipped his head low; he was ashamed of the answer he’d just given. He didn’t want to come across as desperate, but if the truth was known that’s what he was. “Obviously not with open arms,” he stuttered. “We’d probably have a lot of talking to do first, but for the sake of the kids I would try and forgive her and make a go of it.”

  Amanda wasn’t happy; she sat forward in her seat, teeth clenched tightly together. “Why go back just for the kids? Can you put your hand on your heart and say when you were with Jenny you loved her with all your heart, I mean, you never cheated, or wanted something different?”

  Harry blew a laboured breath; Amanda was doing his head in. “Can we not talk about Jenny anymore? This is a date and I want to wipe her right out of my mind. I thought you were going to help me get back on my feet not bloody put me back down on the floor.”

  He was right and Amanda knew that she’d overstepped the mark. She reached over to him and stroked his hand. “I’m sorry; I just get carried away sometimes. Just tell me to mind my own business in future.”

  Harry smirked and shook his head. “Right you’re forgiven. What’s next on my dating lesson?” He’d taken her by surprise; she’d not really planned anything and just expected to sit talking all night. Harry jumped up from his seat. “Have you got any playing cards, we can play strip poker if you want?”

  He was staring at Amanda waiting for an answer. “Piss off, I’m not getting my kit off just so you can perv at me. My body is sacred and I don’t show it off to anyone.”

  “You’re such a prude Amanda, just live a little ay? We might even have a bit of fun when you let your hair down a bit.” She went bright red and hated that he’d called her a prude. She sat thinking for a few minutes and the corners of her moth started to rise. “Right, come on then, I’ll play, but no funny business. I mean, once you see my mint body you’ll probably want to dive all over me.”

  Harry was holding the lower part of his stomach laughing. “Get over yourself will you? I’ve seen loads of women’s bodies and you don’t have anything I’ve not seen before, so sit down and let’s start the game.”

  Harry sat wearing only his shirt and his boxer shorts. Amanda was wearing a red bra and white lacy knickers. She hated that she didn’t have matching underwear on, but the wine seemed to have taken away any embarrassment she was going through. The empty bottles of wine were scattered about the floor and they both were well and truly pissed. They were wobbling about as they sat next to each other. Harry dealt the hand of cards and placed them flat on the table. “Get ready to get naked,” he chuckled. “I hope you’ve sorted your monkey fluff out and all that?” She rolled her eyes and licked her lips slowly.

  “Don’t you worry about me Harry; it’s you who should be shitting yourself, nipper nob.” They both looked at their cards at the same time and fear set in his eyes. His jaw dropped as his eyes focused on the playing cards. Amanda quickly revealed a pair of aces; she slammed them on the table and punched her clenched fist into the air. “Check them out Harry. Come on; let’s see what you’ve got. Not that it matters now because you’re never going to beat my hand anyway,” she waved her hand up and down in front of him. “So come on, stand up and let’s see you strip off, bollock naked I want you.”

  Harry screwed his face up; he was always a sore loser. “Okay, okay, you win. I’m not arsed about showing my tackle off. Prepare yourself then,” he sniggered. Standing to his feet he slid his boxer shorts down over his thighs. Amanda didn’t know where to look. With a grin on her face she stared down in between his legs. Her cheeks were bright red. “I thought you said you couldn’t get a hard on?” she covered her mouth and giggled.

  Harry dropped his head and smiled. “Well, fuck a duck. My beast is alive again.” Realising he was now stood in front of her with a boner on he covered his penis with both hands and pulled his boxers back up with speed. “Sorry about that, I don’t know what’s come over me.”

  Amanda’s face changed and she was no longer laughing. Standing to her feet she walked to where he was stood and kissed him passionately. This was so out of the blue that Harry was shocked. Their bodies locked together and without another word spoken they started to make love as their hot sticky bodies fell onto the sofa.

  Harry and Amanda lay next to each other, their bodies entwined. His hand stroked the side of her head, slowly he kissed her again. “Where did all that come from then,” he whispered.

  Amanda hid her face away in his chest and a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I think I just got caught up in the moment and well,” she paused. “I’ve not had sex in a very long time.”

  Harry smiled to himself. “Well, I’ve not had a hard-on in a long time either, so you’ve done me a favour.”

  Amanda was white, she’d made a mistake and hated that she’d had sex with Harry. Rolling over him she grabbed her clothing off the floor. “I think you need to go now.”

  Harry looked at her, he didn’t know if she was being serious or not. “Amanda, don’t be going all snide on me now. We just got caught up in the moment that’s all. It’s not a hanging offence is it?”

  She was having none of it, she threw his pants and shirt at him. “Just go home will you. This should have never happened.”

  Harry growled as he watched her walk over to the back of the room. He watched her pick up the photograph of Paul and clutched it close to her chest. Once he was ready, he trudged to her side and draped his hand over her shoulder. “Why are you doing this to yourself Ama
nda? It’s like you think you don’t deserve any happiness in your life anymore. Give yourself a break will you?”

  She snapped and turned to face him. Her eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets. “I was supposed to be showing you how to date a woman. Not bleeding having sex with you myself. God above, I bet you think I’m a right slapper now don’t you?”

  Harry giggled; he was nervous and didn’t know how to answer her. “I think you’re lovely Amanda. You’re probably just what I need in my life at the moment.”

  She walked away from him still avoiding any eye contact. “I’ve let Paul down big time. He’s not even cold yet and I’m sleeping about with other men, what would his family think if they ever got wind of this?”

  “See what I mean Amanda, this is about you, not everyone else. You’ve cried enough tears over Paul; it’s time to move on. Me and you could have something special here if you just gave it chance.”

  Amanda froze where she stood and goose pimples appeared on her arm. Was Harry saying he wanted to see her again? She’d never planned for this to happen and tried to turn him down. “It is what it is Harry. One drunken leg-over doesn’t make us lovers. You don’t need someone like me in your life. I’m damaged goods, go and find someone who will make you happy. You’ve said yourself that I’m a nutter.”

  Harry ragged his fingers through his hair. This was all happening way too fast and his head was all over the place. Did he even like Amanda? Until now he just saw her as a friend, well, an attractive friend. Plonking down on the chair he dipped his head low and cupped his hands together. Staring at the floor he spoke softly. “If you want to date me, then let’s do it. I think you’re lovely and if the truth was known I always thought you were out of my league,” he looked sincere. “That’s why I never made a move on you. And,” he looked at her directly in her eyes. “My nob’s been out of action for months so I’ve not even thought about having sex with anyone else. This just happened and I for one don’t regret a minute of it. In fact, it was brilliant.”

  Amanda blushed, she was lost for words and couldn’t look at him. Harry stood up and walked towards her. “This could be fate, we could have been meant to meet each other, who knows?” He leant in and touched her red cherry lips with his fingertip. “Let’s give it a go, nobody will ever know. We’ll just keep it on the back burner until you’re ready.” They shared a passionate kiss and before long Harry led her to the bedroom. Before they left she ran back into the front room and blew the candles out, she didn’t look at Paul’s photo once.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Grace snuggled under the duvet as she lay back thinking about Danny. Last night had been one of the best nights ever in her life. Winnie was singing at the local pub and she had everyone singing along with her, the atmosphere was electric. The bedroom door opened slowly and Martin was stood there with a cup of piping hot tea in his hand, he wasn’t giving up trying to win her back. His face was grey and he’d not shaved for days, he looked like he had the worries of the world on his shoulders. “I’ve made you a drink, I doubt you’ll want anything from me, but I’ve made it for you anyway.”

  Grace sat up in the bed and shot him a look. “Get out, will you! Stick your brew right up your arse.” She half expected him to set about her and argue back but today he was quiet and seemed deflated. Turning quickly he left the room without another word. Grace sat up and kept her eyes firmly fixed on the door, half expecting him to come back inside ready for another argument. As she held her ear to the door she could hear his footsteps heading back down the stairs. Grabbing her brown housecoat from the bedside cabinet she jumped up out of bed, he was up to something. Head sticking out of the door she hurried to the toilet holding her hands between her legs. She could hear music being played downstairs. Rolling her eyes she went inside the bathroom and started to get ready.

  Grace walked into the kitchen and flicked the switch for the kettle. She yawned and stretched her hands over her head. Looking at the clock on the wall she realised how late it was, usually she’d have been up at this time doing her housework. The music seemed to be getting louder in the front room and as she listened more carefully she realised it was an old favourite track of hers playing called “Downtown” by Petula Clarke. She was smiling as she pelted out the words to the song whilst pouring the boiling water from the kettle. Suddenly she nearly jumped out of her skin; Martin was stood at the door watching her. “You could never really sing, could you Grace?” he sniggered with a smirk on his face.

  Grace got the milk from the fridge. “Since when did you know about my talents anyway, there’s no point in taking an interest now is there?”

  All of a sudden Martin was bent double, he was gasping for breath. His lips were going purple and he was holding his chest. At first she just stood watching him thinking he was up to something but as he lifted his head she could see he was in deep trouble. Running to his side she tried to lift him to his feet but it was no good, he was like a dead weight. This man was having a heart attack and if she didn’t get him some help soon he would be a gonner for sure.

  Sprinting to the phone she dialled the emergency services. Martin was struggling to speak, his lungs were empty and his eyes were starting to roll to the back of his head. “I love you,” he groaned.

  Grace was in a panic and ran to the front door, she could hear sirens in the distance and she was running about like a headless chicken. Seeing the medics pull up she ran back inside to her ex-husband’s side. “Help’s here now love, just hang on in there.” Martin couldn’t speak and his eyes were staring into space, he looked like death warmed up. The ambulance men assessed the patient. Within minutes they had him on a stretcher. Martin was wheeled to the back of the ambulance.

  Grace was holding his hand, she looked at breaking point. She hated this man, but she never wished him dead. “I’ll follow you up to the hospital,” she shouted to the medics. The back doors of the ambulance were closed and the sirens blared as it started to pull off out of the driveway. Grace was shaking and for a minute it looked like she was going to have a heart attack too.

  A shrieking voice from behind her made her turn her head, it was Winnie. “Oh my God, don’t tell me you’ve done the fucker in. I just said to my Stan when I heard the sirens that I bet it was for Martin. I didn’t think for one minute that it would be though, I was just joking about. You know what I’m like, I was just having a laugh?”

  Grace started to walk back inside her house. “I think he’s dead Winnie. On my life, one minute he was just stood there and the next he was turning blue gasping for breath.”

  Winnie followed her inside and linked her arm. “Are you going up to the hospital, because if you want I’ll come with you?”

  Grace nodded and closed the front door behind them both. Sat at the kitchen table Winnie lit two cigarettes up and passed one over to Grace. “Here, get a drag of that, it will calm you down, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  No words were spoken as Grace popped the lit cigarette into her mouth. Her heart was beating ten to the dozen and she was still in shock. “I have to go to the hospital don’t I? I know I hate the man with a passion but I just can’t leave him to rot, can I?”

  Winnie was hesitating, her cheeks creased at the sides as she let rip. “Go if you want Grace, but for me he could rot in hell. I’ve seen what that bastard has put you through lately and he should die the lonely old man that he is.” Winnie knew her words were harsh and she covered her mouth after she’d said them. “Sorry to be so blunt love, but he makes me cringe inside.”

  Grace checked her wristwatch. “I’m going to the hospital to make sure he’s alright. I knew something wasn’t right with him this morning you know. He was quieter than usual and not his normal self.”

  Winnie stubbed her fag out, pressing her thumb firmly on it. She stood to her feet. “Right, just let me tell Stan what’s happened and I’ll come with you. There’s no way you’re going there on your own. Hospitals are depressing enough without waitin
g to see if your old man’s popped his clogs or not.” Grace couldn’t reply, she was still in shock. Reaching over for the phone she rang a taxi.

  Winnie went over to the vending machine in the hospital and got two hot chocolates. They’d been sat in the waiting room for over half an hour now and still there was no news. Kids were playing about outside the room and you could see their mothers at the end of their tether with them. Winnie smiled as she watched one of the mothers clout her son right across his ear. Giggling she turned to face Grace. “Oh, that nipper out there has just got a right wallop from his mother. A little bleeder he is, you can see the mischievous look in his eyes.” Just then a door opened and in walked a doctor holding some papers in his hands. The man was Asian and around thirty years of age. Winnie hurried to her friend’s side and grabbed her hands rubbing at them softly. “Take deep breaths love,” she whispered into the side of her ear. Once the doctor introduced himself he sat down next to Grace. Her nostrils were flaring and she was preparing herself for the worst, her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. Her eyes closed slowly.

  Winnie couldn’t take the torture any longer and took it upon herself to find out if Martin was still alive or not. “Is he dead doctor?” her eyes were fixed firmly on him and she was squeezing Grace’s hand.