by Nikki Ashton
“Well if you have to ask, you’re more of a drunk than I thought. You look like a hooker trying to score a john to get money for drugs. Oh, I’m sorry,” I cried. “That’s exactly what you are.”
“Don’t you speak to me like that. I’m still your mother.”
“Yeah, I know, so you keep saying. But, I mean it. You’re not eating dinner with me dressed like that. At least put on a bra and a blouse.”
“This is my newest outfit,” she complained. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Yes there is. Change it and no I don’t have vodka.”
With that I slammed the door in her face. I could not look at her one more minute.
Where the fuck were Barney and Phoebe and why the hell had I agreed to Marcia meeting us at dinner?
There was another knock on the door and a screeching of my name on the other side, but I ignored it and finished up getting dressed. Finally, once I was ready, I picked up my cell and shot Marcia a text.
Grantley: I don’t care what your plan is, just make sure it works!
I got nothing in return, because I knew she’d be ignoring me. That was how Marcia dealt with me most of the time – ignore me until she had what I wanted. She just better make sure I got what I wanted this time.
Finally, after a half hour of hiding in my bedroom like a damn sulky teenager, I heard the door to the suite open and Barney’s deep voice speaking. I snagged my wallet off the dresser and rushed from my room, just in time to see Sue-Ann standing with her arms crossed, surveying Phoebe.
“Pretty girl,” I said in a low voice as I approached her.
Phoebe swung around to face me and crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue – a move I was guessing she got from the boys. I grinned at her and felt relief seep through me that Sue-Ann hadn’t managed to put her off in the two minutes they’d been alone, because let me tell you, she’s that fucking bad she could do it easily.
“You look hot,” Phoebe said winking, before smiling wide and calming me down.
“And so do you.”
I took hold of her hand and tugged her to me so that I could kiss her rose pink lips. She smelled damn good too, not her usual flowery perfume, but a little muskier.
“You ready for this?” I murmured against her ear, sneaking a glance at my mother, who was now at least wearing a shirt, albeit a little tight.
“As I’ll ever be.”
I moved in front of her, to see Sue-Ann watching us carefully, her beady eyes narrowed on us.
“Sue-Ann, this is Phoebe.”
“Yeah, I kinda gathered that honey,” Sue-Ann drawled. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Oh, okay.” Phoebe gave a nervous giggle and held her hand out to Sue-Ann. “It’s great to meet you anyway.”
Sue-Ann looked disdainfully at Phoebe’s offered hand and then slowly back up to her face. After a few seconds she curled her lip and lifted her chin to me.
“Are we going for dinner or what?”
“Not unless you show some manners.” I moved to Phoebe’s side and picked up her hand that was now at her side. “You take Phoebe’s hand and shake it with the goodwill in which it was offered.”
Sue-Ann looked as though she was thinking of something to say – her tell was the way her cheek twitched – but evidently nothing came. She took Phoebe’s hand and gave it a limp shake.
“Pleasure to meet you, I’m sure.” Sue-Ann’s voice was simpering as she flashed a tight smile at Phoebe.
I. Will. Fucking. Kill. Her if she ruins this for me.
“Let’s go and get this over and done with.”
I took Phoebe’s hand back in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Whether it was to reassure her or me, I had no fucking clue.
“Are you coming with us, Barney?” Phoebe asked as we moved toward the door.
I gave my friend the wide-eyed look that said ‘please come with’. He quirked his lips up at one side and studied me for a few seconds before nodding.
“Sure. Should be a fun night.”
I groaned under my breath. Marcia and Sue-Ann at each other’s throats was bad enough, but if either of them upset Phoebe, I wasn’t sure I’d hold it together. She’d come tonight to support me, as a friend and I would not tolerate her being made to feel uncomfortable because of the shit-fest going down at the dinner table.
When we reached the hotel restaurant, after an uncomfortably silent elevator ride, I was relieved to see it was fairly empty but for a couple of business dinners and an elderly couple. I’d chosen the hotel restaurant rather than somewhere more public, because with Sue-Ann in tow, I couldn’t risk getting photographed by the press. It didn’t bother me normally, it was part of being famous, but I did not want the mother from fucking hell being snapped alongside me.
When the Maître De led us to our table, Marcia was already sitting there. She looked less than amused to be there, if her pinched mouth and drumming fingers was anything to go by.
“Hey Marcia,” I said, bending down to kiss her cheek. “You been waiting long?”
“No, I’m trying to limit the time I have to be here,” she snapped, turning her head towards Sue-Ann, who was pushing herself up against the Maître de who had shown us to our table. “I’ve been making calls, but came up with nothing.”
“Shit,” I muttered. “Okay, let’s keep on it.”
I held a chair out for Phoebe, putting her in between Barney and me, which meant Marcia and Sue-Ann were sitting next to each other, unfortunately. That could go one of two ways; they’d play nice and get along for my sake, or Marcia would stab my mother with a salad fork – my money was on the latter, with a steak knife to the eye for good measure.
“Are you okay?” Phoebe asked, as we sat down. “You look as though you’re going to burst out of your clothes and go green at any moment.”
I reached under the table and snagged her hand again, as I leaned closer to speak quietly without my mother hearing. “Marcia’s been trying to find out what Sue-Ann wants, why she’s here, but she’s come up with nothing.”
“She may just want to visit you.” Phoebe sounded hopeful.
“Nope. No way. She’s got an ulterior motive and it scares the shit out of me that I have no damn idea what it is.”
“You’re sure it’s not just money?”
I nodded and reached for the water jug. “Yes, I told you, I asked her to name her price and she didn’t want it. So no, it’s not money.”
“It might be part of her plan, because she wants a huge amount of money. An amount that she knows you’ll say no to.”
“Maybe. I guess she knows she’ll only get so much from me,” I sighed. “But whatever it is she wants, she’s not getting it from me. She had her chance.”
As I looked over, I heard Sue-Ann asking for a bottle of vodka to be brought to the table. Thank God I asked for a table with as much privacy as possible, because I knew without doubt that the night was going to go to shit.
Phoebe
We had only just finished our starters and to say Sue-Ann was pissed was an understatement. She’d downed half the bottle of vodka she’d insisted on having brought to the table, interspersing each shot with a swig of wine. She’d barely touched her scallops, pushing the plate away after just one mouthful. And, of course she was getting louder with each passing minute.
“So Phoebe,” she slurred, draping her arm over the back of her chair. “How many of your leading actors have you slept with?”
I shifted in my seat and inhaled a long, patient breath.
“Keep your voice down,” Grantley hissed, looking over at a table of business men who kept looking over.
It may well have been him that they’d recognised, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it wasn’t the drunken, pitiful figure of his mother that had drawn their attention.
“Jus askin a quesion,” Sue-Ann said almost incoherently. “Well?”
“None,” I replied, through gritted teeth.
“Sue-Ann.” Grantley snarled her name
out in warning. “Keep your dirty mouth shut.”
“Oh chill out, I’m only asking your girlfrien a quesion any mother would ask. I mean,” she said, pointing at me, her eyelids drooping. “You don’t wan her givin you somein nasy, do you?”
It was getting more and more difficult to understand her, and Grantley was definitely about to lose his temper, big style.
“Hey,” Grantley hissed, leaning over the table and pointing a long finger at her. “Shut your damn drunken mouth and give me that bottle. Now.”
Su-Ann clutched the bottle to her like she was cradling a child, which was bloody ironic, considering the sort of mother she was.
“I haven’t finished yet,” she pouted.
“Oh yes you fucking have.” Marcia reached across and grabbed it from Sue-Ann’s arms. “You’re a damn embarrassment. All it takes is for someone to snap a picture of you and it’ll be all over the press.”
“Thas wha happens when you a movie star.” Sue-Ann reached for Grantley’s hand. “Baby boy, you know I jus lookin out for you, right?”
“Don’t call me that,” Grantley snapped, his body stiffening. “I’m neither a baby nor a boy.”
“You’re my baby boy,” she simpered with a childlike giggle.
“Sue-Ann,” Barney said softly. “Why don’t you go to the bathroom and freshen up a little. By the time you get back your chicken parmigiana will be here.”
“I don’t need to freshen up, Barnabus.”
Her head lolled as she sneered at poor Barney, who was merely trying to play the peace maker.
“Go to the damn john, Sue-Ann.”
“Wha you gonna do if I don’t, Marcia?”
Marcia gave her the sweetest of smiles and grabbed Sue-Ann’s hand and evidently squeezed it a little too hard, because Sue-Ann let out a little yelp.
A couple more heads turned our way and I could see Grantley was becoming more uncomfortable. His eyes looked around the restaurant, searching out anyone with a camera.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, putting a hand on his. “No one can see us that well.”
We were positioned in a corner behind a couple of huge plants. Yes, they’d hear us, but no one would know it was Grantley, unless they’d seen us walk in.
“If you don’t go and fucking sort yourself out, I’ll damn well march you in there myself and flush your head down the fucking toilet. Understand?”
Sue-Ann grabbed at Marcia’s hand, pulling it free of her own. “Fuck you.”
As she pushed up from the table and wobbled towards the bathroom, I heard Grantley exhale and saw him place an unsteady hand onto the table.
“I need her to leave. I want her on an airplane back home as soon as fucking possible.”
“Just fucking tell her to go,” Marcia said, looking in the direction that Sue-Ann had gone. “Give her a fucking check and a plane ticket and say sayonara bitch.”
“It’s not that easy, you know that.”
“He gave her a check,” Barney added. “He told her to name her price, but she didn’t want it.”
I looked from one to the other, feeling totally out of my depth as to how I could help. There was nothing that I could offer, except be there for Grantley.
I placed my hand over his and leaned into him. “She’ll slip up soon enough and once she does, you’ll know how to deal with her. I think you’re right, her saying she doesn’t want money is a load of old codswallop.”
“What?” Grantley gave a short laugh. “Cods what?”
I rolled my eyes. “Codswallop. A load of rubbish.”
Grantley kissed the end of my nose and sighed. “Thank fuck for you being here.”
“I haven’t done anything, except annoy her.”
“Nah, it’s not you, pretty girl. She’s just naturally mean.”
“She’s not mean, Grantley,” Marcia said, reaching for the wine. “She’s just a fucking drunk, cock-sucking bitch.”
“Who unfortunately is my fucking mom.”
Grantley dropped his head to my shoulder and groaned. “Can we just go and leave her in the bathroom?”
“Nope,” I said, kissing the top of his head. “We can’t. Just think of it as your payment for entry into heaven.”
“Well if that’s what’s required, I’ll take hell.”
“She’s on her way back,” Barney said.
I watched him as he watched Sue-Ann stumble her way back. His face was full of concern and I wondered why he never seemed to lose it with her in the same way that Grantley and Marcia did. I didn’t think it was anything sexual, she was much older than him for a start, but Barney most definitely gave Sue-Ann a little more leeway than anyone else.
“Okay?” Barney asked her.
“Wha ever.” She waved a hand at him and reached for her wine glass.
Barney cleared his throat and pushed it away with a finger. “No more, Sue-Ann,” he said softly.
She looked at him for a few seconds and then snapped her head to Grantley, who was watching silently, his body tense.
“Where’s that damn chicken?” Sue-Ann finally asked and picked up a glass of water to take a long swig.
The rest of the meal went without incident, if you could ignore Sue-Ann falling asleep with her head lolled forward. Grantley managed to keep up a cool demeanour throughout, talking about the film and a future project that Marcia thought would be good for him.
Finally, we were all finished; coffee cups drained and my nerves were on high alert. I assumed that Barney would be taking me home, but nothing had been mentioned. Barney hadn’t had any wine over dinner, so he could drive me if necessary, but I didn’t want to assume. Plus, I really wasn’t ready to go. We were having a day off from filming the next day, so it would be okay to have a few more drinks and maybe go dancing.
God, who was I kidding? I didn’t want to go dancing, I wanted to be kissed for a few hours by Grantley. Although dancing would be great too.
“We’d better get you home,” Barney announced. “Just let me get Sue-Ann up to the suite.”
Grantley inhaled sharply and moved around in his seat. “I…erm.was wondering whether you wanted to stay tonight?” he asked, his voice unusually unsure.
“Grantley,” Marcia warned. “What the hell have I told you about fucking the staff?”
As Grantley’s hand banged down on the table, I jumped in surprise.
“Marcia, do not start on me. After this fucking sideshow of a dinner, I don’t need or want your advice. If Phoebe wants to stay, I’ll take the other couch by Barney.”
“Shit man,” Barney growled. “It’ll be like damn summer camp. You wanna get some torches and we’ll tell ghost stories?”
Grantley chuckled and flipped Barney his middle finger. He turned to me and licked his lips.
“It’s up to you. I just thought we could have a few more drinks.” He paused and glanced over at Sue-Ann. “I’m not ready to let you go home just yet. But I swear there’s no pressure. I’m happy to sleep on the couch.”
I looked at his dark eyes, which were full of sadness and knew I wasn’t ready to go home either. However, I wasn’t sure I was ready to share his bed just yet. I wasn’t a prude or a virgin, but I wasn’t stupid either. I wasn’t a girl who got all dreamy about a man just because they’d smiled at me. I said it before, my heart was cold – before Grantley. My problem was, Grantley had the power to ruin me. He had the power to melt the ice around my heart and leave me broken beyond repair. I knew that my feelings were already more than they should be at this stage. We were barely at the second date stage if this was a normal relationship, in a normal life, but everything about this relationship seemed heightened because it was Grantley and because we were conducting it around the filming of a movie.
So, for now I would be that stupid girl, because I didn’t care. I felt alive and I wanted this.
Leaning closer to Grantley, I whispered. “You don’t need to take the couch, but I’m not ready for that next step. So, if you don’t think you can manag
e that, well you’ll be going to summer camp with Barney.”
Grantley’s eyes raked over my face as his hand came up to cup my cheek.
“I can manage whatever you want,” he whispered. “But I will want to hold you.”
“You will?”
He nodded. “Yeah, what can I say, I’m a clinger.”
I tilted my head and perused him. “Okay, but your hands stay above the waist.”
He looked at my knockers and grinned, giving a little chuckle.
“I’m definitely on board with that.”
I smacked his arm. “Behave. You know what I mean.”
He smiled slowly and then dropped a soft kiss to my lips.
“Yeah, I do,” he replied as he pulled away. “And I’m totally on board with that too.”
“Good.”
“When you two have stopped acting like high school sweethearts, you think we can go?” Marcia asked impatiently. “I need to be up early in the morning, I’ve got a five am call.”
“Yeah,” Grantley breathed out, looking at Sue-Ann. “Let’s go. You okay to get her upstairs, buddy?”
Barney gave him a two-fingered salute and pushed up from his seat. Moving over to Sue-Ann, he shook her shoulder, gently rousing her.
“I’ll get a taxi from the lobby,” Marcia said as she rummaged through her bag. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Not too early. I have a day off remember.”
“How could I forget.”
As Barney lifted Sue-Ann to her feet, Marcia gave a wave over her shoulder and weaved her way out of the restaurant. It was strange, no one had really taken much notice of Grantley throughout the evening, but the wiry, skinny, elderly woman drew everyone’s gaze.
“Night guys,” Barney said, putting an arm around a drowsy Sue-Ann. “Try not to wake me when you get up to the room.”
“Hah, whatever,” Grantley scoffed. “You know you’ll be engrossed in Suits for the next few hours.”
Barney let out a deep chuckle and with a wave of his hand, slowly moved away with Sue-Ann.
“So,” Grantley said. “You want to go to a club?”
“Really? Won’t you be recognised?”