This London Love

by Clare Lydon

  Why hadn’t she sorted this out earlier? Taken everyone’s advice? Why was she such a coward when it came to this sort of thing? And to top it all, she’d left her coffee in the kitchen.

  “For fuck’s sake,” Meg muttered, before flinging herself face first on the bed like a toddler having a tantrum. Her good mood of earlier had evaporated into thin air, replaced by familiar self-loathing.

  ***

  However, ten minutes later, the self-loathing had turned into anger as Meg heard the front door slam again. Was this Tanya coming home? Or had she had a few keys cut, and their kitchen was now teeming with fresh lesbians?

  Meg stood up and eyed herself in the mirror: bloodshot eyes, toothpaste on her T-shirt, dry skin. She needed a shower, fresh clothes, new make-up and a new attitude before she stepped out of the door to meet Kate. However, she was also aware that would only come if she dealt with the problem at hand. She absolutely did not need this headache today. However, she’d put it off far too long already. Meg rubbed her palms up and down her face, saw her mouth twitch in her reflection, then yanked open her door.

  Taking the stairs two at a time, she heard voices in the kitchen. Meg strode in, to be met with the sight of Tanya and Chris in a clinch.

  Meg was not to be put off. “Tanya, I need to speak to you.”

  At Meg’s stern tone, Tanya dropped her hands from their current target and twisted around. She looked at Meg with surprise.

  “Now. On our own.” She looked directly at Chris. “If you don’t mind.” It was an order and Chris knew it.

  “Not at all,” Chris said, walking past Tanya and then Meg. “I’ll be in the lounge.”

  Meg waited until Chris’s footsteps had retreated, shut the kitchen door and scowled at Tanya.

  “Is it your time of the month?” Tanya folded her arms across her chest.

  “Don’t be smart, I don’t have time for it today.”

  Tanya backed into the kitchen table. Surprise registered on her face.

  “There’s a lot we need to sort out. A lot.” Meg’s mouth twitched. “But first things first — when did you start giving out keys to strangers you’ve just met?”

  Tanya’s mouth fell open slightly. “Sorry?”

  “Chris? She just walked into the house today when I was having my coffee. A complete stranger who you met this week. I mean, come on Tanya, even you must read the papers. London is full of nutters. You do not give them keys to your house a few days after meeting them.”

  In response, Tanya put her index finger to her lips. “She’s only next door,” she said in a heightened stage whisper.

  “I don’t care where she is, the point is, she came into our house without you! And I had no idea who she was. She could steal all our stuff, she could kill me…”

  “She doesn’t really look like a killer, now does she?”

  “How the fuck should I know? And you don’t either. You’ve shagged her what, once, twice, three times?”

  “I don’t like to brag.” Tanya smirked. Actually smirked. “And anyway, she’s not a stranger, she’s my girlfriend.”

  Meg wanted to punch her. “For today at least.” Meg exhaled. “I’ll cut straight to the point, Romeo. Do not — I repeat, do not — give out keys to our house. It’s bad enough you’re traipsing half of lesbian London through here every other day. Do you understand me?” Meg’s face had turned purple as she spoke, her eyes fixed on Tanya.

  Tanya held up a hand in defence and nodded. “I hear you, I hear you,” she repeated. “But it just made sense today. She works around here, we’re going out tonight, so I gave her my key. And she’s not a serial killer. Or a thief. I guarantee it.”

  Meg closed both her eyes. When she opened them again, Tanya was staring at her, trying to assess her. This outburst was unusual, as Meg normally opted out of conflict. Today, necessity had made her choose her nemesis.

  “This situation,” Meg continued, circling the kitchen with her hand, “is going to change. I’m putting the house on the market and we are going to move on with both of our lives.” She gulped in air, her breathing now staggered as she ploughed on. “And in the meantime, you are not going to give out keys to any more strangers. Am I making myself clear?”

  Tanya went to say something, stopped, then reassessed. “You have my word — no more giving out keys. Promise.”

  Meg let her shoulders drop and relaxed somewhat.

  “But as for the other thing — now’s not the right time to sell. Everyone’s saying it. So we should just sit tight and wait for the market to pick up. It’s the sensible thing to do in the long run.”

  Meg sat down at the dining table and slumped forward, putting her head in her hands. The voice that came out of her mouth this time wasn’t as strong as it had been. The wind had been knocked out of her, but she was still going. “Sometimes, Tanya, economical sense isn’t the key criteria involved. I’m miserable living here with you, I want to move on with my life. You’ve met someone new and so have I. It’s time. Time to make the move.” She looked Tanya direct in the eye as she spoke.

  This time, her ex pulled the chair out opposite and sat down facing her, her lip jutting out slightly. “You’ve met someone?”

  Meg nodded slowly. “Early days, but it’s made me see this situation isn’t healthy.” Meg paused, searching Tanya’s eyes for a flicker of understanding. “Surely you’d prefer to be in your own place, too?”

  Now it was Tanya’s turn to slump. “Course. But it’s not the right time.”

  “It is the right time. It is totally the right time.” Meg’s gaze never wavered.

  Tanya shook her head gently. “Selling now would be idiotic — we’ll hardly make any money. The market’s moving — this time next year we could be sitting on a goldmine.”

  “Or we could be in exactly the same situation!” Meg shook her head. “I’m not waiting anymore, T. I’m calling the estate agent first thing tomorrow, and then we’re listing it. And then I’m getting a cat.”

  “A cat?” Tanya looked confused.

  Meg nodded. “Yes, a cat. My own place and a cat. Should have done it months ago.” She got up, scraping back her chair. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date to get ready for.”

  Meg enjoyed saying those words to her ex and noting the effect they had on her. Squirming would be the correct term. It seemed that Tanya could give it out, but she wasn’t all that good at being on the receiving end.

  She’d better get used to it, though, because Meg was ready to shake things up and get behind the controls of her life — whether Tanya liked it or not.

  22

  Kate couldn’t spot Meg on a first glance around the room. Bad news. She’d been let in by a girl in a baseball jacket who’d been on her way out, so Kate had no clue who Meg’s friend Nathan was or what he looked like. Considering it was his party, that put her at a slight disadvantage. Whoever he was, though, he was clearly paid well as this flat looked massive by London standards: Kate had already passed a roomy bathroom with a jacuzzi bath, double shower and bidet. Honestly, who had room for a bidet in London?

  The lounge was low-lit and held six people. Two large couches stood against the walls, one leather, one fabric, and a coffee table had been pushed to one side to allow for dancing later. There was a bubble machine working overtime, and brightly coloured lights danced on one wall. The music was classic disco.

  Kate stood clutching a blue carrier bag filled with bottles of beer, struck by a bout of shyness. To her right, two men with crew cuts were rolling cigarettes; in front of her, a Muscle Mary and a baby dyke were in avid conversation, not noticing her at all.

  Kate was just deciding on her next course of action when a lanky man with a lazy swagger approached her from across the room. He was wearing thick-rimmed glasses that were far too big for his face and when he got closer, Kate saw they were just for show — there were no actual lenses in them. His floppy hair was thick, the colour of treacle.

  “Hi.” He held out his hand. “I
’m Nathan, I live here.” He paused. “If you’re a gatecrasher, you look like a nice one.”

  “Kate,” she said, shaking his hand. “Friend of Meg — she invited me. I’m just glad I’m at the right place as I couldn’t see her.”

  Nathan’s eyebrows shot up. “Aha. The famous Kate!” He bowed and swept an arm through the air. “Welcome.” He stood upright. “And it’s hair, by the way.”

  “Sorry?”

  Nathan twiddled a finger above his head. “Meg. She’s having a hair malfunction.” He put an arm on Kate’s elbow and guided her through the centre of the room, ending their short journey at the kitchen. “Help yourself to a drink and I’ll go see if I can grab her.”

  Nathan disappeared out of the lounge and Kate walked into the heaving kitchen. Music throbbed in her ears, glasses clinked and the counter-top in front of her was covered in a mysterious sticky liquid. So far, so house party.

  Kate squeezed a couple of bottles of her beer into the fridge and located an opener. Then, beer in hand, she ventured back out into the main room where Kylie was now being pumped out at top volume, and a throng of gay men were bumping, grinding and dancing as one.

  “Kylie fan?”

  Kate turned to be greeted by a wonky smile attached to a stunningly attractive man, all twinkly blue eyes and a light sheen of sweat coating his brow.

  “Who isn’t?” she replied.

  It seemed to be the right answer as the man lifted his beer bottle and clinked it against hers. “Dean,” he smiled. “You’re a friend of Nathan’s, I presume?”

  “Not really,” Kate replied. “Friend of Meg. Although I only met her recently, so not even sure friend is an appropriate term. Hopeful contender, maybe?”

  Dean gave Kate a knowing grin. “I think you might stand a chance, delightful Kate. You’ve got my blessing, at least.”

  Just at that moment, Dean grinned over Kate’s shoulder which made her turn — and there was Meg walking into the lounge, her face full of promise, her hair like polished sunshine. She was just as good as Kate recalled, if not better.

  “You came.” Meg kissed Kate’s cheek — it glowed hot straight away. “It’s good to see you.”

  “Of course I came.” Kate blushed as she said it and was glad of the low-lighting. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

  “Lucky me.” Meg looked down. “You got a drink?”

  Kate nodded. “And a new friend in Dean.”

  Dean stepped between them and gave Meg a hug.

  “Now don’t move, and don’t believe a word he says while I get a drink, okay?” Meg fixed Kate with her piercing gaze.

  Kate swallowed hard. “Staying right here,” she said.

  Meg squeezed Kate’s hand as she brushed past her and Kate’s nostrils filled with her musky perfume. Just when had Meg turned into a femme fatale? Out of her running gear and out of the florist, she could well have been mistaken for a film star — and tonight she was Kate’s date. This was going very well.

  ***

  Two hours later, they’d had cake and sung happy birthday to the non-birthday boy. Kate had been by Meg’s side for most of it, her proximity making every one of Meg’s nerve endings stand to attention. She watched Kate now, approaching her from across the room, a secret smile playing on her lips. She was carrying a bottle of beer for herself and a white wine for Meg.

  “Thanks.” Meg leaned in so her breath tickled Kate’s ear. “I was thinking, maybe we could stay a little longer, but then perhaps go somewhere a little less busy. Just you and me?”

  Kate gulped. “I would love that.”

  Meg clinked her glass to Kate’s bottle. “Good.” Meg’s gaze didn’t falter from Kate’s, her eyes drinking her in. She put her wine down as her heart clattered in her chest and their eyes locked. Meg readied herself for the impact of Kate’s lips, her warm kiss.

  Only it never came. Instead, there was a shriek from nearby and before she knew it, Nathan was in between them, his arms around Meg, using her as a human shield.

  “Make him stop, Meg!” he screamed.

  Kate looked up and saw Kylie fan Dean dashing towards them with a can of squirty cream, quite a bit of it already adorning his head and shoulders.

  “Get out here, Davis, you pussy!” Dean rounded Meg, who was staggering backwards and turning, as Nathan pulled and twisted her body to where he wanted it to be.

  Kate stepped to the side, not a fan of squirty cream.

  “Get off me, Nathan!” Meg was trying to break free, but Nathan wasn’t easy to shake.

  Seeing an in, Dean dodged into the space that Kate had vacated, shook and squirted. It hit Meg on her side.

  “Hey!” Meg tried to move out of the way but Nathan had her held firm.

  “You little shit, Davis,” Dean shouted. He jigged some more and took aim.

  Seeing what was coming, Meg’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare…”

  But Dean had already begun to squirt again, aiming at Nathan who had just stood up beside Meg. Nathan let go and made a dash for it, Meg unfortunately moved slightly to her left into the space Nathan had just vacated, and the cream hit Meg square in the face, also ending up in her open mouth.

  Seeing Nathan escape, Dean gave chase, pausing briefly to shout, “Sorry Meg!”

  Meg didn’t believe it for a second. She stood, tongue licking the cream from her face and scooping it off her shirt. “Can you believe this? I’m going to kill them both when I get my hands on them.” She looked around the room, touching her face and looking at her hand, now covered in cream too.

  Kate checked the lounge doorway. “They’ve run out the front door — trying to cream each other.” She stepped forward, taking Meg’s hand and tugging her across the room. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Kate led Meg down the hall and into the plush bathroom. She closed the door and handed Meg a spare toilet roll from the stack by the toilet.

  Meg took them gratefully and began wiping the cream from her face, eyeing herself in the over-the-sink mirror as she did.

  Kate stood behind her, grinning every time Meg caught her eye.

  “You can stop laughing so much anytime you want,” Meg said, even though she was laughing too. “Honestly, do men ever grow up?” Meg shook her head. “I suppose I should be glad it’s squirty cream and not actual cream or anything worse. At least this kinda disintegrates.” She wiped the last evidence from her face and licked her lips again. “And it leaves me tasting sweet.”

  Kate stepped forward so she was at Meg’s side and pointed at her cheek. “You missed a bit.”

  “Did I?” Meg looked back in the mirror, frowned, then turned back to Kate. “I didn’t.”

  Kate nodded. “You did.” And then she leaned forward and gave Meg a light peck on the cheek. “And you missed a bit here too.” Kate brushed Meg’s lips lightly with her own, then leaned back, assessing. “Nope, still some there.”

  This time, her kiss lasted a couple of seconds, before Kate stood up straight, smiling.

  “I don’t think you’re telling the whole truth.” Meg smiled and put a finger to Kate’s lips. “I think you used the cream as a trick to kiss me. Am I right?”

  Kate took Meg’s finger gently into her mouth and circled it gently with her tongue. “You’ll never make it stick in court.”

  Meg’s body vibrated, right down to the soles of her feet. Eventually, she withdrew her finger and pressed her lips lightly to Kate’s, before running her tongue along Kate’s bottom lip. She stood back to admire her work, as Kate opened her eyes slowly.

  Neither of them drew a breath for a moment.

  “Now unless you fancy getting down in the jacuzzi bath, I suggest we finish our drinks and make a run for it. I’ve done my duty for Nathan’s party — and it’s not even his bloody birthday. Now I think it’s time for us to get to know each other better, don’t you?”

  Kate let a slow smile wend across her face. “A drink at a pub then?” She was talking to Meg’s back as she followed her into the b
edroom to get her jacket.

  “I was hoping not — yours is closer, isn’t it?”

  Kate nodded, surprised. “Yep — we can have a drink there instead.”

  Meg took Kate’s hand in response and gave it a squeeze. “Sounds perfect.”

  And it was. For the first time in a very long time, Meg was telling the truth when she said she wanted to go back to a woman’s house — and that was something that, in her darkest hours, she had often questioned would ever happen again. Yet here she was.

  Meg gathered her wits as they got in the lift to take them down to street level. Her last great love affair had dismantled her, stripped her bare and left her in pieces. She was still trying to piece herself back together fully and she knew it would never happen until she and Tanya sold the house and moved on.

  Kate squeezed her hand. “You okay?”

  Meg turned her head and nodded. “Yeah, I’m great.”

  They were out of Nathan’s building now and had come to a main road where the traffic was hurtling by at speed. Meg zipped up her jacket and smiled at Kate as they walked towards the bus stop. She wasn’t about to tell her what she’d been thinking about — Tanya was not high on her list of priorities right now. Meg forced herself back into the present.

  “Because if this isn’t what you want… You seem a bit preoccupied.” Kate frowned as she spoke.

  Meg saw the doubt in her expression and squeezed her hand again. “I promise you, the only thing I’m preoccupied with is getting to yours and kissing you into oblivion.”

  A slow grin appeared on Kate’s face. “Oblivion, you say?”

  Meg nodded.

  “In that case, let’s get a cab, it’s quicker.”

  Before Meg could argue, Kate’s hand was up in the air and the yellow light on top of the cab coming towards them was extinguished. The driver lowered his window and looked at the pair expectantly.

  Kate opened the back door, shouting “Old Street, quick as you can please!”