The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (36 page)

 
Where we go from here is anyone’s guess but in the bedroom, we weren’t strangers anymore but lovers. As friends, I’m not sure what we are.

Entering
The Brew Up
I immediately spot Abby waving manically at me from a table, towards the back of the café. It is not our usual corner so they must be busy. I can see Nathan in talks with Sebastian, who has his back to me. My mouth dries and I take a deep breath, smile and exchange niceties with the owner, Rory and make my way over to them; bubbles of nervous excitement, carrying me along for courage.
“Quick the waitress has just taken our order Babe,” Abby shrugs apologetically, “I’m bloody starving; couldn’t wait another second.”

“Sorry everyone. Parking was shocking.” I take a seat at the already extracted chair – Sebastian’s tanned muscular arm rests lightly along the back of it.
“Lubeedoo - looking good!” Nathan whistles and I flick his gesture away with my hand, secretly delighted; I could kiss him for showing that I appeal to other men, on this morning of all occasions.
“What?” he puts his hands in the air in mock-surprise “You do. How is that - after the amount we supped at Suzie & the Gstar’s?” He pats his flattened midriff. “That’s two weekends on the trot now! At our age we need to start pacing ourselves.”
Abby swats him playfully in response. “Speak for yourself!”
I relax and smile at my friends but am aware that the man himself is unusually quiet.
“What do you want Lu?” Sebastian’s deep sexy voice interrupts our general banter, caressing every nerve ending.
Seriously can that man read my mind?
 

Fuck woman, he’s only asking for your breakfast order not your life plan – answer him! Hmm you served up on a plate please!
 

Annoying myself at my neediness I blush; it doesn’t go unnoticed by his blackened orbs and it dawns on me that he’d posed the question in that way to get this exact reaction from me.
The bastard!
I’m tempted to call his bluff and retaliate with “
I’ll have the Full English with a side order of Cumberland sausage,”
but instead I refrain.

“Scrambled eggs on toast please and a mug of tea.” I thank him calmly and place my bag on the floor next to my chair. When I’ve straightened up I see he’s already left to place my order at the countertop. I remind myself that this is something he would have naturally done, prior to last night, before we’d ravished our bodies and had seen each other naked – but I am touched all the same!
“So, good night last night Babe wasn’t it?” Abby props her lovely smiley face on beautifully and brightly coloured manicured hands; resting her elbows on the table.

I recognise the same satisfied sensual demeanour in her that I saw this morning reflected in my dressing table mirror and I’m so happy for her. Nathan is a lovely bloke and mouth-wateringly hot! Bob and Bitzi Silver have created sons that could compete with Greek-Gods in the hunk department - they must both be so proud of them.

“Awesome night. Shame about the heeadd though,” Nathan dramatically strokes his brow. “Felt like a bugger this morning didn’t I Abs?”
 

Abby raises her shoulder to her ear (a gesture I know she does when she’s been found out) and acts evasive. “I wouldn’t know Nay.” They snigger together privately.
Bloody hell.
This was really moving fast.
Abs and Nay
; nicknames already, stolen looks.
 

I really hope that it continues smoothly, for both their sakes. Long-term they’d make a cool couple -
Abnay or Nayabs - very Brangelina!
 

I change the subject, to take the onus off them. “Great idea to come here. I could eat a horse!”
“Must have worked up an appetite?” Sebastian rejoins us and winks at me, sliding his lean 6ft frame back into the leather chair. I can feel his presence pulsating around me, via our legs, which are millimetres away from connecting, thigh to thigh underneath the table. The heat emitting from our combined proximity is enough to boil me another pot of tea and I wish I could rest my leg into his, just a bit more; then we would touch. The need to have some form of physical contact is all consuming.
I’m aware that the three of them are chattering away and discussing the events of last night but it is all a blur as I take in the male body radiating cool, unadulterated sexual prowess next to me. He’s changed into a fitted white t-shirt and Diesel Jeans and looks fresh and clean and.... my mind is taken to the gutter again, as I recollect the way in which he got clean. I lick my lips and blinking to jerk me out of my idolising, I try to return to the conversation. Luckily Abby has picked up on my discomfort and discreetly asks if I want to nip to the toilet before the food arrives.
 

We pop upstairs in silence but as soon as the door secludes us in the Ladies, she pounces on me. “You did it didn’t you? You did the dirty with Sebastian?” Spinning round in squealing shock, exceedingly pleased with her private investigator talents. “Well thank
fuck
for that!”
In that split-second I want to lie and say no, to savour the secret to myself for a little longer but looking at her expectant eyes I realise she is too good a friend, not to see what is pretty much tattooed on my forehead and I can’t do it to her. I cave.
“Yep. Seb and I had sex after the party. FBR No.1 when & where turned out to be last night; at my house.” My shoulders slump almost defeated and I sigh. Sensing this Abby grabs me in a big bear hug to her Chanel perfumed chest.
“Oh Honey, that’s great news isn’t it? Especially after the mess up the week before?” she pushes me back to thoroughly view my reaction, rubbing my arm gently.

“It is… yeah. I’m pissed though as we never spoke about that hook-up from Manchester, Stacey? You know that girl Chris said Sebastian conquered only a few nights after he took
me
to bed? Not that he really has to explain himself - we’re fuck buddies that’s all.” I look up at her confused, scrunched up face and finish. “We didn’t do much talking anyway.”
 

“Oh yeah. I remember now. Well she obviously isn’t
that
important to him, is she?” she suggests comfortingly but even I can see her argument is flawed.

“Was it worth it? The ten year wait I mean?”

I nod again quietly and crumple. “It was fucking amazing Abs!” I admit quietly and resolutely.

“Oh you poor baby. He’s gone and bloody ruined it for other men hasn’t he, the bastard. I knew he was hot but I didn’t think he’d be
that
good!”
I nod mutely pouting pathetically and we giggle together. “Well…it must run in the family,” she continues in a know-it-all voice, “… cos Nathan blew me away last night too! Well actually I blew him away first and then he did me but who cares, the
long
and the
not at all
short of it is…,” she breaks with a contented look of pure cat that got the cream, on her face and purrs, throwing her arms in the air excitedly, “… it was fucking amazing!”
 

We both take a second to mull over our respective experiences and at the exact same time pull a fake silent scream at each other; thinking what the crap have we begun?
“I like Nath, Abby. He’s one of the good ones.” Rubbing her shoulder I open the door for us to head back. “We need to talk in depth about this, you and I, very soon. But I’m not telling anyone else yet, apart from you and probably Suzie. OK?”
“My lips are closed,” she pretend zips her own and with a naughty voice mock drawls. “I promise! Well… these ones anyway!”
 

Dirty mare!

Back at the table the lads are buttering toast and dunking teabags. The smell of coffee and bacon fills my nose and my stomach greedily gurgles in expectation.

“Come on girlies - the food’s getting cold!” Nathan states and hands me a steaming mug of perfectly brewed tea. “Ooh just how I like it Nath. Cheers!”
 

He smiles back, his brown eyes, the same shape but slighter lighter than Seb’s crinkling in the corners. “Only the best for you Lulu.”

Sebastian has almost finished his full fry up, as I begin to enjoy my scrambled eggs. At first I’m not that into them, too high on pleasure for food but pretty soon I’m scraping my plate clean and feel so much better for it as my seriously shrunk stomach adapts to a full meal. My body soaks up the sustenance and practically sighs in
thanks
. I sense that I’m being watched again but choose to remain fixated upon Abby – it is the safest available option. If I cave and look at Sebastian I’m done for… again.
“What you up to today Abs?” I prompt her, encouraging her assistance with my exaggerated wide eyes.

“Not much to be honest,” she grins at Nathan and I presume that whatever they are doing… will be with each other; either that or they’ll be
doing each other!

Rolling my eyes and smirking at her vagueness I take a gulp of hot sweet tea. “I’ve got washing and ironing coming out of the woodwork; it’s got to be tackled soon, so nothing particularly sexy at my end either.”

I swear I hear Seb say, “I beg to differ,” but it’s almost a whisper and he continues to watch Nathan, so I continue; I must just be hearing things.

“Maybe a visit to the supermarket if I can be arsed? Very boring but it’ll be nice to chill out. I can’t take the hangovers anymore.”
 

“I hear ya girl!” Abby agrees and I giggle at her
girlfriend
swagger.

“Finn is back at 3pm but I wondered about maybe taking him to see a late afternoon movie?”

Abby nods in all the right places, her mouth still full of her bacon & egg sandwich.

Normally she would have offered to come with me at that point; she loved watching kids films and used Finn as a reason to not appear sad at nearly thirty, going to catch anything Pixar and Disney related. This time however she doesn’t bite anything other than her butty.
I study her face. She really does look glowing and I wonder if people can tell just by looking at me, that I was seriously fucked the night before?
Surely not?

I do hope that isn’t the case considering Niall was dropping Finn off this afternoon. The last thing I needed was his accusing mind prying into my love life. Although he still appeared to think it was his God-given right.

We comfortably chatter about Nathan joining Sebastian at Silver Construction and I’m pleased they confirm he’ll definitely be working with me at The Ashton on and off in between other jobs. His joinery skills were second-to-none and he was creating the most amazing bed frame and headboard plus window seats for the immense floor to ceiling bedroom sashes in the suite. I couldn’t wait to see them finished.

Before long, we are all happily replete and as we start to rise from the table, Nathan bluntly points out. “Bloody true what they say about the best cure for a hangover. Morning nookie followed by a large fry-up! I feel almost human again. Wouldn’t you agree Seb?”
 

He is immediately dug in the ribs with a flying elbow from a slightly flushed Abby. I feel for her but when Nathan throws his arm around her, drawing her close to him, I realise that they are in the very early stages of a serious romance and not just a fling, even if they were still unsure of it themselves.
 

I am so happy for them.
Who cares if everyone knows?

The only problem is that the divide between Sebastian and I has grown in the short time we’d been there and their closeness is only showcasing our own stilted atmosphere. Maybe that isn’t the case to all and sundry but it is to me and I hate it. I can feel my mood going south rapidly. Sebastian only adds to the chilliness when he answers Nathan’s question gruffly.
“I wouldn’t know mate!” I am pleased that he hasn’t bragged about what went on between us but I am also crestfallen that he is acting as if nothing ever happened, especially after sending me that beautiful rose!

We head to the counter, to settle our bills and Sebastian waves our money away, insistent, instead handing over his card and treating us. It is a nice gesture, but after the coldness that is apparent between us, I am irritated by his controlling ways…again. I recognise that this would not have upset me before last night and that now everything had altered. Our friendship had tilted already.

In the car park, to the rear of the café, I hug Abby and promise to call her next week for a girlie catch-up; we are long overdue. I make a mental note to talk in depth with her about my contraception debacle. Nathan kisses me on the cheek and does some convoluted handshake with Seb that they fail miserably to complete and chuckle over and then the two new lovers wander over towards his truck. They’d shared one car to come meet us I begrudgingly acknowledge. Why had I thought arriving separately would be a good idea again?

“Right well thanks for the breakie Sebastian.”
 

I can hear the frost slicing through my voice. I think that Nathan and Abby’s familiarity has made our own lack of it, too clear and I’m gutted. This wasn’t how I thought today would go, not after
the shower
episode.
“Woah Woah Woah! Where do you think you’re going Lady?” He grabs my wrist as I spin away from him; hurt welling inside and getting more confused by the second. I feel emotionally hung-over.