Better Together Read online

  Chapter Sixteen

  ‘Come on, come on. Answer the bloody phone’ Alex said impatiently into the handset of her mobile phone. After ten rings, she eventually got an answer.

  ‘Hey, what’s up? I told you to try not to call me during work hours,’ the man at the other end of the phone said rudely. Alex grimaced and took a deep breath.

  ‘Happy New Year to you too.’ She knew she couldn’t let him wind her up, especially not before she had said her piece. ‘I need more money. My dear other half has decided to have it off with someone else, so we are splitting up.’ She sighed and added, ‘I must have Philanderers Apply Here tattooed on my forehead or something!’

  The man ignored her smug comment and continued, ‘But, Alex, I give you £500 a month already. Surely that’s enough?’

  ‘Enough when Dan was bringing home the bacon to support us all, yes. But I’ll have to find my own place now. I will of course have to go back to work but, with nursery fees for Evie, I still don’t think I will earn enough to manage on my own.’

  ‘But Dan will obviously give you money for her, won’t he? Unless you’ve told him about me, that is?’

  Alex went silent. She wanted to taunt this man, who had so readily dismissed her the minute she had told him she was pregnant with his child. She was so lucky to have met Dan when she did, and was so easily able to pass Evie off as his.

  ‘Of course I haven’t told him. I’m not that stupid. I don’t want anything at all to upset Evie. It’s hard enough for her that we are splitting up, as it is.’

  The man at the end of the phone softened. ‘Look, I’ll pay a grand into your bank account today. That should tide you over until you find a job. Then, why don’t you work out some figures and we’ll talk again?’

  ‘OK. Thank you,’ Alex replied curtly and hung up.

  Chapter Seventeen

  BEEP: Dead excited about tonight are you?

  BEEP: Maybe J See you on the train at 6 x

  ‘Birthday boy!’ Jess hung out of the train window as she saw Dan rushing through the ticket barrier.

  ‘Phew, just made it,’ he gasped. ‘Hey, nice hat, Mrs Robinson.’

  ‘Well, thank you, sir.’ Jess kissed him on the cheek. ‘Your birthday surprise awaits, young man.’

  The Soho Hotel was even plusher than Dan had expected. They were greeted in reception by a large stone sphinx and a stunning-looking girl, dressed in a smart black uniform.

  ‘Good to see you again, Ms Morley.’

  Jess loved it here; she had run various events at this hotel and they always treated her like royalty.

  ‘We’ve upgraded you to a junior suite as it’s a special occasion.’ The receptionist nodded towards Dan and smiled. ‘Happy Birthday, sir.’

  ‘Fuck, what an amazing room!’ he exclaimed as he threw himself on to the massive bed. ‘Champagne too!’

  ‘Of course, only the best for the birthday boy. Look in the fridge.’ Neatly lined up were four cans of Stella.

  ‘You’re a bit special, aren’t you, Mrs Robinson?’

  ‘I do try.’ Jess smiled.

  Since Boxing Day they had lunched and messaged and talked for hours. This was Jess and Dan’s first whole night together since and the anticipation bristled around the room.

  ‘And now I actually have a surprise for you, Mrs Robinson.’

  Jess looked at him quizzically.

  ‘Go and sit over on the sofa, shut your eyes and hold your hand out.’

  She did as she was told. Opening her hand to find a bit of folded-up paper, she looked at Dan quizzically.

  ‘Go on – unwrap it then.’

  She unwrapped the small packet to find four orange-coloured pills.

  ‘Dan?’

  He laughed, loving the fact that he had done something to surprise Jess for once.

  ‘These, my darling lady friend, are our entertainment for the evening.’

  ‘Oh my God! Look, Dan, I’m not so sure. I’ve never taken drugs, apart from the odd puff of weed, ever before in my life.’

  ‘You’re going to love it!’

  Jess hoped there weren’t any gas ovens around to stick her head into, as she was sure if he asked her to do that she would obey without question! What was it with this boy?

  ‘I’m scared,’ she confessed.

  ‘I’ll look after you. You will be absolutely fine, we’re going to have a ball.’

  He kissed her full on the lips and brushed her fringe off her face. He noticed that she smelt gorgeous. Dan proceeded to stand on the bed and put his arms in the air and began to speak like a ring-master.

  ‘Jessica Morley. What you have here tonight, for one night only, is a fuck-off huge bedroom, with a sumptuous lounge area.’ He pointed to the end of the suite. ‘Plus,’ dramatic pause for effect, ‘over in that corner, a marble tiled bathroom, with a Jacuzzi for two and a walk in shower and – drum roll, please….’

  Jess tapped her hands on the glass coffee table as her sexy young partner continued. ‘Finally, Ms Morley, for your delectation and delight, you have champagne, a love drug and, of course, me and my huge cock!’ Dan did a star jump off the bed and Jess laughed out loud.

  Dan was happy. He loved hanging out with Jess. He was also really excited at the thought of taking some pills with her, as he knew how horny she would get. Jess, too began to feel excited. As she had never mixed in circles that had taken drugs, she had always wondered how Ecstasy would make her feel.

  ‘Right,’ said Jess. ‘Let’s go for dinner and then we can come back here and party on.’

  Dan put his hand on hers, ‘Jessy Morley, we don’t need food tonight, just supplements. Now let’s get this party started.’ He poured the champagne and they clinked glasses.

  ‘Cheers.’ Jess cocked her head to the side and smiled.

  ‘You ready?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Just take a big swig, wash them down and relax,’ Dan urged.

  ‘Both of them?’ Jess enquired.

  ‘Yeah, I reckon.’

  Chapter Eighteen

  Alex lifted Evie out of her car seat and carried her to Sally’s door.

  ‘Auntie Sally’s.’

  ‘That’s right, Wevie, clever girl.’

  ‘Is Daddy here?’

  ‘No darling, Daddy’s gone to London to see some friends tonight.’

  ‘Hey, how you doing?’ Sal greeted Alex at the door with a kiss on the cheek.

  Her bobbed blonde hair was wet and she was wearing just a white towel over her size 14 frame. ‘Let me whizz upstairs and get dressed and I’ll be right with you.’

  Alex sat Evie on the lounge floor, gave her a packet of raisins and put on CBeebies. She went to the fridge and poured two large glasses of wine. Then she lit a cigarette. Sal came back into the kitchen. ‘Right, I’m all yours. How’s it going?’

  ‘He wants me back.’

  ‘You are joking!’

  ‘Exactly what I said. He walked in last night, blubbed like a baby, said sorry for what he’d done about a million times and thought it was the right thing to do, to try and make a go of it for Evie’s sake.’

  ‘Not your sake then?’

  ‘Well, he did say that we hadn’t ever really discussed what the problems were with us, and maybe if we did that then we could work it out.’

  ‘And what did you say?’

  ‘I told him to fuck right off!’

  ‘Good girl.’

  ‘So, more crying ensued and then I think he realised that I meant it and that was that. He just skulked off to bed with his tail between his legs.’

  ‘Has he seen the old hag again?’ Sal asked.

  ‘Not as far as I know,’ Alex shrugged. ‘He said that it was just a one-off, a silly drunken mistake, and she was far too old to even consider having a relationship with anyway.’

  ‘So where is he tonight then?’

  ‘It’s his birthday tomorrow and he’s gone to meet up with an old friend of his in London. They are going to a few bars and
he’s crashing there.’

  ‘And you believe him?’

  ‘Well yeah, why wouldn’t I? And to be honest, if he is lying I actually don’t care anymore. I’ve lost total respect for him now.’ Alex took a large gulp of wine.

  ‘How’s Evie doing?’ Sal added.

  ‘She’s not picked up on anything yet, so that’s a good thing anyway. I’m finding it tough coping with her on my own, though. I didn’t realise how much Dan actually did, to be honest.’

  ‘So are you doing to tell him that Evie is not his?’ Sal enquired.

  ‘No definitely not. Dickhead can pay for the rest of his life, and now that Dan’s gone too he will have to pay up as well. I’ll be quids in.’

  ‘I don’t blame you, Al. They’ve both wronged you. In fact, it’s divine retribution.’

  Alex sat back in the wooden kitchen chair and suddenly felt sad. As much as she and Dan had not been getting on over the past few months, she did really miss having him around the house. It was tough and lonely sometimes, being a single parent. Dan would always be more of a father to Evie, than Dickhead ever would have been, and she was relieved that she hadn’t blurted it out in anger, when she had first found out about his indiscretion. Dan wasn’t a bad man and at least he had the decency not to continue having an affair behind her back.

  The girls sat in silence for a while until Sal piped up. ‘Look Al, about us the other night.’

  Alex had almost forgotten about it already. ‘Sal, it’s cool. I was so in need of some love and attention, and the fact that I got it from my best mate was perfect. I actually feel like I’ve been unfaithful to Dan now, and that makes me feel a hell of a lot better too.’ Sal looked a little perturbed by this comment. Alex softened.

  ‘Look I’m sorry, what I said came out wrong. I wouldn’t have changed a thing about the other night. But let’s face it, it was a one-off.

  Alex smiled ‘Can’t really imagine explaining to Evie that her pretend father ran off with a geriatric, and her mother turned lesbian due to the shock of it!’

  It was Sal’s turn to giggle. ‘Nice pussy and all that, honey child, but I like cocks too much girlfriend,’ she added in a funny voice.

  ‘Sally Walters, you are pure filth! Now let’s get that little girl of mine fed and in bed, and we can get pissed.’

  Chapter Nineteen

  Dan had loaded the CD player and his music blared out over the Soho Hotel suite.

  ‘How’s it going, Mrs Robinson?’ He knelt down in front of her, stroked her face gently and held her hands as she sat on the sofa.

  Feel a bit wonky actually, Mr Harris, bit hot.’ She could hear her voice, but thought it didn’t sound like her. Dan proceeded to fan her with the breakfast menu.

  ‘It’s all good, Jess, I promise you, it’s all good. Here, have some water.’

  ‘Whoa.’ Jess felt really strange. ‘I need to take some clothes off.’

  ‘That’s cool, Jess, no worries.’

  She stripped off her jumper to reveal a lacy black bra which showed just the right amount of cleavage. ‘Dan, am I OK?’ she questioned.

  ‘You’re more than OK, honey; in a minute you are going to feel amazing.’ Dan was completely attentive: he fanned Jess, stroked her face, and touched her lips with his just so she knew he was right there.

  ‘Need to lie down,’ Jess said.

  Dan helped her up. She lay down back to front on the huge bed and put her legs high up on the 6ft satin headboard, stretching out her arms wide.

  ‘Here, have some more water.’ He lay down next to her and put his legs up too.

  Jess’s face had completely relaxed; she had a wry smile on her face as the Gorrillaz blared out ‘Dare’. Dan stroked her face. ‘Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?’ he said tenderly.

  ‘I’ve lost count.’ Jess laughed. ‘God, I feel amazing,’ she murmured.

  She reached over to stroke Dan’s face, turned to her side and kissed him. It was the most sensual, tender kiss she had ever experienced. She was lost in the moment. If she had died there and then she wouldn’t have cared.

  Finally, she pulled away from him. ‘And now, Mr Harris, for your eyes only, I am going to do the world famous Jessica Morley Soho Hotel pillow dance.’ She grabbed a pillow with both her feet and began circling it above their heads.’

  Dan leapt up, ripped his shirt off and proceeded to dance around the room. Jess dropped her pillow and stretched her body right out into a star shape.

  ‘You dancing with me, Jessy Morley?’

  ‘No, I’m stretching.’ She yawned. ‘But in a minute, I am going to be your private dancer,’ she said woozily.

  Suddenly she felt a rush of energy go right through her, from her toes to the top of her head. She jumped off the bed, ripped off her jeans to reveal black, lacy, shorts and threw her head back in delight. ‘Baby boy, I’m a dancing.’

  She lifted her arms in the air and began to dance and dance and dance.

  ‘I feel like a twenty-four-year-old.’ She shouted grabbing Dan’s erection through his boxer shorts.

  ‘You’re lucky it’s after midnight then, aren’t you?’ He smiled at her exuberance. She pulled away, grabbed a bottle of water from the mini bar and downed it in one. Dan laughed out loud at Jess who was now bouncing up and down on the sofa. She looked oh so sexy.

  ‘Get here, you,’ he said huskily.

  Jess hopped down from the sofa and he grabbed her from behind. He could feel the curves of her body gyrating against him, droplets of sweat from her forehead fell on to his hands. Never before had he felt such a wanting for another human being. He walked her slowly towards the bed so that she gently fell forward, pushed her panties aside and slowly entered her, caressing her breasts as he did so. Jess squirmed with pleasure.

  ‘Whoa, I need a rest,’ Jess panted.

  They fell on to the bed.

  ‘You like?’ Dan enquired

  ‘I fucking love it!’ she replied.

  A chill-out track came on. Jess lay on the bed stroking Dan’s arms and planting butterfly kisses all over him.

  ‘Do you know what? The minute I saw you at the party I wanted you, Jessy Morley. In fact, the minute we shared a warm beer in the Holiday Inn in Wandsworth I thought you were pretty special.’

  ‘I feel exactly the same. I’ve never felt such a connection with anyone like this before. Just mates though, eh, like you said?’ Jess smiled at him wryly.

  ‘Jess, I love hanging out with you, I think you’re really cool.’

  ‘We can be mates that stay overnight then, is that a deal?’

  ‘Deal.’

  Jess shut her eyes momentarily and clenched her knees into her chest.

  ‘Jess?’

  ‘Hmm?’ she responded dreamily.

  ‘I always want to be honest with you.’

  ‘That’s good.’

  ‘And, well.’ He hesitated for a second. ‘Just so you know, I did see if Alex would get back with me again. The thought of Evie coming from a broken home just hurts so me so much, especially as it would be my doing.’

  ‘And?’ Jess enquired, not allowing herself to get upset.

  ‘She told me to fuck off actually. Can’t say I blame her really. I thought long and hard afterwards and realised that it would have been foolish to even try. Alex and I would never have worked out. I was just twenty when I met her and I’ve already grown into a different person.’

  Jess leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thanks for telling me,’ she said sincerely.

  ‘I love Evie so much,’ Dan sighed.

  ‘I know you do, darling. Everything will be fine, don’t worry.’

  ‘You’ll never guess what else?’ Dan carried on. ‘She only had a lesbian fling with her best mate.’

  ‘No way!’ Jess laughed out loud.

  ‘It’s not funny,’ Dan said indignantly. ‘She was bloody unfaithful with another woman. It’s still a betrayal.’ Jess said nothing more and snuggled into him.

  �
�Jess?’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Great tits too, by the way,’ Dan smirked.

  ‘Well, thank you,’ she laughed

  ‘Pussy’s pretty delicious too.’

  ‘Daniel Harris!’

  ‘I mean it, Jess. I think you are gorgeous with a capital G and thanks so much for arranging this for me. I really do appreciate it.’

  And then the love making commenced: in the Jacuzzi, in the shower, on the sofa, against the desk. They eventually fell asleep on top of the bed, in each other’s arms.

  Jess awoke with a jump as the maid knocked on the door. ‘Dan, wake up. It’s eleven-thirty and we’ve got to be out of the room in thirty.’ She groaned. ‘Give us an hour please,’ she called out.

  She snuggled into Dan. ‘Happy Birthday, baby boy! That was the most amazing night I’ve ever had in my life. I’m glad I shared it with you.’

  ‘It was pretty special, wasn’t it?’

  Dan turned over to kiss her sensually. As he did so, Jess became aware of wetness between her legs. She knew it wasn’t just from her.

  ‘Shit, shit!’

  ‘Jess, chill out, baby. What on earth’s the matter?’

  .‘Dan, for one, I can’t remember if we used condoms every time last night and if we did, which I doubt, one of them has most definitely burst.’

  ‘Don’t panic its fine, we’re in central London. I’m sure a Boots will be open, you can take a morning after pill.’

  ‘OK, OK. I won’t panic. Damn, I was waiting for the first day of my period to go back on the pill. But you’re right:, the morning after pill must be foolproof. Let’s get up now so we can zap those sperms of yours.’

  Chapter Twenty

  ‘ Em, it’s me, pick up if you’re there.’ Jess was in the fruit and veg section of Tesco.

  ‘Hey there, how you doing? I’ve literally got 5 minutes, as I’ve got to drive Aaron to football practice.’

  ‘I’m panicking slightly, I just felt really strange, got like flashes in front of my eyes and felt really faint, like I’ve never felt before, I’m worried I might be pregnant.’

  ‘Oh Jess, I’m sure you can’t be. But look, whilst you’re there, why don’t you get a test. You can put your mind at rest. I’ll be back at 7.30, come round then and do it here, with me. I’m sure you can’t be though.’