by Bailey James
Until she wanted to go out with us, in public, but only ever just one of us. She decided that for public appearances she would date Logan, but we would switch, sometimes it would be me, and if anyone asked, we’d say it was Logan.
Two years down the line, and it’s all gone to pot. Logan and I aren’t talking, and Carrie and our relationship has gone to shit. I guess her and Logan are still okay as she keeps coming around or taking Logan out, but he doesn’t seem the same either, and I certainly didn’t want her anymore.
I make a coffee and my phone rings again. I look to see it’s Cooper, one of the rugby players we play with on the weekend.
“Hey mate, look we have a couple of weeks before the rugby season starts, and a group of us are going on a last minute holiday. Would be great if you and Logan could come.”
I am pleasantly surprised he’s asking me. “You know what, yes, I need this,” I say.
“Amazing, you want to come down the local pub tonight? Will discuss details.”
Later, I walk down to the village pub and see the rugby lads and some of their ladies in a huddle chatting excitedly. I grab a beer and head over. After the greetings are done, I ask where Logan is as I haven’t seen him. I’m sure he’d be up for this too. We haven’t taken a holiday for about five years.
“He says he won’t come, we tried to convince him,” says Hunter.
“What? But why?” I ask.
Everyone goes quiet. “You want him to come, Landen?” says Jackson’s wife, Tally.
“Of course, I do, he’s my brother.”
“Well, he’s saying he isn’t coming along as you won’t want him there, and you need some time alone to get better.”
My mouth falls open. “Better, what?”
“Carrie!” says Tally to the others. “I fucking told you.”
“What?” I say feeling like I am missing vital information here. But they all begin talking at once, so I just went with it.
“Landen, one way or another we need to get Logan on this holiday too, he needs it more than you realise,” says Cooper.
“You both do,” says Tally.
“Okay, but how?” I say.
Cooper, Hunter and Tally all look at each other and say in unison, “Leave it with us.”
“You just be at the airport with a packed bag for you and Logan,” says Cooper.
“And his passport,” says Tally. “Leave the rest to us.”
I don’t know what the fuck is going on, my mind still feels a bit fuzzy, so I just nod and agree. I’m really not myself at the moment, and I hate it. Maybe this holiday is just what Logan and I need to get back on track.
I return home to Carrie sitting at the kitchen table alone.
“Where’s Logan?”
“He was tired, he went to bed,” she says sipping wine, playing on her mobile.
“So, what are you doing here?”
She huffs, “It is my house too, you know!”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Well it is now, Logan asked me to move in,” she says with a huge grin on her face.
I walk to the fridge to get a drink. I’m angry. Logan and I have said Carrie would not be moving in, and we would discuss it if that changes.
“Landen, you could always move out, find your own home,” Carrie says.
“This is my home.” I grit out through my clench teeth, my anger is back, and I feel nuclear.
“Well, then you’ll have to get used to Logan and I being together, and what happens when we get married and have babies?”
“What? Has he asked you to marry him, too?” I ask in shock, this really can’t be happening.
“Not yet but we have talked about it.” She smirks.
I walk out before I do something I regret. I can’t believe he has asked her to move in and talked about marriage and babies without me.
A week later.
I’m standing at the airport, half an hour earlier than I was told because I’m anxious as hell. I’ve got two suitcases with me, one of them is for Logan. I’m still not entirely sure how they are going to manage to convince him, but we will see.
Then I see Hunter and Cooper walking towards me. “Did you get him here, is he coming?” I ask hoping he is.
“He’s on his way,” Cooper says with a smile.
“But who?”
“Gavin’s bringing him, he thinks he’s going to a very important business meeting.”
“Shit, he’s going to freak,” I say.
Tally laughs behind me, making me turn around to her, the first thing I notice is her and Jackson holding hands.
“Logan freak? Not on the happy pills he’s taking, he won’t.”
“What?” I ask, but I get cut off by Logan walking through the doors looking mighty confused.
Cooper and Hunter walk up to him and guide him to where we are.
“What’s going on?” Logan says confused.
“Mate, we’re going on holiday,” says Hunter.
He looks up at me. “I don’t want to stop any help Landen needs, I think I’ll make him worse.”
“What help? Logan, I want you here, you’re my little brother.” Couldn’t help getting a dig in.
“But I need to tell work,” says Logan still not looking entirely on the planet.
“Already sorted,” says Cooper.
***
We get to our destination, which is a large villa with a large pool.
“Right, Logan and Landen, your only concern this week is to relax, to chill out. No mobiles, no internet, no work, no Carrie,” says Hunter with his hand out waiting for mobiles to be placed in it. “Your only job is to relax, chill out and talk to each other.”
“Okay,” I say confused.
A few days go past, and I begin to relax. Logan and I haven’t spoken much, but when we have, it’s been civil. We’re lying next to each other on the sunbeds soaking up every inch of the sun.
“How are you two feeling?” says Tally. Cooper and Hunter are walking behind her.
“I think this is just what I needed, my head feels so much better,” I say.
“Yeah, mine too, I was feeling so spaced out and dizzy. But these last couple of days it’s like a fuzziness has cleared,” says Logan.
“Yes, me too, that’s exactly what it is, I feel like me again, you know,” I say.
“Have you stopped taking your happy pills then, or maybe you are getting used to them,” says Logan.
“Happy pills, I wasn't taking any of that shit,” I say.
“Yeah you were, you don’t need to be embarrassed about it to me,” says Logan smirking.
“No, seriously, I’ve not taken anything like that, what makes you think that,” I say to Logan.
“I saw Carrie put them in your food. She says the doctor gave them to you because of your depression, but you were embarrassed and didn’t want to talk about it.”
I sit up. “What!”
“Logan!” says Cooper. “We saw Carrie crumble up some pills into your food, and she told us you weren’t feeling right. We believed you were on them.”
He says nothing.
“Guys,” says Tally, “I think she’s been drugging the both of you.”
“What? But why?” Logan says in shock.
Everyone shrugs.
“Did you ask her to move into our house and talk about marriage?” I ask him curiously.
“What? No, I thought you had asked her to move in and look after you.”
I shake my head. “I can’t stand the sight of her, Logan.”
He sits there quiet for a bit. “Landen, did you give half your shares away to Carrie because you didn’t think you could handle the business anymore.”
“What the fuck! No! What’s that little bitch been up to?” I say.
I look at Cooper. “Could I have my mobile, so we can change the locks on our house.”
He nods. “For that, yes.”
I first spot that there are about 50 calls and messages from Carrie, but I don’t read
or call her. I ring Gavin our driver and get him to check if Carrie is at the house. It turns out she isn’t, so Gavin gets someone in to change the locks. Then gets one of the security men to guard the house. He also plans to tell Carrie that the relationship with both of us is over.
Logan and I have a deep heart to heart late into the night and realise very quickly she had been playing us off against each other. We also think she had been taking money and trying to get her father to have full rights to the company. On top of that, though, she’s also been setting me up, so Logan believed I was seeing other women.
After a good night’s sleep we open up to Cooper, Hunter and Tally about what’s been going on. Apparently, they had there suspicions and wanted us away from her to clear our heads. We can’t thank them enough. We owe them one, big time.
It’s coming to the end of the week, Logan, Cooper, Hunter, and I decide to stay another week, while everyone else goes home.
“How come you can get the week off work so easily and short notice,” I ask Hunter and Cooper.
“Work’s slow this month, so we knew Ed would be grateful if we use our holiday up, because we know the next few months he’s crazy busy and has to take on new staff.” Hunter and Cooper work for a truck hauling company. Driving big old trucks all over the world.
“I would have thought trucking is big business?” I say.
“I think it’s management, they’re having problems, we have a big influx of jobs and then nothing,” says Hunter.
“There was a death within the family, and the business got handed down, they don’t have the time or patience to deal with it. I heard from insiders that they’re going to sell it in a year, once all the loose ties are dealt with,” says Cooper.
“What will you do about Carrie and the business?” says Hunter.
“Don’t know?” I say.
“I think we should sell it to her father, start a fresh,” blurts Logan.
“Yeah, but all that work, Logan, just give it up?”
He nods. “Gets rid of Carrie in the shortest sharpest route. If not, she’s going to be in our lives every fucking day.”
He was right. “We have to be careful, Logan, I’m not quite sure what Carrie’s capable of, we need to do this in the right way.”
“Well let’s sort the paperwork out and go to Jim, strict instructions it's private and confidential. She shouldn’t find out. If she does, then he risks money or a lawsuit.” Logan smiles.
“We’ll sell it off right under her nose, and then she’ll have no ties to us.” I grin.
“Then you can buy the haulage company and make a huge profit.” Cooper says jokingly.
I laugh, but then I look at Logan. He smiles back knowing what I’m thinking.
“Cooper, you are a genius,” I say patting him on the back.
“I am?”
I nod. “That’s exactly what we’ll do.”
“Seriously?” says Hunter.
“We need to talk,” I say to Logan.
***
I sign my name at the bottom of the contract, we’d both drawn up all of the rules regarding the next 12 months. We have big plans and there are rules in place to keep us on track. To keep women out of our lives, so we didn’t get into shit like this again.
Logan nods reading it and signs at the bottom, we file it away in the office. This will be torture for 12 months, but we need to think of the long-term goal. Back in business, we clink our beer bottles.
“This is going to be so fucking hard, isn’t it,” says Logan.
“It will be worth it, we will learn some new skills. Hopefully, a year from now we’ll have it in the bag with no women to complicate matters and fuck our lives up,” I say looking forward to our new adventure.
We raise our glasses to that.
Becks Winter
4 Months Later – January
I drag myself out of bed for an early morning start. I’m enjoying my new job as a truck driver. My manager had taken me on part-time while I completed the training. I’ve even been trained up for the dangerous load's qualification. Then he upped me to full time nearly immediately as he had a hectic few months. I admit, I am very proud of myself, surely that ticks off my parent’s skills and training, too.
It’s a freezing cold, early morning start, and I am barely awake. I scrape my long blonde hair up into a ponytail and put my uniform on. I drive to work enjoying my sports car, if I have to do cold early mornings, at least, I get to do it in this baby.
I went straight to the office and grabbed the paperwork for my first delivery. I walk to my truck and check it over, check the cargo and the paperwork.
"Becks!" came a shout from across the yard. “You’re heading up the M11 aren't you?”
"Yeah," I shout back and walk towards the office. It’s still dark, but I could just make out the short-round man standing in the doorway of the office. "Why, what's up?"
"One of the new crew has broken down, will you take him a spare part.” Ed sighs. “If that doesn't work. You’ll have to deliver his delivery too," Ed, the manager, says with a plead.
"Sure, who is it?" I ask. Not that I would know them.
He walks back through the reception and into his small office, and I follow.
“Oh, I can't remember now, if I find the piece of paper I'll text you, but you'll know soon enough.” He waves me off, as he looks through his desk, which is a mess of papers and post-it notes stacked up high. It's a surprise the orders go out on time.
"You could do with an assistant, you know," I say approaching the door.
He laughs with no humour. "I know, but they cost money. Owners won't give me fuck all at the minute. I mean, look at the place," he says grumbling. "I’ll see you later, Becks, and thanks… Oh, stop by the garage on the way out to get that spare part.”
It was true what he had said, the office is a tiny building. It’s nearly falling down and has no heating, so it’s freezing in the winter. The trucks are old and showing signs of wear and tear. One of the old mechanics has taught me a few tricks to keep them running. There’d been no money invested in this place for a long time.
I jump into the truck noting that I am already half an hour later than I should be. I swing by the garage, pull my hood up on my work zip up. An older man I recognise but don't know his name hands me a box.
"Thanks," I call as I get back in before driving off.
I have only been doing this job four months, and I do love driving these trucks. I promised myself after finding out about my parent’s little game and the numerous string of nightmare boyfriends lately. I have sworn off men for good and have kept my head down. I have stayed away from my other work colleagues. I’m going to keep my life simple. I’m destined to live alone with my cats, and I have begun to accept that fate. I just need a cat now!
I think about all the men I have had in my life, absolutely all of them have been arseholes. Maybe it is me, perhaps all these men have been amazing, and I’m the nightmare. Maybe I'm too clingy, too needy, too high maintenance. Doubtful, I thought. Usually, it’s been the other way around. Why do I have to put a downer on myself? It isn't me. I refuse to allow myself to go down that rabbit hole into depression and worry if I’m too fat, too ugly, too stupid; worry if I have done this or done that. Am I so desperate for a man that I’ll settle for anything? No, I refuse, I’m a grown independent woman with high standards I just need to avoid temptation until my 30th.
The last few men couldn't satisfy anyone with their small cocks and lazy and selfish attitudes. Why am I always the one to run around for them? Why did I continually sacrifice and compromise myself when they won’t do it for me? The last boyfriend even cheated on me. I mean, everyone has issues, I’m not perfect. However, it is time I stop going for the arseholes. I need to raise my standards, I need a list to avoid temptation. Then on my 30th birthday, I’ll be a free woman. I will have completed my parent’s tasks. The next man isn’t getting near me unless he meets specific high standards. The list would help m
e avoid temptations and avoid arseholes. He needs to be ripped and maybe one or two tattoos with at least a 7-inch cock, which he knows how to handle, plus, giving me some shit hot sex. Superficial, perhaps but, at this point, I don't care. I chuckle to myself, like that is ever going to happen… Cat lady it is! I can’t even manage that right now because my cat’s dead.
I look at my mobile and see it’s a respectable time and decide to call Sophia on my hands-free while I’m driving and talk it through with her. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, I have a hangover, speak quietly.”
“Sophia, it’s a Tuesday, aren't you meant to be at work?”
“Yes, yes, but I’m youngish, free and single and still sowing my oats, so shhh.”
“Okay, I want details, who did you do last night?” I say smirking.
“No one special just a quickie. How are you? How’s your man front?”
“I told you, no men, and it’s staying that way. In fact, that’s why I rang, I made a list to help avoid temptation and improve my manhandling standards. In case I run into temptation and fall for the same type of arsehole.”
“Okay, good plan. Hang on, just grabbing a taxi to work....”
I can’t tell Sophia the real reason I'm avoiding male temptation, but she knows my past run-in with men, she probably thinks it’s still to do with my ex. But I’m already proud of myself, I’m four months in of my self-imposed man ban. I’m crushing it, even if my vibrator is getting a workout. I guess, it’s not like I have to constrain myself against temptation because there hasn’t been any temptation. But, no men means no sex and no temptation, I’m crushing it.
“Okay, shoot,” says Sophia.
I run through the list, and she agrees it’s a good list.
“I might even borrow that list myself, you should write it up and send it to me. So, I can tick it off.”