Gut Feeling (18 page)

Gemma had a long tearful farewell with Zane outside their hotel, before Rachel managed to prise her away on to the coach that took them to the airport.

Unable to speak through the tears, Gemma clung to Ash the whole way; they unloaded their suitcases outside the airport, Gemma’s make-up streaming down her face, hair a mess and shaking from the alcohol they had all consumed the night before. Ash knew deep down that Gemma was not upset about leaving Zane but terrified about going home to face reality, and the prospect of a new life in a strange and very large city. Her heart ached for her as she held Gemma close under her arm, while pushing their luggage piled high on a trolley to the check-in desk.

‘Come on sweetie, let’s get a coffee.’ Ash passed Gemma her hand luggage and boarding card and beckoned for the others to follow them.

* * *

They found a table and ordered some sandwiches and espressos to nurse their hangovers. The airport was filled with young red-faced people, others showed off their new golden-coloured skin and shouted at each other as they bounced around the duty-free shops looking for gifts.

‘It’s been good girls,’ Jules sighed.

‘It’s been messy,’ Rachel winced. ‘Same again next year, yeah?’

‘Definitely, I’m so glad you guys came. It’s been really nice to spend time with you all. You OK, Gemsie?’ Ash nudged Gemma. ‘Come on, honey, you’ll see him again.’

‘No I won’t.’

‘Course you will. Manchester isn’t that far away. You can nip up on the train.’

‘No,’ Gemma sniffed.

‘Why?’

‘Because we agreed to leave it in Ibiza.’

‘What—why?’

‘He said that what we had in Ibiza was so perfect that if we met up in England it might spoil it. He said we should never forget the memory—that way it can be perfect forever.’ Gemma stared into the distance.

‘The smarmy twat,’ Rachel said in outrage.

‘He’s right.’

‘What do you mean he’s right? Gemma, he has just fobbed you off.’

‘No he hasn’t. He was really gutted, and he had tears in his eyes. He told me he loved me.’

‘Jesus, girl, you are gullible,’ Jules exclaimed.

‘No, I’m not.’

‘Gem, why didn’t you tell us all this at the hotel?’ Ash leaned forward.

‘Zane told me not to. He said you wouldn’t understand.’

‘Ha—the cheek of it.’

‘Rachel, stop it. Of course we understand.’ Ash caught Rachel’s eye, then looked at Gemma’s red puffy face. ‘Look, you’re right, it was probably for the best, honey.’

‘What, don’t mollycoddle the girl,’ Jules sat up. ‘Look, Gem, I know you are hurting, but if you don’t want to get messed around by men you really need to recognise and accept when someone has pulled the wool over your eyes so you can learn from it. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives—look at Ash. Shit, she should be an expert by now.’

‘Thanks, Jules.’

‘No probs. Look, all I’m saying is, think about it. You know, deep down we’re right in what we’re telling you. So you fell for it. So what, we all fell for it too.’

Gemma sniffed. ‘I know but I really liked him.’

‘There’ll be others, and anyway long-distance relationships never work out. Babe, stick with us lot. We’ll teach you a thing or two about men.’

Time rolled on and, before they knew it, the plane was climbing up into the sky, passing through the clouds and away from the Mediterranean island towards home. Gemma had managed to cry herself to sleep while Jules sat quietly reading a glossy magazine. Rachel and Ash puzzled over a crossword they had found in a newspaper while they waited to board, and most of the other passengers who had come away together sung and shouted over the seats at one another. Homeward bound and not a moment too soon for lovesick Ash.

Chapter 14

I
t was gone eleven o’clock at night before Ash walked in through her front door, arms full with bags, struggling to close the door behind her. After making a hot cup of cocoa she unpacked her bags, and then eventually, having overfilled the wash basket and restocked her bathroom with the borrowed toiletries, she climbed into bed, drifting off into a deep sleep.

The next morning Ash stretched her arms above her head, glancing over to see the time—11.27. Ash reached for her phone to ring Dave, noticing one missed call on the screen. Her heart raced with anticipation. Dialling his number she listened anxiously for an answer as she perched on the edge of her bed.

‘Hey babe—sorry can you hang on a min?’

‘Er, yeah of course.’ Ash waited patiently on the phone, listening to his deep voice as he spoke to another man. She could hear the sound of glass being moved and van doors being opened and closed, a few moments later she heard a van driving away.

‘Hello, babe, you still there?’

‘Yeah, I’m still here, You sound busy—shall I call later?’

‘No, no, just needed to help load some windows up for a job. Peter will be back in the yard soon, so how about I come over and take you out for the afternoon?’

‘Er… OK, sounds good to me. I have
so
much to tell you.’

‘Really, so you had a good time then?’

‘It was brilliant, babe. I’ll tell all when you get here. Did you do anything exciting while I was way?’

Dave hesitated for a split second, his mind jumping back to the other night.

‘Er… no, not really. Same old, same old.’

Ash rushed around the flat, getting ready, pondering on what to wear. Was it too hot for jeans or should she opt for a summer dress? Should she wear her hair loose or stylishly tied up? Should she wear flipflops or strappy kitten-heeled sandals? Deciding to leave the clothes decision till last, she sat down in front of the mirror to apply her make-up.

A few hours later she looked out of the window to see Dave handing a cab driver some money. Checking herself in the mirror, Ash smiled, thinking how she had made the right choice, wearing jeans with a small white top and kitten-heeled sandals. She ran to open the door, just as Dave raised his hand to the bell.

‘Hello, sexy.’ He pulled her close, running his hand through her long hair, kissing her firmly on the lips. Ash giggled, pulling him into the flat.

‘David, whatever would the neighbours think?’

‘That a hot sexy man is ravishing their sweet young beautiful neighbour.’

Ash laughed a nervous laugh, blushing. ‘Cheeky, so what do you have planned for today?’

‘Before or after sex?’

‘Oh… you bad man.’

‘Yep, very, and if you’d stop rushing around I’d show you just how bad.’

Ash picked up her small pale pink handbag, walking straight past him towards the door, giving him a wink. Deep down she wanted him to ravish her but she still felt a tiny twinge of insecurity. She wanted him to woo her, not with tangible gifts or expensive restaurants, although they would be an added bonus, but with time, affection, the reassurance that things might develop.

‘Come on—let’s go,’ she said in a light voice. Dave walked out of the flat, tapping her bottom on the way.

* * *

Ash stood on tiptoe looking into a shop window, pointing to Dave on the other side.

‘Yes, yes, that one there, at the top, there…’ She beamed with excitement clapping her hands together like a performing seal, then running back into the shop.

‘Dave, I was only joking.’

‘No… You said you’d die if you didn’t have this bracelet! And I can’t have you dying on me the first day you’re back from holiday.’

‘Oh… my… God.’

‘That’s right, I am your God.’

‘Oh my God.’ Ash stared down at her wrist as the shop assistant fastened a stunning, slender, white gold diamond-encrusted bracelet around her wrist.

‘You don’t need to keep calling my name. I am here. God at your service.’

Ash looked up at him, laughing. ‘So what would my God have me do to make up for such a divine gift?’

‘Oh… you know—the norm.’

‘Like… ?’

‘Cooking, cleaning,’ Dave leaned down to her ear, ‘endless blowjobs.’

‘Ha, the cheek of it.’

‘Which bit don’t you like? I hope not the last part?’

‘Cooking and cleaning… that’s so sexist… what if I can’t cook? You may have offended me.’

Dave looked puzzled for a moment, trying to figure out how Ash thought only half of that comment was sexist. Scratching his head, he decided against saying anything.

‘Well, I could make an exception to the rule and do away with the first part just for you,’ he said.

‘It’s a done deal, oh great one.’

‘I could get used to you calling me that.’ He looked at the shop assistant who was smiling at their juvenile conversation, as he passed her his credit card across the glass counter.

‘And I could get used to you doing that.’ said Ash.

‘Oh really?’ Dave tickled her for a second, laughing as she wriggled away.

The shop assistant tapped in the amount, smiling at the sight of young love. Ash stood looking down at her new gift glittering under the shop lights feeling like Pretty Woman, with her very own Richard Gere.

‘Please check the amount sir and put in your PIN.’

Ouch,
expencive
bracelet
, Dave thought as he punched in his four-digit number.
This
is
going
to
be
a
very
expensive
day.

He waited for the receipt, before following Ash out into the brilliant sunshine, reflecting down on to his face from a glass building opposite. They walked hand in hand up Knightsbridge towards the park. Ash smiled to herself, the whole way along the road, glancing down at her wrist from time to time, just to take another look at the shiny glittering trinket sitting elegantly at the bottom of her arm.

‘Look, there’s one boat left. Let’s walk faster.’

She walked ahead, pulling slightly at his arm to hurry him up, eyes fixed on the rowing boat floating on the lake. The man held out two lifejackets as they walked towards him with excess haste, stepping into the boat and causing it to sway off balance.

‘Sit down, Dave, quick! It will tip over.’

Dave sat facing her slowly, rowing them out to the centre of the lake.

‘Go right, babe, go right. Let’s get away from the other boats.’

Dave rowed in the opposite direction to the swarms of boats approaching them, pushing the murky water aside with the long wooden ores. Ash sunned herself, one hand dangling over the side, brushing the water with the tips of her fingers. He watched her relaxing with her eyes closed, floating near some tall grass far away from any noise or people; he felt content with Ash; he had never met a woman with such natural beauty before, and she had a gentle, genuine kind nature that he had never realised could exist in such a beautiful woman. If only he could let her know how he felt without frightening her away.

As they drifted around the lake, Ash too found herself staring at Dave when he was not looking, content in his presence. She felt very privileged: only a small handful of girls could say they had a sexy man to kiss whenever they fancied, a man who doted on their every word, a man with a strong powerful persona that made her feel safe again, and a man they could trust.

As the afternoon drew on, late beams of weakened sunrays fell over their faces as they walked through Hyde Park, back in the direction of Ash’s flat, laughing about her holiday stories. Once the sun lost its heat, Ash drove them back to Wandsworth feeling content with her first day back. Stopping at a small supper market, Dave picked up some food to cook a nice welcome home meal for them with a DVD for afterwards. Once they got inside Dave put the food on, while Ash relaxed on the sofa, flicking through the TV stations.

‘D’you want a glass of wine with me, Ash?’

‘Yes please, babe.’

A few minutes later, Dave walked into the living room with two glasses of rose. Sitting down next to Ash, he passed her a glass, relaxing back into the sofa and draping his arm around her shoulders. For a man who came home covered in dust and dirt, Dave was a dab hand in the kitchen, much to Ash’s delight, as her fundamental flaw was her lack of enthusiasm for cooking, but with Dave this would not be an issue as he would not let her even help with chopping or measuring. A while later she set the table ready for dinner, eagerly waiting to dig in.

* * *

The evening rolled by and the wine kept flowing, Ash could feel her head lighten with every glass she drank but was having such a good time she didn’t want the day to end.

‘Ash, I’ve got something for you.’

‘Really, don’t you think you’ve given me enough?’

‘Wait here.’ Dave walked out the living room.

Ash’s head was starting to spin as she followed him out the room with her eyes. He returned a few moments later with one hand in his pocket.

‘What’s in your pocket?’

‘Why don’t you come and find out?’

She slowly got up with a small stumble as the alcohol knocked her off balance and walked towards him, then pulled his hand out of his pocket.

‘Show me then,’ she said, struggling to open his hand, eager to find out what was encased inside, when suddenly the thought ran through her head: maybe it was a ring.

Ash stepped backward. ‘You didn’t buy me an engagement ring earlier did you?’ she laughed nervously, unable to contain her thoughts as the words blurted out uncontrollably, not quite sure what she would say if he said yes.

Dave opened his hand laughing, revealing two bronze keys. ‘No babe, I didn’t buy you a ring… but I can buy you a key ring if you want.’

Ash blushed. ‘Are these door keys to here—you’re flat… for me?’

Dave nodded.

‘Are you sure?’ She took the keys before he changed his mind, kissing him quickly on the lips. ‘Dave you’re the best, this has been the perfect day.’

For some unknown reason—perhaps due to the alcohol—Ash let down her guard; stepping forward, she kissed him awkwardly.

‘I love you.’ The words slipped from her lips.

Dave’s face reddened. ‘I love you too.’

Chapter 15

D
ave woke to the sound of laughing from the kitchen. Ash was no longer in the bed next to him. He scanned the room, seeing his dressing gown gone and the door ajar. A smash vibrated through the flat. Jumping out of bed, Dave dashed for the kitchen. Standing in the doorway he gasped as Issi, Ash and Peter stood with hands over their mouths looking down at broken glass all over the floor.