Girl-Code (9 page)

Ok. Tomorrow girlie evening! K x

 I had text Kate informing her that I was
meeting up with the girls.  I apply my lip gloss and I fix my hair in the
ladies before moving out into the bar.

I am sipping my cocktail when Matthew walks
in accompanied by some colleagues from his department.

‘Hi,’ he grins over at me.

‘Hi,’ I return with a smile.

‘You look good,’ his eyes move over my
fitted black trousers and beige scooped blouse which hints at my cleavage.

He is such a sweetie, ‘thank you, can I get
you a drink?’ I offer.

‘No, thank you. Can I get you one?’ he
offers.

‘No I am fine,’ I assure him and after
offering the girls’ one provides his order to the barman.

 ‘I am hungry and those drinks have gone
straight to my head,’ I inform Susie when Maddie visits the ladies.

‘You should have got Cameron to feed you
last night,’ she murmurs quietly, and I glance up.

‘Suze,’ I warn.

‘It is nothing to do with me Luce, I love
Cameron like a brother and I realize that I attempted to set you two up, but he
is going to hurt you.’

‘No, he isn’t,’ I promise, ‘he will get
easily distracted, I am having a bit of fun is all.’ I assure her.

‘Then leave Matthew out of it, he is a good
guy,’ she cajoles.

‘Yes, I know.’ I agree, feeling shameful
for leading Matthew on when all I have on my mind is Cameron.

‘If it’s any consolation, I have never seen
Cameron pursue anyone in such a manner and certainly never invited anyone back
to his house,’ she adds ‘I can’t quite grasp what is happening and he won’t
divulge anything to Simon.’

‘Just let it run its course.  I will leave
Matthew out of it, I really like Matthew but Cameron is clouding the issue.’ I
explain.

‘I know,’ she smiles, ‘he can be very
insistent.’

‘Calling me continuously when I am on a
date is beyond insistent,’ I express and she frowns.

‘No way!’

‘Oh yes,’ Maddie rejoins us bringing
another cocktail each, ‘I am going to stagger home,’ I thank her.

We enjoy our drinks, before I yawn, ‘I am
going to have an early night,’ I confess, ‘I am shattered.’

‘Wow, you are never the first one to leave,’
Maddie insists.

I stand and gather my things, ‘see you
Monday girls.’

‘Bye,’ they call in unison, I wave over at
Matthew who sends a dazzling smile my way before leaving the bar.

********

Cameron walks into the bar with Simon.

‘You do know I am taking Suze for a meal
tonight? Simon mentions.

‘Yes you said, I thought I would drop you
off and say hello,’ I mutter, perfectly aware of why I am here. 

‘Of course you are Cam, you are not hoping
to see a stunning brunette by any chance?’

‘Well if she is here …..’ I grin and Simon
pats me on the back.

‘Suze no longer thinks it is a good idea,’
Simon reminds me, ‘she thinks you will ruin her relationship with Lucy, when you
break her heart.’

‘There are no hearts involved Simon,
believe me.’ I inform him.  My memory returns to last night and the way Lucy’s
body moved over mine.  We had limited sleep, once again, our bodies craving
each other’s constantly, I feel a twinge in my groin.

We stand at the bar my eyes travelling the
room as they search for her, I locate Susie but I can’t find Lucy. 

‘What you having?’ Simon enquires.

‘Orange juice please Si’ Is she out with
the guy again? Then I notice him talking to a group of people, seems a pleasant
enough guy but he cannot have her until I have had my fill.  I don’t share,
well not her, anyway.

Susie appears beside us and kisses Si, ‘hi
darling,’ she hugs him briefly before her eyes find mine.

‘Hey,’ I smile leaning to kiss her cheek.

‘Hi, this is a pleasant surprise,’ she
sends me a knowing smile.  I glance over towards the other girl, Maddie I
think. ‘She isn’t here,’ Susie informs me.

‘Where is she?’ I question, forgetting to
sound indifferent.

‘Just left for home, she didn’t feel too
good.’

‘Why?’ I probe and she shrugs, ‘maybe you
should feed your dates before you take them home.’

‘It wasn’t a date.’ I automatically reply.

*******

I wander to the tube in a daze.  I am
slightly tipsy and fantasizing about relaxing in the bath when a vehicle pulls
up beside me, it takes me but a moment to realize it is Cameron. 

 ‘Hi,’ he grins through the window.

‘Hi yourself.  Twice in one day, I am
honored.’ I tease.

‘Get in,’ he calls friendly.  I enter the
passenger door, ‘Susie said you were off color.’

‘No, I am just hungry and tired. I thought
I would take the opportunity to relax in a bath and catch up on some shut eye.’

He moves across and places his lips on
mine, ‘want to come back with me?’ he whispers against my mouth.

I smile against his lips, ‘I would love to,
but require some food and sleep which I cannot imagine will happen at yours.’

‘Come and sleep at mine. I could do with a
bit of sleep myself some siren has been depriving me of late,’ he tempts, ‘I
should have fed you last night,’ his voice holds a hint of apology.

‘That’s ok. I was rather enjoying the
entertainment,’ I flirt, suddenly feeling wide awake.

‘Come back, I can remind you,’ his eyes
send a promise.

‘See, no sleep will be had! I am tired and
this isn’t a good idea Cam.’

‘Sure it is, we can curl up by the fire and
watch a film if you like,’ I regard him for a moment my insides battling against
the decision, ‘come on,’ he urges, ‘live dangerously.’

‘Ok, but this is the last time.’ I relent,
after a moment.

He pulls away from the curb, ‘put your
seatbelt on,’ he demands.

********

I arrive home, the following day at four o
clock, we had indeed spent the evening relaxing. Cameron had ordered a pizza and
opened a bottle of wine and we sat in front of the fire and watched Avatar, on
his cinema screen from either end of the sofa.  We had made it through half of
the film before the constant stroking of my feet became so erotic that I
straddled his lap taking him there and then. 

He had then run a bubble bath and joined me
pulling me in between his legs so that I was laying my back to his chest.

‘Relaxed?’ he checks.

‘Hmmmm,’ I close my eyes, my hands over his
arms surrounding me, ‘a bit too relaxed.’

‘Make the most of it, I have plans for you
after you have had some sleep,’ he whispers into my ear sending my insides
warm.

‘Now I am wide awake,’ I groan and he
chuckles, ‘this has got to end Cameron, we are both aware this isn’t going
anywhere.  I am walking around the house feeling guilty as hell.’

‘Fine!’ he mumbles as his teeth find my ear
and nibble.

We wake late and after a long shower
together Cameron decides to take me for lunch.

‘What if someone sees us?’ I ask.

‘Who cares if someone sees us? Surely, you
aren’t still going on about that girl code thing?  We are hurting no one, we
are both single people just enjoying some time together,’ he scowls.

‘I know,’ I murmur defensively, ‘I have
yesterday’s clothes on,’ I remind him.

‘You look fine, I like the top exposing
those beautiful breasts,’ his eyes move to my cleavage and I smile up at him.

‘Come on Luce, color outside the lines,’ he
encourages.

We drive out to a restaurant overlooking
the Thames, which is stunning.  Cameron is attentive and good company.  I begin
to relax. 

‘What are you doing tonight?’ he asks.

‘I am out with Kate tonight.’

‘Tomorrow?’ he tests.

‘Driving down to see my mum.’

‘I didn’t know you drove.’

‘There are a whole heap of things you don’t
know about me Mr… what’s your surname?’ I frown.

He smiles, ‘Lee.’

‘Gosh, that is awful, how can I not know your
name and do the things…?’

‘Does it matter?’ his blue eyes twinkle.

‘Well I suppose not…do you know mine?’ I
probe.

‘I do, Lucy Daniels,’ he is smug.

‘No guessing who informed you of that,’ I
smile, ‘she isn’t happy about this by the way.’

‘So I hear. I don’t see the problem seeing
as they attempted to pair us off at the golf bash!’

‘I informed Susie you have the
concentration span of a goldfish where women are concerned but she is convinced
this isn’t going to end well.’

‘Charming!’ he scolds, ‘and how do you know
that?’

‘Well, I was present when you were sneaking
out of my housemate’s bedroom if you remember.’

‘Oh, I remember,’ he grins.

********

‘Where are we going?’ Kate enquires,
standing sideways in the mirror.

‘You choose, I don’t know many places
around here.’

‘Ok and then you can tell me what is really
going on in your life at the moment,’ her eyes locate mine in the mirror and my
insides lurch.  She hadn’t mentioned not coming home last night or where I had
been today, which astonished me no end.

Cameron had dropped me reluctantly around
the corner informing me he would only ever drop me at my front door in future
and that he had no intention of validating Sam’s behavior.

‘Where are you going with Kate?’ he probes.

‘No idea, we haven’t had a night out since
we moved here, a bar I guess for a chat and some cocktails.’

‘If you are at a loose end later, call me,’
he instructs.

‘No bootie calls!’ I mutter, ‘no more
Cameron,’ I insist and he grins.

Kate and I find a bar in the town. I have a
dress and heels on, as per usual, for our girlie evenings.  We enjoy a couple
of cocktails and begin to loosen up,

‘So missy, what’s going on in your life?  I
am beginning to become paranoid that you don’t wish to remain in my company.’

I regard her for a moment contemplating
whether I should confide in her.

‘Come on Lucy. I know you so well.’ she
urges.

‘I have been seeing someone.’ I take a sip
of my Mojito to steady my insides, I am not sure whether I am doing the right
thing or not, due to the fact that Sam is Kate’s friend too.

‘Matthew?’ she prompts.

‘No…well yes, I did go on a date with
Matthew but that isn’t who I have been seeing,’ my stomach drops at the
prospect Kate will take this personally.

‘Go on,’ she frowns.

‘Cameron!’ my eyes move to hers as they darken.

‘Lucy!’ she groans, ‘out of all the men in
the world, why?’

‘It wasn’t something I choose to do, it
just happened,’ I defend, ‘Suze set me up with him at the golf bash….’

‘How does he know Susie again?’

‘Her boyfriend went to college with him.’

She exhales a breath, ‘Sam is going to
freak,’ she groans ‘you know she has been constantly texting him?

‘What even now?’ I ask and she nods, ‘no, I
never knew that,’ that makes things slightly more awkward than they already
are.

‘He text back informing her that although
he enjoyed their time together, he doesn’t wish to repeat the experience and
has moved on,’ Kate explains.

‘Oh dear, but she was with Scot last week!’
I scoff, ‘she needs to make her mind up!’

‘Yes, but we know that was only to piss you
off,’ she sips her drink.

‘Then why should I account for her
feelings? It isn’t anything serious Kate, just a bit of fun I am perfectly
aware of Cameron’s track record.’

‘So, are you going to see him again?’ she
questions.

‘Maybe,’ I shrug, I have told Cameron no
more, but I realize that he could quite easily change my mind.

‘Then you should inform Sam,’ she regards
me cautiously, ‘it isn’t fair otherwise, her texting him whilst you are
sleeping with him.’

‘She isn’t my friend Kate,’ I remind her.

‘Maybe not, but we do have to all live in
the same house and at some point the truth is going to materialize if you pursue
it, I can do without all the stress to be honest.  It’s bad enough the two of
you at loggerheads through a clash of personalities, without this,’ she shakes
her head in disappointment.

‘And what do you think my life would be
like if she knew?’ I frown.

‘Well at least she will stop texting him,
she is making a fool of herself,’ she sterns.

‘Cameron thinks it is ridiculous, all this
girl-code stuff.’