Carnage #2: The Story of Me (Story of Us #2)

by Lesley Jones

  “I did nothing wrong, nothing. I stayed home. I went to school and when my boyfriend and my brother were photographed in a hotel room, snorting coke off a whore’s tits and later accused of raping that whore, guess what… Guess what, everyone?” I look around the room at everyone again, my mum’s crying, Marley’s not far behind her, Ash has her hand over her mouth. My dad and Bailey are wide-eyed and silent. I can’t even bring myself to look at Cam. “It was me the press went for. It was my reputation that they ripped to shreds. It was me that got death threats and dog shit sent through the post. It was me who lost my boyfriend, access to two of my brothers and my best friend. It was me who paid for their stupidity and then… then when Sean and I eventually sorted our shit out, they still didn’t leave us alone. He’s gay. He’s having affairs. He’s fucking her. She’s fucking him. All they ever do is judge.” I wipe my now snotty nose on the back of my hand and look at my mum, just daring her to comment. “And even now, despite everything, despite all the shit that I’ve been through, they still won’t leave me alone. My husband’s been dead a year. How long do I have to wait, how old have I got to be before I can just be Georgia? How long till I’m not just Frank’s daughter, Sean’s wife or that ‘poor girl’? When can I just be me and not give a fuck about having you lot, the press and the rest of the world think that it’s all right to judge and discuss my life?”

  I don’t know where the words are coming from. I never even realised I felt like this, but the words just keep coming.

  “When Sean and I split up, I had a mental breakdown, and you lot did nothing. You pandered to me. I know you thought you were doing the right thing, Mum, but all that aside, one of you, someone, should have stepped up and told me to liven the fuck up. If it wasn’t for Ash forcing me to go out, I don’t know how things would’ve gone, but even then, I spent a good six months on a different road of self-destruction.” I pause and look at my parents. “Sorry, but you need to hear this. You need to understand what I went through. I slept around. I did a lot of drugs and not one of you knew or you did and just chose not to say a thing.” My mum moves and stands behind my dad’s chair and puts her hand on his shoulder, and I smile at their unity.

  “I’m not telling you all of this to hurt you. I’m telling you so you understand me, me, Georgia, not Frank’s daughter, not Sean’s wife, the story of me, so you can just try for a minute to understand what my life’s been like.” I look at all of them.

  “I was angry. I was angry at life. I was angry with Sean. I thought he’d found it easy to move on and I couldn’t.” I shake my head, almost drowning in the emotions I feel as I remember just how hopeless life seemed to me back then. “And then one night, one night, this man, this man right here stepped in.” I finally look at Cam, his big hand is covering his mouth and his brown eyes glisten as he looks at me. “He didn’t care when I told him I loved Sean, that I would always love Sean. He didn’t take my bullshit. He let me cry. He let me talk, and piece by broken piece, he put me back together. He fixed me, and just when I was mended, I fell straight back into Sean’s arms and never looked back.” I sit back down next to Cam. I feel totally drained, but there’s more I need to say. “Please don’t ever tell me that he won’t look after me, because you’re wrong. I know without a shadow of a doubt, he would lay his life on the line for me. I’m not saying any of you wouldn’t and I know that Sean would, Sean did; he put himself between me and that car as best he could and he died because of it, but I just don’t want any of you calling into question what Cam would do for me.”

  I take in a shaky breath and watch as Ashley goes and sits down next to Marley.

  “I love you all. I love the bones of each and every one of ya, but I’m not made of glass. I’m tougher than you all think and I seriously wonder why some of you don’t seem to get that. When I went to pieces after the Whorely incident, somebody should’ve kicked my arse and told me to pull myself together. I know you all thought you were doing the right thing, but you just left me to wallow. Jimmie tried, but even she was too soft on me, I know it’s because she loved me, I know I was stubborn and wouldn’t see sense but seriously, someone should’ve just slapped me, shouted at me, told me a few home truths, but anyway, it was Ash and Cam who eventually got through to me.”

  Ash has a hold of Marley’s hand and has tears streaming down her face. Cam rests his right ankle on his left knee and sits back, but angles himself towards me. I continue, “When I lost Beau and Sean and then tried to kill myself, you left it to Jimmie and Ash again to make me see sense, to make me realise what a selfish bitch I was being. But it should’ve come from one of you.” I look between my brothers and my parents. “I’m a grown woman. I’ve lost two babies and one husband, and yes, all of that has nearly killed me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to know when I’m being a complete bitch. It doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be told that my behaviour is unacceptable; that I’m being selfish. I need to be told these things. I know anyway. Most of the time I know when I’m being an arsehole, but it’s only you lot letting me know that makes me want to do anything about it.” I know I’m rambling a bit now and gone a bit off subject, but these thoughts must’ve all been hidden somewhere in my head and I just need to get them all out. Even if some of them don’t make sense and some of them probably contradict each other, and if they do, well, then I need to be told that.

  “So you don’t wanna be judged for your actions but you wanna be told when they’re wrong?” And that’s Marley picking up on exactly what I was thinking.

  “Yes, Marls, I do, because when you all stay quiet and just let me get away with shit, I worry. I lay in bed and worry about what you all think of me, the conversations that must go on behind my back. I wonder if all my sisters-in-law get together and have a bitch fest about Princess Georgia and her latest antics.”

  “We do, all the time,” Ash says, straight faced. “We can’t wait for the next Georgia fuck up, because, quite frankly, it makes us three look so perfect.” I tilt my head to the side and smile at her as she winks at me.

  “I’m sick of worrying. I’m sick of caring. I’m sick of giving a fuck. I don’t want to do what I think everyone would want me to do. I want to just do what feels right, and if it’s wrong, then I need to learn from that. I need to learn the same way everyone else does, from my mistakes. I just want to be me, just me.”

  Cam reaches for my hand. “I love the fuck out of you, Kitten.” He kisses the back of it and despite the fact that we’re sitting in a room filled with my family, my first thought is that I so want him to fuck me. I don’t want to be made love to. I want him to take me to bed and take complete charge. I don’t want to have to think for a second. I want to be told, no, I want to be ordered what to do and I want him to do to me exactly what he wants.

  “I fucking love the fuck out of you, too, Tiger.”

  “Don’t swear, Georgia, not in front of your mum.”

  I let out a long sigh. “I fucking love, the fucking fuck out of you, Tiger.” He gives that little shake of his head and turns to my dad, who, like everyone else in the room, is staring at us with their mouths slightly open.

  “D’ya see what I’m up against here, Frank?” My dad’s nodding in answer to Cam. I shrug and roll my eyes. Cameron stands and approaches my dad’s chair. “Look, Frank, I know you don’t want her with me, but we really do need to talk. Would you mind me taking her back to my place with me tonight? We just have so much we need to clear up.”

  My dad’s eyes turn to me. I nod at him. We do need to talk. He might love me and I most definitely love him, but we still have the pregnant girlfriend and the press to discuss, but instead of my dad giving his permission, he surprises me by saying, “Georgia’s a grown woman. She can decide for herself whether she wants to go with you or not,” and his response makes me smile.

  I nod. “I’ll come to yours, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be awake for. I’m exhausted.” Cam reaches out and shakes my dad’s hand and then Bailey’s. He moves alo
ng to Marley and my heart falters as I wonder what his response will be, but he puts his hand out and shakes Cam’s then looks across at me and I actually have no idea what he’s thinking.

  Cam moves to a spot in the room where he can see everyone and says, “I know what you all probably must think of me and I know that I’m the last person you would want Georgia to be with, given the choice.” He looks at me and he actually looks nervous and I love it. My big, bad, cocky Tiger is shitting himself as he talks to my family, and it just does things to my heart to think that he’s up there, feeling so uncomfortable just for me. “I know in the past, I’ve had a bit of a reputation, but I promise you, that’s my old life. I earn enough money from my clubs nowadays, and it’s all totally legit. I occasionally come across the odd arsehole who needs to be dealt with, but that’s life. I can’t help situations like that happening, but all of my business dealings are legal and above board. I swear.” He swallows and clears his throat before continuing, “I’ll be honest and say, I have a lot of shit going on in my life at the moment and I have no idea which way Georgia and I are going, but I need you all to know, I love her and I’ll always do right by her.” I watch my mum wipe a tear from under her eye. I seriously can’t be doing with any more tears, or emotions of any kind for that matter. I just wanna get out of here and hear what Cam’s got to say about this pregnant girlfriend.

  I stand next to Cam and say to my family, “I’m sorry if you think I’ve been a bit harsh today. You know how much I love you all, but I just needed to get all of that off my chest.” I can’t think of anything else to add to that without things getting more emotional. I go and give my nieces and nephews kisses and cuddles, and promise that we’ll spend some time together soon. Cam’s waiting at my mum’s front door as I call out, “Laters taters,” to my family. I get a “See ya, spud,” reply from all of them and it makes my heart swell. Most people would probably have no idea what we’re talking about, but we do; it’s our thing, a Layton thing and I just hope I’ve not upset any of them too much this evening with what I’ve said.

  Cam opens the front door and the icy December chill hits me instantly as I step outside and towards his car. Neither of us have said a word to each other and I feel nervous after all of my revelations earlier. Cam holds the door of his car open for me and I slide inside. I have no idea what type of car it is, but it’s beautiful. Low, sleek and black, the interior is all cream leather and smells of Cam. There’s a crown type emblem on the steering wheel and I wonder if he’s had it custom made.

  “What make is this car?” I ask him as he climbs in. He’s so tall, I’m surprised that he fits. He turns to me as he does up his seatbelt.

  “It’s a Maserati Spyder. Why, d’ya like it?” He starts the engine and the dash lights up. He turns his head back towards me, waiting for an answer.

  “I love it. Did you have the steering wheel custom made?” I watch as he turns the car effortlessly towards the gates at the front of my parents’ property.

  “No, the steering wheel’s standard. What makes you ask that?” He has a slight smile on his face and it makes my heart do that little skipping thing; it’s like it misses a beat and then takes two extra fast ones to try and catch up.

  “Because of the crown on the steering wheel.” He frowns again, while slowing the car down so he can undo his window and press the button to open the gates. He stops the car and looks at me for a moment.

  “I don’t understand. Why would I have a steering wheel custom made with a crown on it?” I thought I was the one with jet lag and unable to think straight.

  “Because your surname’s King… King, crown.” I shrug, not understanding why he doesn’t get the connection. He throws his head back and gives me that big booming laugh of his, and God, it does things to me. I’ve never been so turned on by a laugh before.

  “Kitten, King is just my surname. If I was to have a custom made steering wheel made to represent me, it would have a little He-Man on it, coz I’m not just King of the world; I’m Master of the fucking Universe.” I laugh and shake my head. “Why you laughing? You fucking know it’s true.”

  I continue to shake my head. “Just drive. Tiger, just drive.”

  We pull out of the gates, and all hell breaks loose. There’s paparazzi everywhere and cameras are flashing. There’s banging on the doors and windows and people shouting, “Georgia, can you confirm that you’re in a relationship with Cameron King?”

  “Georgia, is it true you spent the night in a Sydney hotel room on the anniversary of your husband’s death?”

  “Fuck,” I hear Cam say as he just misses someone standing right in front of the car taking a photograph. He puts his foot down and pulls quickly away but not before I hear someone ask “Is it true that your marriage was a sham and you were having an affair with Mr King the whole time?”

  Cam must hear it too as he reaches out and takes my hand. “Ignore them, Georgia. They will print whatever they wanna print, whatever we confess or deny. It’s what they do.” He kisses the back of my hand, while still watching the road. I think we’re both worried someone else will jump out of nowhere and in front of the car to get a picture. “You okay?” he asks. I nod. I need to call my family to warn them so I press Marley’s number on my phone.

  “You changed your mind about gangsta man already, Porge?”

  “Fuck off, Marls. Listen, there’s a shitload of press at the front gates. I just wanted to let you know as you’ve got the kids with ya.”

  “Fuck, thanks for letting us know. I’ll ring Len to get some security out there.” He’s quiet for a few seconds, but I know my brother better than I know myself, and I know that he wants to say more.

  “George?”

  “Marley?”

  “I’m so sorry if you think I’ve smothered ya. I just thought it was my job. It’s what was always drummed into me when we were growing up.” I remain quiet and let him have his say. “I love that you’re moving on with your life. I really do, but I’ll be totally honest and tell ya, I fucking hate it too.”

  “I understand, Marls. I do. It’s hard for me as well, but getting away has made me realise that what’s done is done, and no matter how I live the rest of my life, it won’t bring Sean back.” I’m mindful of what I say as I don’t want to hurt Cam’s feelings or make him feel that he means less to me than what he does.

  “I love ya, little sister Georgia. You’re by far the bravest, wisest person I know.”

  “I love ya too, big brother Marley. You’re by far the joint first with Len and Bails best brother a little sister could have.”

  “Fuck off, joint first. I’m the best and you know it! Oh, and thanks for telling everyone about mine and Ash’s sex life. I’ve got Bailey on my case now, asking about how he can convince Sam to let him watch while she gets it on with another bird.” I smile and shake my head. My cheeks flush as I think about what I did in Australia.

  “What the fuck. Marls? What is it about men and threesomes? Why does every man want to watch his missus with another bird?” I look at Cam, his face expressionless, his eyes on the road, but there’s just something about the set of his jaw that makes me think that he’s not enjoying this conversation.

  “Why do dogs bark and wheels go round, George? It’s the same answer; they just do. I don’t know why. That’s just the way it is. Anyway, I’m not having this convo with my little sister as she drives off to spend the night with a bloke with a nine-inch dick.”

  I can’t resist winding him up, “It’s nine and a half actually and I love it. Gotta go. Love ya guts, bye.” I end the call and look at Cam who has one eyebrow raised as he gives me a quick glance.

  “You really just had that conversation with your brother?”

  I smile as I think about the look Marley would have had on his face as I said that. “It’s Marley. He’s my best friend.”

  He nods. “You’re lucky to have them all.”

  “I know. Going away made me realise how close we are, but it also made me re
alise how reliant I am on all of them and I need to stand on my own two feet. I need to find my own place to live and move out.” I’ve been thinking about it since I first arrived in Australia, and now I’m home, I need to do something about it.

  “Move in with me.” Seriously, did he just say that?

  “What?”

  “Move in with me.”

  “Cam, I… No, we still have a lot of things to talk about. I don’t even know where you live, and no, just no.”

  He shrugs like it’s exactly the answer he was expecting and says simply, “We’ll see.” I’m not in the mood for getting into an argument with him so I simply ask him again where he lives. “Docklands, not far from the club in Shoreditch. My office is there now too.” I nod, but I’m not sure if he can see me in the dark. I’m suddenly overcome with tiredness and close my eyes for a few seconds.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cam

  I have no idea why I did that. What the fuck was I thinking?

  I do love her, like I told her, like I told her whole fucking family. I love the fuck out of her, but I’ve no right standing up in front of all of them and making promises I don’t know if I can keep.

  I’ve pulled up on the side of the road and called Benny to go and check out my place. I’m worried that the paps will be waiting for us there. I don’t know if they realised it was me in the car with her, but I’m sure it won’t take much for the fuckers to find out. I yawn quietly. It’s so warm in the car; it’s making me feel tired, but I can’t have Kitten getting cold. I turn and look at her sleeping in the passenger seat next to me. She’s laid the seat back a bit and pulled her knees up, turned on her side and is facing me. My stomach churns and my heart rate speeds up and all I’ve done is look at her. I’m fucked, completely fucked where she’s concerned. She ruined me once and she has the potential to do it again, and I don’t know if I’d come back from it this time.