Guess Who I Pulled Last Night?

by Nikki Ashton

  Tom stood up, but Bets pulled him back down by the waistband of his jeans, revealing a pair of perfectly white boxer shorts.

  “Sit down,” she sighed, wondering how they, actually she, had got herself into such a mess. “Firstly, I didn’t kiss him. He kissed me, and it was putrid, secondly we promised each other that we would just be friends, and thirdly, well thirdly; for your information, I can’t do it either, and fourthly, if you move away I think that my heart would break.”

  She rushed it all out without taking a break; knowing that if she thought about it her bottle would go, and she wouldn’t say any of the things that she wanted to say.

  Tom looked at her in silence for a moment, his long lashes flickering as a small smile crept across his lips, then it became a large smile that not only lit up his face but the whole of the car park.

  “Do you mean that?” he asked. His black mood lifted.

  Bets dropped her head and nodded, this time Tom lifted her chin with his forefinger.

  “So, what do you want to do?” he asked, desperately trying not to kiss her.

  Bets dropped her head and groaned. “Tom we’ve been through this before, I’m older, I’m your sister’s best friend…what do you want me to say we should do? To be honest I think that it’s your turn anyway.” She looked up and smiled at him, placing a palm against his cold cheek. “Because, you know something Tom, I’m all out of excuses.”

  “Okay, well, in my opinion, there are some reasons why we shouldn’t get together, and you are right they are just excuses, but they aren’t insurmountable and there are plenty of reasons why we should get together.”

  “Such as?”

  “Well I think I’ve fallen in love with you. I definitely love your dog; we are really good mates. We've known each other for so long we should know each other’s faults, so that won’t be a shock, we look great together. We'd have wonderfully beautiful children. I think that we’ve both reached a stage where we want to settle down, I think that I love you…” Tom said, counting everything off on his fingers.

  “You said that one,” Bets giggled.

  “Oh right, well I do, but what else? Erm…”

  “You’re good to your mum.”

  “Yeah that too, but basically, we’re made for each other.”

  Bets leaned forward, resting her forehead against Tom’s. “What about the age thing?” she asked, placing her cold hands on his thighs as she moved closer to him.

  “Four years, so what, anyway, I’m incredibly mature for my age, and you are rather immature.” Tom winced, expecting Bets to thump him, but she merely smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek.

  “Tom sweetheart, I’m thirty and I know now that I’m ready to settle down and start a family. I’m running out of time, and I can’t waste it on a relationship that might not go anywhere. I haven’t got time to make another mistake, especially with someone who may just be fulfilling a schoolboy fantasy.”

  Tom looked shocked. “Look I told Charlotte, that time when I was thirteen, and she caught me having a crafty you know what, that picture of you just happened to be on my bed…”

  Bets put a finger to his lips as she giggled into the night air. “Tom stop, before you say anything else that you may regret.”

  “Okay, but I don’t regret saying that I love you, because I do, it’s not just a crush. We’ve really got to know each other recently, and I can’t believe that this hasn’t happened before. We are so meant to be together. It's unbelievable. As for settling down, and having a family that’s what I want as well. I’m twenty-six, Bets. I'm not some kid anymore who doesn’t give a toss about anything, apart from where the next party is. I’ve even asked Brian and Cameron about buying them out.” Tom stopped and looked earnestly at Bets, gently touching her cheek with his hand. “If we don’t try how will we know, how does anyone know that they’ve picked the right person?”

  Bets looked at his eyes and knew instinctively that he meant every word. He was right. What had she got to lose? Although nothing had gone on between them, he was the best thing that had ever happened to her, it felt even more right than Stuart, it seemed strange that she should feel this way about little Tommy. It had crept up on her, but it felt so right.

  She took a deep breath and held Tom’s hands tightly in hers. “Do you know Tom if I’m honest I think I fell in love with you when you saved Alfred, but couldn’t admit to myself. So if we are going to do this let's make a deal? If either of us want out at any time, we tell the other one straight away, no cheating or lying, and certainly no staying for the sake of the dog; agreed!” Bets held her hand out, and Tom shook it gently.

  “Agreed. So do we have our first kiss here then?”

  “Hmm, I think we could, but let’s just keep it to a first kiss hey. I think that we are both a bit too old to get fresh in a car park,” she laughed.

  “Agreed!”

  He leaned in and tenderly kissed her lips, holding her face gently as Bets clung to him with both hands on the small of his back. Bets groaned with pleasure as the kiss became more intense and as Tom’s hand moved to her bare shoulders, she placed her hands around the back of his head, running them up and down his short-cropped hair, pushing herself in closer and closer until she was almost sitting upon his knee. As they became more passionate the quicker, their hands explored each other, until Tom finally pulled away, leaving Bets panting for more.

  “Bloody hell that was definitely worth waiting for” Tom gasped breathlessly.

  Bets smiled coyly, thinking about the pleasure yet to come. “You certainly have learned a lot over the years.”

  “Yes well, we’ve both had a fair bit of practice. I think that we should go, don’t you, before we do end up getting fresh in the car park?”

  Bets nodded and allowed him to pull her to her feet. As she stood upright, Tom stooped to kiss her once more, gently this time.

  “I promise I will never hurt you.”

  “Don’t promise Tom, in case you can’t keep it.”

  “Okay, I promise I will try never to hurt you.”

  “Okay and I promise too.” Bets kissed him back, the mere touch of his lips on hers, stirring her groin. “We’d better let the other know where we are,” she said pulling away, her breathing heavy. “My jacket is in there I need to go and get it.”

  Tom shook his head, taking off his own jacket. “No, no they’ll make us stay and tell them all the gossip, here wear this. They’ll look after your jacket once they realise that we’ve gone, trust me.”

  “Okay I trust you, and I’m trusting you with more than just my jacket, so be good. Come on then let’s go, and see how good we can be together.” She took Tom’s hand and pulled him out of the car park, and across the road.

  “Is this how it’s always going to be then, you telling me what to do all the time?” He smiled and slapped her playfully on the bottom.

  “Of course, I am the eldest after all.”

  Inside the pub, the rest of the birthday party were laughing and joking, still knocking back the drinks, when suddenly Charlotte realised that Bets and Tom was still missing.

  “Where are they?” she asked, as she stood up and quickly scanned the pub, but to no avail. “Dave can you go and find them.” Suddenly, she was concerned.

  “Don’t you dare,” warned Amanda. “How are they supposed to get together if we keep pestering them?”

  “WHAT?” Kerry and Charlotte chimed in unison.

  “I don’t know, call yourselves her best friend. It has been brewing for weeks, why do you think that they’ve both been so miserable? It’s as plain as anything I could even see it coming at Christmas.” Amanda took another gulp of her drink, a superior look on her face. “Remind me never to come to either of you two when I’ve got a problem.”

  Then like two little schoolgirls, Kerry and Charlotte huddled together and giggled.

  “Oh my God, Bets and Tom.”

  “Come on let’s have your glasses please.” The barman chewed his gum disd
ainfully as he stood, arms crossed, waiting for Charlotte to drain her glass. Eventually, she did and placed it carefully into his outstretched hand.

  “There you go, bloody hell who died and made you God?” She asked, petulantly.

  “I have got a home to go to as well, so if you don’t mind can you do your talking while you do your walking?” the barman responded.

  This amused everyone and they all burst out laughing, much to the barman’s disgust.

  “Cornier than a box of cornflakes,” muttered Kerry, as they all piled through the door.

  They stood around putting on their jackets and generally checking that they had everything, including Bets' jacket, before starting to meander slowly down the road.

  “Does anyone fancy a curry?” Kelvin feeling rather hungry hoped that someone would be willing to follow him to the local curry house; there were nods of approval all round, except for Charlotte.

  “No thanks, but you lot go.”

  Amanda put a protective arm around her sister, worried that she was suddenly feeling left out.

  “Are you sure Charlotte, we can leave it and all come back to your house if you prefer?”

  That was the last thing that she wanted. “No, no, I’m tired I didn’t sleep too much last night, you know what with…well you know?”

  Amanda nodded. “I know and it may not seem like it now, but things will work out for you. I'm sure they will.” She kissed Charlotte on the cheek and brushed her hair from her eyes. “I know that I’m not Kerry or Bets, but I am always there for you, you do know that don’t you?” she asked her younger sister.

  “Of course I do silly, come on help me to get a taxi and then go and get something to eat, and I’ll take Bets’ jacket, so I can get all the gossip tomorrow!”

  “That will be seven pounds, please love.”

  As Charlotte handed over a note to the taxi driver, he started to fish around in his pocket for change.

  “It’s okay keep the change, night.”

  “Oh thanks very much love, good night.”

  She slammed the car door behind her and waited for him to pull away before crossing the road, something her dad had always told her to do. “Then they don’t know where a young woman on her own lives” he would say. How they would know Charlotte lived alone she didn’t know, but it was one of those little idiosyncrasies that she always followed. Walking with her head bowed, she didn’t notice the figure on the doorstep as she walked up the path, and then as it spoke she almost had a heart attack.

  “Howyer?”

  Charlotte jumped a mile, screaming as she did. “Oh my God!”

  Fighting for breath, her hand against her chest, Charlotte opened her eyes to focus upon the figure.

  “Niall,” she whispered through her hand that was now at her mouth. “W-w-what are you doing here?”

  Niall stood up and moved slowly towards her, stopping a couple of steps away, but not touching her. Charlotte gasped as she realised that he was still dressed in his wedding clothes, except the tails' that had now been replaced with a denim jacket.

  “Can I come in then, or did you want to stand out here and talk?” he asked in a whisper.

  She shook her head violently. “No, no come in.”

  As she opened the front door, she looked behind her quickly, just to make sure that she wasn’t imagining him being there. Charlotte led Niall into the lounge and throwing hers, and Bets’ jackets down turned to him.

  “Do you want a drink?” she asked, still wondering whether she was dreaming, and he was a figment of her imagination.

  Niall shook his head, and taking her hand, pulled Charlotte to him. For what was a moment, but seemed like hours, they said nothing but looked at each other, Niall rubbing his thumb gently on her cheek. Finally, he broke the silence.

  “I’d better explain myself. Can I sit down?”

  “Sorry yes, please sit down.” Charlotte nodded and taking his hand pulled him next to her on the sofa.

  As Niall continued to gaze at her and hold her hand Charlotte sat back on the sofa and pulled her legs under her, realising that she was probably going to be listening for some time.

  Niall shook his head. “Well I guess I should start with last night.” He blew out a gasp of air, preparing to tell her his tale. “I decided that I couldn’t go through with it basically. Ma wasn’t happy and had been going on at me from the moment that she arrived and saw how unhappy I was, neither were my two sisters who also came over, but most of all I wasn’t happy. So, we had a big family talk; Ma even got Francine and Siobhan on the speaker phone from Ireland, Clara only escaped because she’s doing a gap year on a sheep farm in Australia,” Niall smiled warmly bringing Charlotte’s hand to his lips and kissing it. “God I can’t believe I’m here with you”

  “I know,” whispered Charlotte. “But carry on.”

  “Oh yes sorry. Anyway after much talking and my family stressing that they’d love me no matter what happened, I decided to tell them about you. The only reason I hadn't before was because I didn’t want to complicate things. To be honest, it was just too painful to talk about; so I told them, and at that point Ma hit me across the head and told me that I was an absolute edjeet. She asked me how I could be so stupid in this day and age to think that I had to marry someone, just because they were pregnant, when the love of my life was someone else. Then she said that if God and The Pope didn’t forgive me, they were absolute edjeets too!”

  Charlotte started to giggle, tears forming in her eyes. “I think I love your mother already, in fact, I think I’ve met her, but I’ll tell you about that later.”

  Niall looked perplexed but shrugged and carried on with his story. “So I decided that no matter what people thought about me abandoning a baby, well I had to put a stop to it. I’d fought against it because I didn’t want to shame my ma, but like she said, I’m not my da and there is nothing to stop me still being a father for the child and supporting it. So that’s when I decided to go and see Ingrid and call it off, a bit late in the day I know, but I’d made my decision. So at about ten o’clock last night I went over there.” As Niall paused to rub his eyes, Charlotte noticed how thin and drawn he looked.

  “But I saw you at the church,” she said questioningly.

  Niall looked up suddenly, and he smiled tenderly at Charlotte as he reached out for her hand.

  “I knew that you would be there, I even looked for you. Huh, it’s a pity you didn’t stay a little longer.” He gripped her hand tighter.

  “Why?”

  “I’ll get to that in a minute,” he said smiling. “Anyway, I went over to Ingrid’s but just as I got there, I spotted someone coming out of the front door, that someone being Grant of all people. At first, I thought that he must be doing some last minute usher duties, but I didn’t know that snogging the face off the bride was one of them.”

  Charlotte gasped, wondering why Grant hadn’t been sporting a black eye when she had seen him, outside church earlier that day.

  “So what did you do?” she asked, moving closer and stroking Niall’s face.

  “What any normal man would do who’d spotted his bride to be kissing another man; I went home and didn’t do or say anything.” He paused, waiting for Charlotte’s reaction, but she just nodded for him to continue. “I decided that if anyone was going to be made a fool of it wasn’t going to be me, so I carried on as normal, as best I could. I told Ma and the girls about my plan, and they agreed that I should do it, well the girls did, Ma thought that it was a bit harsh even though she didn’t like Ingrid; however, by now I was determined. This morning came and I acted like every other groom, chatting to guests, talking to Father Kelly and trying not to punch Grant. Relations between us weren’t particularly good anyway, you know after our argument over you, so he probably didn’t notice that I wasn’t speaking to him.”

  Charlotte shook slightly as she recalled the way Niall had treated her after Grant had lied to him, but it was all over now. She hoped. “So, what happened on
ce Ingrid arrived?” she asked, quickly pushing the memory from her mind.

  “Well I dropped the bombshell. I didn’t let her go down the aisle I thought about what my ma said, and realised that would be too harsh even for her, dumping her in front of her family and friends.”

  “Huh, I would say that is the least that she deserves.”

  Niall kissed Charlotte gently on the palm of her hand again and smiled, his eyes now glowing. He was so happy to be with her.

  “Well I didn’t, I stopped the organist and went down to where she was waiting and had it out with her. She denied it at first, she said that Grant had tried it on with her, but then he must have gotten wind that something was going on and followed me down the aisle. When he heard what Ingrid said I think it hurt his pride, because he blurted out that they were actually in love with each other. She hit him with her bouquet, while the flower girl decided to kick me in the shins, the little madam; so I accidentally stood on her toe. Ingrid’s father was standing there, opening and closing his mouth like a fish, while all the time Father Kelly was saying prayers of forgiveness.”

  Charlotte suddenly started to giggle as she pictured the scene; something that could only be described as a farce.

  “Really though, it wasn’t funny,” Niall, nevertheless, laughed. “Her poor father was furious, mainly because of all the money that he’d spent, but also because he can’t stand Grant. Eventually, things calmed down a bit, but she was mad as a hatter with Grant, accusing him of spoiling everything that she’d planned for; you should have seen the looks that she kept throwing him. Anyway, I then told her that I would still support the baby and be a father to it, if that was what she wanted. Well, I thought that her da was going to keel over, he went blue with rage. “What bloody baby?” he asked. Ingrid then went as white as her dress, then as red as her flowers, and then purple I think.”