He appeared to be his usual self, though with the added blush from this morning’s little roll around.
“I don’t really smell it anymore. I guess over time I got used to it and it faded,” he stated, sounding sad.
“Well, I certainly can and I love it,” I told him, planting a quick kiss on his chin. “It reminds me of you and when I smell it I feel…safe,” I offered, burying my face in his chest after saying so.
He laughed at my mild embarrassment and pulled on my cheeks, keen to see my blushing cheeks.
“I’m glad it does,” he stated, plonking a sloppy kiss on my lips.
“We should do something special for her this year. Since it’s the tenth anniversary.”
“That’ll be nice. What do you have in mind?” he asked, inheriting a curious tone.
I slyly slipped into the Luke cave and purposely kissed his collarbone, thinking up my not-so-genius reply.
“Not sure? Maybe we could plant a tree?” I suggested, thinking my idea sounded naff.
“I like that. She always did like rose bushes. Maybe we could plant one in the park near Dad’s?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, rolling my body on top of his after silence consumed us both for a while. “Shall we concentrate on getting you a job before we worry about all that?”
I knew he was getting anxious over his lack of purpose lately and I wanted to help change that.
“We could carry on looking tonight after you finish work?” he offered.
Lately, going into work felt about as uplifting as doing the dishes after Christmas dinner. No one in particular wanted to do it but the job was always left for someone to pick up. That someone being me.
“I could do with some help,” he then stressed, though I knew he was only doing so to be nice.
Luke didn’t need my help in applying. If anything, I was more of a hindrance.
“Of course I’ll help. It’s my fault after all,” I squeaked, hating that I was the reason behind him having to look elsewhere.
“What have I told you about blaming yourself? What happened wasn’t your fault,” he insisted, positioning my legs at either side of his hips.
“Maybe so but you’re jobless because of what happened and I feel responsible.”
“Well don’t. I don’t blame you one bit. This is a good thing. We’ll both get new jobs and start afresh,” he smiled, still remaining optimistic for me.
Francesca had said I’d find out if I was successful in the following week or so and although the interview had gone extremely well, I was determined not to get my hopes up. Who knew how well the other applicants did? For all I knew, Ralph Lauren himself might’ve shown up for the position.
Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no.
“Maybe if we both start earning enough money we could move in together?” I replied, kissing his lips before making my way further down his body.
“What?”
Shit!
Why the hell did I say that?
“Not that I’m rushing you. I just think about these things from time to time. It’s always wise to plan ahead, ya know?”
Luke glared his wide-eyed gaze into mine and without so much as saying so, knowingly agreed to my suggestion.
“I think that sounds fucking amazing,” he replied, smug as ever. “The best idea you’ve had all morning, in fact.”
~~~
Work was an absolute headache and as much as I wanted to scream the place down, I remained professional to the best of my ability, painstakingly so. If my shift had taught me anything, it was that I needed to get another job ASAP and preferably one not in hospitality. Working alongside the general public just wasn’t doing it for me anymore. Twice I had a small child wipe its snot on me and if one more woman with an ‘I’d like to speak to the manager’ haircut complained to me; I would’ve resorted to actual violence.
“Maya, you okay, sweets?” asked Jen, checking on me for the umpteenth time.
She always could tell when something wasn’t right.
“Yeah, fine. You?” I smiled, not wanting to take my anger out on her.
“I’m good. Why don’t you shoot off early? We’re quiet here and I won’t clock you out until five,” she winked, ever the fucking Saint.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind sticking around,” I insisted, doing so out of obligation as opposed to wanting to stay.
Secretly, I was desperate to go home.
“Of course, go spend the night with that new fella of yours,” she laughed, indeed referring to Luke, who had surprised me earlier with a visit.
He’d shown up after lunch with a huge smile and enough charisma to outdo anyone, insisting I accompany him on a date this evening. His reasoning had been nothing other than, “Just because,” and whilst neither of us was in the position to splurge, he’d promised me a night in with Chinese food, a movie and lots of sex. Of course, Jack had been present and Luke had been only too keen to state his claim on me and did so by gifting me a filthy snog on his way out.
“Jen, you’re a star!” I told her, ripping off my apron and throwing it on the hook. “Make sure to close up on time, okay?” I warned, knowing what she was like- Hard working and too bloody kind.
“Will do, I promise!” she ensured, shooing me out with a waft of her towel.
I decided to surprise Luke by showing up at his flat earlier than planned and figured I might as well call Mum on my way over there. I never did get a chance to phone her back after her freezer fiasco and plenty had gone on in my life that I felt she needed to be caught up on.
“Hello?”
She answered after the first ring.
“Mum, you free to talk?” I asked, hoping she was.
“Of course I am, sweetheart. Darren’s building me a vegetable patch. How hippy am I?” she gushed, making me smile.
“That sounds…interesting.”
“It’ll save on our weekly food shop, that’s for sure,” she informed, proud as punch. “Anything new with you, darling?” she questioned, finally swaying from the topic of veg.
Between her and Sasha, it was a wonder I wasn’t sprouting broccoli from my ears.
“Erm, kind of,” I offered, instantly gaining her attention.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I’m seeing someone,” I added, blushing for reasons unknown to me.
I carefully crossed the road opposite the fish & chip shop and made my way down the narrow street, heading for Castlehaven Road.
“You are? Tell me about him. Is he tall, dark and handsome?” she enquired, excited in her saying so.
“Yes, yes and yes,” I laughed, feeling giddy just mentioning it. “I think I might be falling for him, Mum,” I continued, chewing on my bottom lip.
“Already? Is that not a bit soon?” she asked, ever the realist.
“Not exactly.”
I inhaled a deep breath and released it all in one go, ready to drop the dreaded bomb-shell.
“I’ve known him a while now.”
“You have?”
“Yeah.”
“From work?”
“No.”
Silence.
“It’s Luke, Mum.”
I allowed her the space she may have needed to wrap her head around my declaration. Although a huge fan of Luke’s, I worried her reaction to me seeing him would be less than what I had been expecting. She loved and treated him as though her own, but loving someone and seeing them as a potential fit for your daughter was something entirely different all together.
“You finally realised it then?”
Wait? What?
“It’s about bloody time. When did this happen?”
“What do you mean it’s about time?” I questioned, wary of her insinuation.
She released a dramatic sigh, letting me know just how very put out she was by all of it.
“Maya, that boy has been in love with you for years. Claire and I had your wedding planned by the time you were both ten,” she laughed, finding the entire situation hilario
us.
I struggled to make sense of what she was saying and rather sternly pulled her up on it.
“If you knew, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Maya, darling, it wasn’t my place to tell you. It was up to Luke.”
Nine, maybe ten years played on an endless loop in my mind. I slowed down my pace to prolong my arrival at Luke’s, not wanting to end my phone call with Mum just yet. It had been ages since I last spoke to her properly and I found I was taking comfort from her voice.
“So you’re falling for your best friend, are you?”
“Looks like it.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How did it happen?”
The thought of telling her the truth felt like confessing my sins to a Priest and whilst I prided myself on telling her everything, some dirty details were simple to remain unsaid.
“Long story short; we got drunk, did something silly, then Luke confessed his feelings for me,” I replied, hoping this explanation would satisfy.
“And you feel the same?”
Her question was as justifiable as it was concerning and as I came to realise just how deeply involved I was with Luke, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Absolutely.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” she hollered, sounding nothing short of theatrical. “Darren, get the wedding brochures out, Maya’s getting married!”
“Christ Mum, we’ve been dating two weeks and you’ve married us off already!” I exclaimed, seating myself on an uncomfortable wall opposite Luke’s.
“Kid’s anorl,” she insisted, tipping me over the edge.
“Oh bloody hell, Mum, I’m leaving before you pick out their names!” I laughed, threatening her with my departure.
“Already done, darling,” she certified, not even ashamed. “Although Claire and I were big fans of Westlife back then, so you may be partial to the odd Shane here and Brian there.”
“Bye. I’m going now!” I giggled, heading towards Luke’s front door.
“Love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too,” I laughed, mockingly so.
She waited a moment before continuing.
“I’m happy for you, baby,” she insisted, getting emotional.
“Thanks, Mum. I’m happy for me too.”
The line went silent and for a moment, I was convinced she had already hung up.
“Give my love to Luke.”
Nope, still there.
“Will do.”
And with that, we said our goodbyes.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Surprise, Surprise
Whilst allowing my body to sink further back into the enticing warmth of the slightly scented bath water, I enjoyed coming into contact with a rock hard surface and silently delighted in the sensation of tantalising kisses being littered along my bare shoulder blades. Strong, familiar arms momentarily wrapped around my body, rendering me well and truly incapable of focusing on anything other than Luke's warm hands as they slowly traced every inch of my wet, naked body.
"You’re spoiling me with all these surprise, early visits."
His voice, gentle like a delicate whisper, soothingly caressed the exposed skin on my neck, allowing the firm bite he inflicted afterwards to expose me in the most vulnerable way imaginable.
“Now I’ll be expecting this every night,” he admitted, blowing cool air across my breasts.
My nipples reacted instantly and whilst standing to an immediate attention, Luke began his planned assault by gently rolling them between his thumb and forefinger, elongating my unbearable pleasure.
“Luke!” I moaned, erotically conveying my unspoken desires.
“You’re so responsive.”
“And you’re such a tease!” I scorned, when his actions received no further advances.
He laughed at my childish reply and proceeded to place damp kisses along my hairline, amused by my lack of warming to his torturous ways.
“I told my Mum about us today,” I revealed, dramatically changing the subject whilst resting my head against his chest. “I think she’s happier than we are.”
“Not possible,” he smirked, caressing my hair in soothing motions.
“She seemed to know all about your feelings for me,” I added, focusing my attention on his comforting touch.
“That may have been down to my Mother. I told her I liked you.”
His revelation was as shocking as it was pleasant.
“You did?” I asked, surprised.
“Hmm, I remember it being one of the last things I spoke to her about,” he informed, succumbing to his own relaxed state.
“Really? No wonder they banned sleepovers when we reached puberty,” I scoffed, slotting the missing puzzle pieces together.
I turned to rest on my front and in doing so; laid my entire length along Luke’s, loving the feel of his naked skin pressed into mine. His usually pale complexion hummed with a layer of red due to the bath’s hot temperature and his slight dusting of chest hair skimmed the water’s surface, enticing me with its sheer sexiness.
“How did you do it, Luke? How did you stay quiet all these years? Did it not do your head in?” I asked, trying to make sense of his feelings.
“It did. At first, it was fine because you hadn’t discovered boys,” he admitted; my late development always coming back to bite me on the arse. “But then you slept with Jake and I wasn’t happy.”
“Even though you had already lost your virginity to Sophie at this point?” I asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yes. I went with Sophie to try and get over my feelings for you. I was trying to move on.”
“But it didn’t work?”
“No, it didn’t. I punched Jake that day because of what he did to you but I also did it because he took the one thing I wanted. I wanted to be your first and even though I knew I couldn’t be, it still made me crazy to think he got there before me.”
“And abused it!” I added, still reeling.
“Exactly. I hated him, Maya and I still do to this day.”
FLASHBACK
(Maya)
"Luke, Luke, Lucas!" I squealed, bursting through his bedroom door and ignoring the many messy papers scattered across his bed.
He instantly snapped his head up, clearly confused by my excitable state and likely a little bit peeved about my lack of consideration towards his revision notes. We had our History A Level coming up and to say he was way more prepared than me was putting it mildly.
Although, it was to be expected, given he was a straight-A student.
"If I fail this exam, it's on you," he stated, looking every inch the hunk in his thick-framed glasses.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I have exciting news," I replied, grinning at him like some crazed lune. "It’s official; I’m no longer a girl," I grinned, proud as punch.
His eyebrows knitted together, confirming his confusion regarding my announcement and as I was forced to mentally face palm myself as he failed to follow my reasoning’s, I sighed.
“Did you get your period or something?”
Oh, bloody hell!
“Yeah, like three years ago. That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what?”
“I lost my virginity,” I elaborated, seating myself into a comfortable position across his outstretched legs.
His facial expression changed but not in the way I had expected when imagining telling him this. His eyes narrowed into tiny slits and I was forced to watch his mouth settle into a thin line with his jaw ticking in such a way that could only be described as painful.
"You slept with Jake?"
He didn’t even try to hide his clear distaste.
"Yeah, who else?" I asked, a little unsure of his reaction.
I was happy for him when he lost his virginity to Sophie Miller a few months previous. Why couldn’t he express the same for me now?
"Sorry, I was just making sure. What was it like?" he questioned, eyeing me in such a way that would suggest he was checking for any physic
al changes.
"It hurt a bit and it didn't last long," I admitted, deciding to be honest. "But that’s fine because I like him for him, not for his bedroom moves,” I added, defending his less than impressive performance. “He didn't make me...you know…" I concluded, hoping that I didn’t have to elaborate.
"He didn't give you an orgasm?" enquired Luke, sounding nothing short of outraged.
I was quick to shake my head, too embarrassed to say it aloud.
"How do you know, if you've never had one before?" he blurted, making me laugh at his ever sceptical mind.
"I have had one before," I claimed, a shadow of a smirk playing on my lips as I took in his uncomfortable expression.
"How? Who?" he questioned, the crease in his forehead betraying his calm persona.
I stared at his doe-eyed expression for a few short seconds, thinking that if I did so long enough, the penny would eventually drop.
It didn’t.
"Masturbation, Luke," I laughed, enjoying the sudden blush on his cheeks. “Girls do it too, ya know?”
"Shit, you ma- you do that?" he asked, sitting up straighter and peering into my amused eyes. "What do you think about?" he continued with his interrogation, seeming intrigued. “When you-”
“You,” I answered, instantly giggling at his horrified expression. “Fucking hell, Luke. I’m only joking!”
“Not funny,” he moaned, throwing a soft smile my way.
“Sorry. What about you? What do you thinking about?”
"Boobs, it doesn't really matter about the face," he stated, making logical sense. He was a teenage boy, after all. “If you weren’t my best friend, do you think you would think about me?”
His odd question took me quite by surprise and sensing he was being serious, I decided to offer him the same amount of sincerity back.
“Of course I would!” I replied, perhaps with a little too much enthusiasm.
I was certainly not about to tell him that on numerous occasions, his face had been known to pop up mid-play.
“Me too. I’d think about you if you weren’t my best friend,” he stated, likely only saying so to make me feel good.
Our big smiles and appreciative arm shoves were the only things to follow, though I was quick to steer the topic of choice elsewhere.
My Not So One Night Stand Page 14