Infinite Love (41 page)

‘I’m not sure whether I’m insulted or flattered,’ I pouted as I wiped my face again.

‘Be flattered,’ he smiled. ‘Maisey Parker was known as Penis Parker, she let anyone pull up in there for a pit stop.’ He winked at me and I burst out laughing and shoved his shoulder.

‘Was she really that bad?’

‘From what I hear, I never actually fancied trying. So Ice Queen, what are you going to do? Take him back?’

‘No,’ I replied quickly with a shake of the head. ‘I can’t, not after he slept with that woman. I just don’t know how I’m going to stay strong if he keeps trying to get me back.’

‘You need to be clear it’s over, Mia.’

‘I have been, Tyler. I even lied to him last night and said I’d slept with you and he
still
told me that he loved me, even thinking that I had. I just don’t know what will convince him to walk away.’

‘Are you really sure you want him to?’

‘Yes. He’s crossed that line and no matter what feelings I still have for him, I’d never be able to trust him again.’

‘So,’ he sighed. ‘What lies ahead for, Mia Page?’

‘I’m going to focus on work, see if I can buy Gabe out and make it my own business and try and find myself somewhere to live. Hopefully in time I’ll get over him and I can think about starting again.’

‘I can’t promise to wait for you, Mia,’ he said softly.

‘I know that, I’d never expect you to. But maybe if one day we’re both single and in that place, then we could see if this could have been something special.’

‘O, I know it would have been,’ he replied with a sad smile that made my heart hurt. I heard a noise outside and Jayne shouting.

‘You can’t go in there, the light’s on. She’s performing.’

‘I don’t give a fuck.’

‘Mr. Austin,
please,
’ she yelled. I looked around horrified at the same time as Tyler, and standing in the doorway, with a look of complete fury on his face, was Gabe.

‘Get your
fucking
hands off my
wife
,’ he roared. Tyler stepped away from me and as Gabe saw what I was wearing, or rather not, then my dress in Tyler’s hand, he charged headlong at him and took him to the ground.

‘Jayne, get Jackson in here, NOW,’ I yelled and saw her nod and activate her ear piece. I turned my attention back to the two of them grappling on the floor. ‘Stop, stop, STOP IT,’ I yelled. I tried to pull Gabe off Tyler, but he jerked out of my grasp, his elbow connecting with my face as he did. I staggered back to the wall holding my mouth and sank to the floor with stars in my eyes. I was vaguely aware of Jackson and Liam hauling Gabe off Tyler, as Cindy came rushing in and crouched at my side.

‘What the hell’s going on, Mia? Are you ok?’

‘I … think so,’ I nodded and she pulled my hand from my face.

‘O no, you’re bleeding. Come on, we need get you cleaned up to see what damage there is.’

‘Mia, baby, are you ok?’ Gabe uttered as he looked at me, distraught. Jackson was holding him under each armpit and had his large palms wrapped around to the back of Gabe’s neck, anchoring him.

‘No, no I’m not.’ I exclaimed as Cindy helped me up. I looked over at Tyler, Liam had one arm up his back, while Tyler was clutching his ribs and I noticed that his shirt was ripped. ‘Liam, please can you let Tyler go, he’s coming with me to get patched up and we’re leaving. Jackson, I think it’s best that you keep Mr. Austin in here, away from us, until I advise you that we’ve gone.’

‘Don’t do this, Mia,’ growled Gabe as he glared at me. His eyes were unfocussed and I realised that he was drunk, seriously drunk.

‘My personal life is no longer any of your concern,’ I shot back. ‘As for our professional relationship, you just barged in here drunk and created a scene, which I won’t tolerate. How would you feel if I did that at AT&F? Jackson will keep an eye on you in here, in private, to save you any embarrassment. Once I’ve gone he’ll discretely escort you off the premises through the fire door, put you into a taxi and send you home. The security team will be notified that you are
never
to step foot in here drunk, ever again. Owner or not, our business will not suffer from your lack of professionalism. Are we clear?’

‘Perfectly clear, Mrs. Austin.’

‘Thank you Jackson, but I was actually taking to Mr. Austin and I’d prefer you call me Mia from now on.’

‘So that’s how it’s going to be, eh?’ Gabe laughed. ‘Now I’m “
Mr. Austin
,’” just some
fucking
work colleague?’

‘That’s how it’s going to be,’ I replied and let Cindy lead Tyler and I out of the room.

‘You’re shitting me?’ gasped Lexi as she helped hold the bag of wrapped frozen peas on my swollen lip after I made it home and filled her in. Tyler thought it was best that he left, in case Gabe turned up to have another go at him, so he’d seen me to the bottom door and had kissed me on the cheek and headed home, with me promising to contact him. I’d come upstairs to find her sitting in the lounge and she was mortified at the state of me.

‘No,’ I mumbled. ‘I shit you not. He just won’t let go, Lexi.’

‘Come on, lie back on the bed and you can fill me in,’ she ordered as she lay down next to me. I gave her the full version, from my dinner, all the way to where Tyler and I had kissed. ‘You
kissed
Tyler Jackson,’ she exclaimed with a shake of her head.

‘For like five seconds, but I’m so confused,’ I groaned.

‘Why?’

‘I really like him, we get on great and … it’s just so
easy
being with him, Lexi. I’d like to stay friends, but he wants more than I can offer at the moment. Maybe he’s the sort of guy I could go for in the future. With him there were no arguments, no drama, but …’ I sighed.

‘He’s not Gabe?’

‘Yeah,’ I nodded as my eyes watered. ‘I know I shouldn’t, but I still love him. He was so upset Lex, it’s like he doesn’t want me, but the minute I show some interest in someone else he’s all aggressive and territorial, calling me his wife, like it still
means
something. It doesn’t mean anything, not after he cheated on me with
her.
’

‘I wish you’d let me get in there and have it out with him.’

‘Why bother? We’re over. He’s just reacting out of some wounded male pride, still seeing me as his possession. He doesn’t want me, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have me either. I need him to stay away from me. How can I move on if he’s going to keep turning up, turning my world upside down?’

‘I don’t understand this at all,’ frowned Lexi. ‘If he doesn’t want you anymore, why turn up at your mum’s last night? Why the smack down tonight? Bloody Doug must have rung him to say you’d turned up with Tyler, that’s why he showed up. But if Gabe
has
moved on, why react so strongly?’

‘I don’t know Lex, but I can’t keep doing this.’

‘Well, I don’t know either,’ she sighed. ‘Part of me thinks that Gabe’s obviously still in love with you and wants you back, and that maybe you should try and have one last conversation with him, clear the air and try again, on
your
terms. But then part of me thinks screw him, if he could cheat on you with that bitch so quickly, then you should steer clear, try and get over him and then start dating Tyler. He could be really good for you.’

‘I know, he was so sweet, Lex. Most guys would run a mile after what happened tonight, but he didn’t. He held my hand as Cindy was cleaning my face and other than to let me get dressed, he never let go until he said goodnight outside. He’s so like Gabe was it’s untrue. I felt so safe with him.’

‘Did you think about sleeping with Tyler?’

‘Lex,’ I protested.

‘You thought about it, I know you did, so don’t try denying it. My bullshit radar may have been on the fritz with Doug, but it’s been reloaded, recharged, and it’s firing on all batteries.’

‘Cylinders.’

‘It would have batteries not cylinders, how the hell would I pick up a radar gun with cylinders, it would be too heavy.’

‘It’s an expression,’ I sighed with a shake of my head. ‘Firing on all cylinders, not firing on all batteries.’

‘Whatever smarty pants, it’s
my
bullshit radar,
my
rules, and I’m currently sniffing some avoidance tactics.’

‘Yes, ok? It crossed my mind. I mean, I’ve never slept with anyone but Gabe and Tyler was lovely, plus he was hot and sexy too.’

‘Do it, ring him back and say you want sex no strings like you did with Gabe. It may do you good and if it doesn’t, if he’s crap, you ignore his calls and move on.’

‘Wow, and here was me thinking you’d made forward progress in maturity.’

‘No one wants shit sex for life, Mia. What are you worried about? It’s not like you’re a virgin and you are officially single. You don’t have to be in love with the guy to bone him.’

‘I’m not sleeping with Tyler to get back at Gabe for being a dick, Lexi,’ I sighed.

 ‘Well, speaking of dicks this might tempt you. I ranked Tyler on cock spot for you when we saw him that Christmas in Toddlesworth.’

‘You didn’t?’ I uttered.

‘I did. I’m thinking an eight, not as long as Gabe, but he has some decent girth on him.’

‘How do you know how long Gabe’s was?’

‘Was? Have you done a Bobbitt on him?’ she smiled.

‘Seriously thinking about it, but I wouldn’t like to touch it now, not now I know where it’s been.’

‘Quite,’ she nodded.

‘So?’ I demanded. ‘How do you know?’

‘I may have let myself in last year to borrow your lace clutch one night and spotted the cock clone vibrator standing upright on the bathroom sink.’

‘Lexi Clarke!’

‘Well, it was calling to me, I had to go and have a look,’ she protested. ‘Don’t tell me you brush your teeth with it?’

‘No,’ I laughed. ‘When I’ve cleaned any I stand them up to let them dry naturally. Lex, seriously. I’m not sleeping with Tyler or anyone. I’m not ready, it’s way too soon.’

‘I know,’ she sighed. ‘I was just seeing if you were one hundred percent sure, but for what it’s worth, I think that you need to have some time on your own. You loved Gabe … You
love
Gabe, so much, you’re not going to get over him in a few weeks. It could take a long time. Come on, you look tired, get some sleep, we can talk more in the morning.’ She smiled as she took the frozen peas off my face and smoothed my hair away from my forehead.

‘Lex?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Why do you have peas in the freezer when you never cook?’

‘Because my best friend has taken to getting aggressive with kitchenware and getting into fights with all and sundry, coming home with black eyes, bruised shoulders and now splits lips,’ she laughed. ‘I figured they’d come in handy someday. Come on, sleep.’

‘Will you stay with me?’

‘Sure,’ she smiled. We snuggled down and I went out like a light, totally exhausted. 

I was woken up by loud banging on the door and checked the clock. It was three a.m. The banging started again and I groaned.

‘What’s going on?’ Lexi yawned.

‘No idea, go back to sleep, I won’t be a minute.’ I struggled up and padded to the front door as I rubbed my eyes. The door knocked again and pulled it open, immediately regretting it. I should have known better than to open the door in a sleepy daze. Who else would be knocking at this time in the morning?

‘Baby, I miss you,’ slurred Gabe as he swayed, holding onto the door frame.

‘O my God. Gabe, you have to stop this,’ I groaned.

‘I told you. No stopping. We don’t end. We
never
end. We’re infinity baby. Look, look,’ he uttered as he reached down and started undoing his jeans.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ I uttered.

‘Reminding you, our wedding night. You had a peach. I had infinity. INFINITY,’ he shouted as he continued fumbling.

‘Gabe, please go home to bed. You shouldn’t be out drunk like this on your own.’

‘Not on my own,’ he replied with a shake of his head. ‘Doug’s … Doug’s in there. He’s on watch.
Sssshhhh,
it’s the “keep Gabe away from Mia watch,” but I sneaked out because I miss you,
so badly
. And I want you back. I don’t even care that you slept with him, I love you, baby. I LOVE YOU, MIA,’ he yelled through cupped hands as he staggered backwards.

‘Gabe! Shit, I’m so sorry, Mia,’ exclaimed Doug as he suddenly shot out of our apartment and grabbed him. ‘I took my eyes off him for like … seconds.’

‘Please just get him away from me, Doug. He can’t keep doing this to me, it’s not fair. We’re over.’

‘You still love me. I know you still love me, Mia. We had a forever love.’ He reached up to try and touch my face. I quickly pulled away and winced at the hurt look that crossed his own.

‘I thought we did, Gabe, but you ran to her, the going got tough and you ran to
her
and I can never forgive you for that. You need to stay away from me. You’re hurting me by not letting me go.’ He swayed as he looked at me confused. ‘Gabe, please go.’ I tried to shut the door, but he rammed his palm against it as he struggled in Doug’s hold.

‘Mia, what the bloody hell’s going on?’ Lexi asked as she appeared, rubbing her eyes.

‘I can’t do this, Doug,
please.
Take him away,’ I begged.

‘Mia,’ he sighed as he struggled to hold Gabe who’d started sobbing. ‘Listen, I know things have been kind of weird between us lately, but this is madness. You can see how fucked up he is, he’s a mess without out you. He loves you, he’s still as crazily in love with you as the day you got married. I’m pretty sure that in spite of your actions you still love him too. Please talk to him, tell him that you made a mistake and that you still love him. I’m sure he’d probably forgive you.’

‘
He’d
forgive
me
?’ I uttered.

‘You’ve got a bloody nerve even suggesting that
she
should apologise,’ Lexi snapped as she rubbed my back for me.

‘Do you know how much you hurt him by seeing Tyler, Mia? I mean … you were still married, and you slept with another guy. I just don’t understand how you could do that to him, you guys were so in love. I know I cheated,’ he stated, with a quick embarrassed look at Lexi, ‘So I’m hardly the person to be lecturing you, but I really thought that you were better than that.’