Un-Break my Heart: Book 2 (The Heart Trilogy) (28 page)

“Next week, so yesterday and today has been really tough with rehearsals for eight hours. I can’t say I’ve seen much o
f
Los Angele
s
yet but we’ve been promised a day off on Friday so Kelly and Liam are going to show me around”

“Shelley is doing the same for me here, I’ve met loads of her friends but I can’t remember any of their names yet” Charlie said, her fingers creeping up to touch the heart at her throat.

“I miss you so much baby; I think I’ve only been sleeping because I’m so tired every night from dancing” Mitch said, his voice low and deep.

“I miss you too, honey and Jester’s been sleeping on the bed to keep me company but his farts are awful” she giggled, her heart was beating with longing for Mitchell. Other parts of her were tingling like mad too; perhaps she would need to get the vibrator out tonight.

Looking at her watch she caught Shelley waving as lunch time was nearly up and she hadn’t even touched her pasta salad yet.

“Mitch I’ve got to go as I need to eat before dancing this afternoon, can I call you again later” she asked, wishing she could slow down the ticking clock.

“Yes, if I’m awake I’ll answer and perhaps we can skype too” Mitch said.

“Deal, I’ll get on it as soon as I get home” Charlie replied.

“By
e
Charlotte, I love you loads babe”

“I love you too Mitchell and I’ll see you later” Charlie replied and then he was gone. She paused for a moment to wipe a small tear from her cheek and then she headed back to her table and food. Luckily the afternoon flew by and she was soon in the shower room with Shelley and all the other girls.

“So have you enjoyed your first day” Shelley asked, as she let the hot water run in waves over her curves.

“It’s been good” Charlie said, feeling the heat prick her aching muscles as she closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt a pair of soft hands on her shoulders.

“I always find this helps” Shelley whispered in her ear, her fingers finding and easing the knots
.
Charlott
e
could feel her nipples springing into life as wetness welled inside her. Shelley’s hands went lower down her back but stopped just above the swell of her ass.

“Can you do me now” Shelley asked.

“Yes, sure” Charlie replied, nervously, as she watched Shelley turn around and she started to do the same with her shoulders and back. She was extremely aware of how sensitive parts of her were that shouldn’t have been. Enjoying the feel of different muscles and the softness of Shelley’s back in comparison to Mitchell who she was used to massaging.

“Would you mind just doing the top of my thighs, you are really good at this” Shelley asked.

Feeling nervous Charlie knelt down and started from the back of her knee caps and then slowly kneaded and pummelled upwards until she paused as she got closer to the top. Shelley turned around in the brief moment and her hands touched Charlie’s wet hair.

“Keep going” she breathed, as Charlie found herself trying not to gaze at the hairless mound as her hands ran back down to her knees.

“Can I do your thighs for you” Shelley said, her voice breaking through the mad thoughts that were now racing aroun
d
Charlotte’s brain.

“Maybe next time” Charlie said, extending her body from the crouching position and stretching again. She hoped that Shelley wouldn’t notice the tremble that was running through her.

They both realised that the showers around them were all empty and they were the last.

“I think we’d better get moving” Charlie said.

“Yes, Kyle is going to be waiting for me at the gate” Shelley said, seemingly unperturbed by the massage in the shower that had left Charlie shaking.

“I’d better not miss the bus” Charlie said “Although it’s going to be strange being in a house without Mitchell or my Mum around”

“Do you want a lift home then, I don’t think you’re too much out of our way” Shelley offered.

“Thanks that would be great” Charlie said. They both got dried and dressed and headed out into the fading evening light. Kyle was lounging against his fiat and he looked up when he saw the two of them approaching.

“What took you so long, I’ve been here for ages” Kyle chided, as he grabbed Shelley and dropped a large kiss on her waiting lips. Charlie looked away and felt the pull of longing for Mitchell

“Hi Kyle” Charlie said, interrupting their make out session.

“Hi Charlie, how was the first day, not fed up with Shel yet” he grinned.

“It’s been good thanks but I have a date with a computer screen when I get home”

“Ok then, lets go as I’m getting hungry” Shelley said “I said you’d give Charlie a lift home”

“No problem, jump in” Kyle said. The journey home was great fun as they sang along, badly, to the music on the stereo before he pulled up outside the house.

“Thanks Kyle, see you tomorrow Shelley. I’ll be on the bus though so I’ll meet you by the lockers”

“No problem, catch you tomorrow” Charlie took a moment to wave as they departed and then she headed into her new home.

Chapter 40

The drive int
o
Birmingha
m
seemed to take an age, as James listened to Love Shack radio on and off. He would be glad when the new station was up and running and he could get an unbroken signal. Stephanie had told him to pull into the station parking lot and as the wine bar was not too far away he could walk. A sense of foreboding made his footsteps slow and laboured as he passed the doorway and wished that he could just pop inside and see his girl again. Instead he quickened his pace deciding that trying to put off meeting Felicity was no good and much better to get it over with.

Entering the warmth of La Figaro he scanned the tables and spotted her in the far corner. Walking across a waitress appeared and he ordered a bottle of low alcohol beer and whatever Felicity was drinking. He tried to discern the look on her face as he sat in the chair opposite.

“Hello Felicity, I’ve ordered you another drink” James said.

“Thanks how thoughtful of you” she purred. Her bright red fingernails tapped the side of her empty champagne flute. The sound tingled through his ears and started to annoy him. He was pleased that the bar wasn’t busy and their drinks arrived quickly accompanied by a bowl of olives.

“I’ve ordered for the both of us, I hope you don’t mind” Felicity said, pausing to take a sip of the vintage Bollinger.

James shook his head and realised it felt like he had wandered into the swamp land of his past and he was already sinking.

“So you wanted to talk to me about something important” James said, cautiously.

“Let’s keep things light until we’ve eaten I would hate to ruin your appetite”

The waiter appeared with a steak, jacket potato and side salad. For Felicity it was fresh steamed salmon in a white wine sauce and salad.

“Great food as always” James said, hoping he could manage to eat a mouthful of the delicious steak without it looking like an effort. Felicity picked at hers, managed a couple of slices and then laid her cutlery down and picked up her glass again.

With most of his food eaten James then had to endure the wait as Felicity used the Ladies. He quickly pulled his phone out and spotted a message from Stephanie.

             
“Hi gorgeous, meeting is dragging this afternoon but I’m hanging on as soon I’ll see you again xx”

He smiled and sent a simple reply back before Felicity appeared back at the table.

“So what did you need to talk to me about” James asked, impatiently.

“Well, it’s about my son Mitchell” Felicity began, her voice soft and low.

“What about Mitchell….and before you start going on about his girlfrien
d
Charlott
e
just remember who you’re talking to” James replied. He tried to hide the tremor in his voice as he controlled his response.

“I think you misheard me James darling, My son Mitchell”

James paused as he tried to anticipate her next words, still not grasping her added empathise on the word my.

“Mitchell is my son but unfortunately I was a little naughty all those years ago and he is not yours” Felicity stated. She sat back in her seat and clicked her finger at the passing waitress to order a top up. Time stretched like an elastic band as they both waited for it to snap at the height of its tension. She had floored him with this information and he didn’t even know where to start, emotionally wise. Holding his head in his hands he tried to remember back to the moment of Mitchell’s birth and then previously to when he would have been conceived. Sadly his shelf seemed empty in trying to find anything out of the normality of how their life had been nearly twenty one years ago.

James could feel the steak lying heavy in his stomach and waves of sickness started to rise up within him. He stood up and headed for the men’s room, he didn’t need Felicity to see his distress. Splashing his face with cold water he took a couple of sips from the faucet and tried to control his emotions. He knew that they had not been getting on that well around the time of Mitchell’s conception. They had looked upon the pregnancy as one last ditch attempt to save their marriage, however after a couple of years it had disintegrated completely when she had met her next husband. But surely if she had known that Mitchell was not his son why had she left him behind?

Returning to the table he sat back down and faced Felicity.

“So if I’m not his father then who is?” James demanded “And why does he look so similar to me?”

“Well you remember the weekend away we had for our anniversary and I remarked that the masseuse looked like you, well it was him…I can’t even remember his name now, but I do recall that he was an excellent lover and far better than I was used to with you” she smirked. Clenching his fists below the table James gritted his teeth at her remarks as he thought back to that weekend. Yes that resort hotel had cost him loads of money and although at the time it was nice for the two of them to be indulging in their separate activities he now understood the daily massage sessions.

“Didn’t we make love at all that weekend” James muttered, trying to think if they had or not.

“I believe we may have the one night but as your eyes are blue and so are mine did you never wonder why Mitchell’s were green”

Closing his eyes to avoid hers that were glinting with the power that she knew she wielded at this point. It had always been a struggle between the two of them and this news had really swung the pendulum.

“Does Mitchell know” he said, so quietly that she had to lean forward to hear him.

“Not yet, I thought I’d tell him when he gets back fro
m
Americ
a
as I have a proposal for him to consider for his future” she said, smugly.

“Before you do I’d like a paternity test first, I know that his iris colour could prove that he is not mine, but there is always that slim chance that he might be” James replied “And if you are right then I think you need to rack your brains for the name of his father”

On the surface James appeared calm but beneath he was treading water fast as he realised that this would crush Mitchell completely.

“I’ll do my best but surely Mitchell doesn’t need a father now that he is nearly twenty one” Felicity said, calmly finishing her third glass. James’ bottle of beer was still half full and after the news she’s just dealt him he would have preferred something stronger. Just then his phone beeped in his pocket so he pulled it out and turned away to read the message from Stephanie.

             
“Hi James, meeting about to finish and as we are all feeling pretty confidant about the station launch Gregory has offered to buy us all a drink at the wine bar where we are meeting, so I’ll see you there and you can meet everyone. X”

Fuck, the day couldn’t get much worse as unless Felicity was about to leave shortly he was going to have some explaining to do, on top of wanting some support from Stephanie.

“Who was that” Felicity enquired.

“Just Stephanie, her boss and new work colleagues are heading here for a drink, the new radio station is only down the road” James said.

“Oh how wonderful, I think I’ll stay for another drink and toast her forthcoming success, I mean who listens to radio these days let alone local stations” Felicity said as the next available waiter took another order for champagne. James quickly headed to the cashier to pay the bill and make sure the next drink that Felicity ordered would be on her account and not his. Then he waited for the showdown. About ten minutes later a group of three giggling girls burst through the door, followed by the familiar face of Jack and another guy. At the back James spotted Stephanie and a bloke that he could only guess was her boss. He then noticed the arm wrapped a little too tightly around her waist.

As I saw James I tried to wriggle out from the reach of Greg’s hand that rested just above my bum but it just meant he held me even closer. I knew James had seen this and I felt the searing heat of a blush creeping over my cheeks, even though there was nothing going on I felt sure that James would jump to the wrong conclusion. But before I had time to dwell on this thought much longer I saw an extremely familiar figure stand up at the back of the bar.

“What can I get you to drink” Greg asked. He waited as I just stood stock still my eyes flicked from James to Felicity and then back to James. The colour that had moments ago coloured my cheeks faded instantly.

“Drink Stephanie” Greg said again, when he got no answer.

“Stephanie” Greg implored, as my focus started to swim away from the scene that transfixed me. Jack had noticed James and a dark haired woman who he could only guess was something to do with the look of sheer panic and shock that was plain to see on Stephanie’s features. I wrenched Greg’s arm away with such force that I thought he was going to topple over and then I headed straight past James to the safety of the Ladies. I felt hot, sick and confused, why was Felicity here with James? Why hadn’t he told me he was meeting her? Had he seen Greg’s arms around me and would he think there was something going on?

I slumped against the nearest wall and tried to control my ragged breath as my heart continued to pound in time with the throbbing in my head and the itching of my scars. Suddenly the door opened.

“Stephanie, are you ok?” Naomi’s voice was filled with concern and worry.

“Jack sent me in here to find out, he said you looked like you might faint” “Thanks Naomi, I’ll be ok in a moment can you go and get me an iced water” I shakily replied. The door swung open again and two clicks of some very high heels put me straight back on alert. Naomi paused to look at the dark haired women.

“Darling Stephanie, how are you this afternoon, looking a bit peaky to me or did you just forget to put some make-up on” Felicity said. She stayed in the doorway so not even Naomi could get past her.

The air around me seemed to be disappearing rapidly.

“I’m fine thanks Felicity, just needed a moment alone. But I’ll move out of the way of the mirror now so you can add to the layers on your face” I spat.

“Bitchy, well you know you are playing games with the queen of them all” Felicity replied, stalking towards me “I won before and I can win again now”

I could see that Naomi was puzzled by this exchange as she edged around and out the door.

“Aren’t you the slightest bit worried that James had lunch with me today and judging by the look on your face he didn’t tell you” Felicity said, gazing past me and pulling out a lipstick from her handbag.

“Oh well, I’d better ring the hotel and cancel our reservation for later” Felicity said, pulling her mobile phone out too.

“Did I just say that aloud” Felicity continued, a look of mock innocence on her face.

That was all it took for me to realise that she was trying to hurt me with her lies.

“Just shut up, you ruined my life once but it won’t happen again” I screamed “I’m stronger than that now”

“Strong enough to be having an affair with your new boss, did you have to sleep with him to get the job” Felicity asked. That was my breaking point as I rushed her down and pinned her against the sink unit.

“I would never stoop to the levels you obviously find acceptable” I said, staring her down “Keep telling your lies but believe me I’m not listening anymore” I could feel her pushing against me but still I held her there.

“Just leave me and my family alone, come to think of it leave the whole of your family alone too, you walked out and left them with James all those years ago so why keep butting your ugly face into our lives”

I released her and watched her take a deep breath to regain her composure before I turned to the doorway.

“You’re welcome to James and Darren but Mitchell is mine” she growled. I was puzzled by her comment but I didn’t stay to question it. Outside in the wine bar I immediately bumped into James who had been waiting for me.

“Oh god Steph, I’m so sorry, I should have told you that I was meeting her today” he mumbled “But I know you don’t even like talking about her so I thought I could get away with it and tell you later as I didn’t want you worrying through your meeting”

“Fine, but tell me next time so I won’t look so shocked” I said. I paused as Felicity emerged and studiously ignored us as she passed into the bar area. I hoped that she would leave but I saw her head towards the bar and order a bottle of champagne. I saw Gregory heading towards her like a moth to a flame and wished him luck. I turned back to James

“Felicity is losing it” I said “She said something really strange before I left the room, something about Mitchell that just didn’t make sense”

James took my hand in his and we found a quiet table near the back of the room.

“She called me here to tell me that Mitchell is not mine” James said, his voice cracking slightly on the last couple of words.