Another Summer (6 page)

“Nobody you know.”  Joe frowned again at his watch.  “Food would be nice but I’m getting a bit worried about her.  I expected her back way before now.”

“Her?”

“It’s nothing like that.  I promised to give her a lift as far as Cheltenham, that’s all.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.  Actually, I think it’s time I went out to find her.”

Keen to escape from Heather’s eagle eye, he slammed out of the flat into a wall of torrential rain.  Where was it all coming from?  He was thoroughly sick of getting wet.  And the wind was taking a turn for the worse, the new trees along the river were almost bent in half.  He’d only brought the one jacket and he’d lent that to Lisa but he had a couple of dry sweatshirts in his holdall in the car.

He was about to pop the boot when he heard a whimper coming from the shadow of the bin store.  Lisa launched herself at him, sobbing and shivering like a bird.

“I told him about the baby and he just laughed at me.  He didn’t even remember my name.”

“Why didn’t you ring me?”

“Couldn’t.  No phone.  Forgot it was pinched with my bag.  I’ve been looking for your car.”

What could he do but wrap his arms around her?  The heartless bastard had clearly done the dirty before he’d chucked her out.  Joe could smell it on her as her slender body pressed against him, desperate for warmth and comfort.  When she looked up at him with those huge trusting eyes, he knew he was treading on very shaky ground.

Needing to let go of her to clear his head, he kissed her forehead and eased her away from him as gently as he could.

“Don’t cry.  You’re safe now.  But this bloody rain’s dripping down my neck.  Let’s get you inside.  My sister will let you have a bath, give you something to eat.”

But Joe hadn’t bargained for Heather’s indignation.  She turned on him as soon as Lisa was out of earshot in the bathroom.

“Bloody hell, Joe!  What do you take me for?  Her make-up’s all over your shirt.”

He glanced down.  His blue shirt was smeared with black mascara.  At this rate, he’d have no clothes left.

“She was upset.  What was I meant to do?  I only met her this morning.  She was wandering the streets of Scarborough with no money to get home.”

“So you rescued her?  That’s a new one.  Would you have been so keen to rescue an ugly old crone?”

“Give me a break, will you?  I’m trying to do the right thing here.”

“I didn’t know you knew how.”

“Honest to God, Heather, I haven’t touched her.”

“Not yet, maybe.  But she looked pretty damn grateful to me.”

Steve saved him by choosing that moment to buzz the intercom because he’d forgotten his keys.  Clearly still  pissed, he swung Heather off her feet, almost cracking her head off the designer chandelier.  They both collapsed giggling onto the sofa and Joe stood there feeling like a spare prick at a wedding.

He knew he could have had what they had.  He wanted it now and he’d wasted so much time.  But it was too late now to get back on the road.

Heather’s usual kindness won over her disapproval and she made Lisa a sandwich before packing her off to the spare room, declaring she’d feel better after a good night’s sleep.  Joe was left to stew on the sofa.

He pulled the duvet over his head trying not to hear the reunion sex going on in the next room.  He listened to the rain, feeling lonely in the darkness.  When the door creaked open, he wasn’t even surprised.  He held his breath, challenging himself to keep on doing the right thing.

“Lisa, you’ll get me in trouble.  You have to go back to bed.”

“I’m scared.  I just want a cuddle.”

He wanted a cuddle too but not from a pregnant teenager who was virtually a stranger.  But he hesitated too long, trying to find the right words, and before he knew what was happening, Lisa had crawled in beside him and was snuggling into him as if her life depended on it.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Like Heather said, if you get some sleep, it won’t seem so bad in the morning.”

“You’re so lovely, Joe.  I wish I had someone like you.”

In her giant T-shirt, she was all legs and tits as she pressed herself against him.  Naked but for his boxers, he started to get hard.  He bit his lip, drawing blood in the effort it took not to touch her.

Then he realised she was fast asleep.  Shit!  What the fuck was he meant to do now?  Stupid git!  Why hadn’t he made her go back to her own bed?

And of course Heather chose that moment to come into the room in search of a glass of water.

The vintage black corset was pure burlesque.  Evie’s waist looked tiny.  Her cleavage was wild.  It was as far from her usual style as it was possible to be.  Evie loved it.

“That looks fabulous on you.”

“You don’t think it’s too much of a statement?”

“What about this, if you want to tone it down just a bit?”

The girl rummaged on the rail and picked out a black lace jacket, the beading more boho than maiden aunt.  It covered her boobs, yet didn’t.  It was perfect.

“Looks great with those skinny jeans but you’ll need heels, something dangerous and spiky.  There’s a shop round the corner you might want to try?”

There were a few shops she wanted to try.  She remembered Porthrynton Heath as a staid little market town but it seemed to have evolved into a quirky collection of vintage and retro.  As she’d driven there that morning, she couldn’t decide how she was feeling.  Deciding what to wear on a date was tricky.  Evie had never dated.  There’d only ever been Joe.

But as she changed back into her usual clothes, always a long top with the skinny jeans and flat leather boots to drive in, she realised she was excited about the gig.  And Jake.  It was a bit nerve-wracking, the whole bed thing especially.  But she’d had enough of being sensible.  And miserable.  It was time she started enjoying herself, while she could still remember how.  And her school-run image was more than due a makeover.

She found the perfect heels, so high they were obviously designed for posing rather than actual standing up.  But even trying them on, she felt vampy.  Dressing up like a different person could turn out to be fun.

When she’d collected a few more shopping bags, full of trivial things she’d never normally need, she found herself in an alley that looked a bit familiar.  The little shop at the end sold sparkly clubbing gear now but it had to be the place.

The place where she’d found the dress for the Drydens’ party.  That dress had started everything.

Evie was fed up being the goody two-shoes little sister but she still had the scary feeling she’d agreed to more than shopping.  When she got off the bus, she could see Joe Marsh sprawling on the clock tower bench and it gave her a little thrill to know he was waiting for her.  He looked so handsome in jeans and a black T-shirt, wrists dangling between his open knees.

It was suddenly hard to breathe as he looked up and seemed to focus on the flash of skin between her jeans and the white blouse she’d knotted at the front.  She wished she hadn’t tied her hair back with the scarf.  Her face felt too exposed.

“Nice to see you look just as pretty with your clothes on.”

She looked nervously around her but nobody had heard.  And how could she be mad at him when he was grinning like that, already pecking her on the cheek and tucking her arm into his?

She noticed people looking at them as he led the way along the street.  Or looking at him, anyway.  She just looked down at her feet, trying not to trip up.  She wasn’t used to that sort of attention.

“You’ll be wanting a dress so you can get your legs out?  Let’s try in here?”

The boutique looked expensive and she’d never have gone in on her own.  She stood there feeling conspicuous as Joe charmed the salesgirl into picking things out for his approval.  She was horrified by the dress he finally chose.  It was a cream lace prom dress, lined in palest blue, the strapless top fastened by tiny pearl buttons.

“I was thinking maybe something longer and darker, with sleeves?”

“For a summer party?  Trust me, try it on?”

The dress was boned and made her waist look tiny but it thrust out her boobs and made them look bigger than ever.  Her bra straps looked silly so she had to take it off.

“Are you going to come out and show me, or do I have to come in?”

She snatched up her jeans to cover herself but he’d already slipped inside the curtain.  He didn’t say anything but he nodded and touched her face, as soft as a feather as he traced the curve of her cheekbone.  She bit her lip as he tugged off her scarf and her hair fell onto her shoulders.

“Wow!  Look, see for yourself.”

He turned her around to face the mirror, his hands hot on her shoulders.  She held her breath as their eyes met for a second.  Then he laughed, breaking the spell.

“Yep, that’s the one.”

He disappeared back through the curtain and she quickly got changed, half expecting him to burst in on her again.  When she came out clutching the dress, she found he’d already paid for it.

“It’s done now,” he said when she protested.  “Can’t wait to see you in it at the party.”

The salesgirl wrapped the dress in tissue and when she handed over the glossy red carrier, she looked so blatantly envious that Evie wanted to pinch herself.

“You hungry?” Joe asked.  “You okay for time?”

Time didn’t exist.  There was no way she was going back just yet.  So they sat in a beer garden eating platters of cheese with warm bread and pickles.  The strong cider soon had her head swimming, not helped by the way he kept looking at her.  

“You’re not like the other girls Steve seems to know.”

“You’re not like his usual mates.”

“We only hooked up this year when I moved into his flat.  He’s usually good for a laugh but he’s different here, more up himself.  The place is doing my head in.  I’ll probably take off after the party.”

“Really?  That soon?”

“Want to persuade me to stay?”

He got up to fetch another round.  She should have asked for a soft drink but she didn’t want to keep reminding him she was under age.  So she drank another pint of cider and when she stood up her knees had turned to jelly.

She stumbled to the ladies and splashed her face with cold water.  How stupid he’d think she was.  Drunk on two ciders in the afternoon?  That suddenly seemed very funny.

He was leaning against the wall outside, legs crossed at the ankles, thumbs thrust into his belt loops, exposing the tanned skin above his jeans.

“You’re very sexy,” she giggled.  She hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

“And you’re a bit tipsy.  Just as well I’ve got Steve’s car to get you home.”

He put his arm around her and she snuggled against him, liking the warm feel of his body as he walked her to the car.  It was a classic green MG and as they drove along narrow country roads, the soft wind in her hair made her sleepy.

She woke up disorientated, glancing about.  The high hedgerows were arching over the narrow road yet sunlight still sparkled like gold through the leaves.  They were parked on the verge by a gap in the hedge.

“I was thinking you might need a walk?”

Her head was pounding.  A walk seemed a great idea.  The meadow was pretty, long grass scattered with wildflowers.  And a brook, barely a trickle on a scatter of stones but the water was so tempting they raced to get their shoes off to try it.

The sun was hot.  It was lovely to lie in the cool grass on the bank, holding hands.

“It’s been the best day ever,” she sighed.

“It’s not over yet.”

Joe turned onto his side, his head in one hand, the other drifting over the bare skin at her waist.  She jumped.  His hand was cold and wet.  He laughed and splashed her again, pulling her towards him.

His kiss was gentle, teasing a response.  The cider helped.  She parted her lips, enjoying the fire of his tongue.  She slithered against him, her arm curling around his neck.  Her buttons popped and she giggled.

“Careful,” he groaned, squeezing her bottom.  “I’m only human.”

“It’s nice.”

“It’s very nice.”  Pushing her shirt aside, he cupped a breast, squeezing her gently over her plain white bra.  “What about this?” he murmured as he grazed over her nipple.  “Is this nice?”

She couldn’t speak.  The sun was warm on her skin as her shirt came off.  Then her bra, his lips blazing across her breasts.  His chin rasped over her nipple.  She sighed, couldn’t even open her eyes.

“What about this?” he teased, sucking on her.  “You want more?”

His hand was in her jeans.  She squirmed at the probing of his finger.  What was he doing?  But he’d stopped.

“Sorry,” he groaned, breathing hard.  “I forgot you haven’t done this before.”

She sat up, a bit woozy.  And shocked to find herself almost naked.  “Did I do something wrong?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

She pulled up her jeans, found the rest of her clothes and put them back on feeling miserable.  How had she spoiled such a perfect day?  A tear squeezed onto her cheek.  She tried to wipe it away but he saw.

“Oh God!  Don’t cry on top of everything else.  I’d best take you home.”

He dropped her in the lane, wheels spinning as he sped off, clearly glad to be rid of her.  Evie knew she’d blown her one big chance with him.  The party would be ruined.