The Back Up Benefit

Not Good Enough

The next day when I picked up my car James asked me out for lunch. I agreed. Over the next few weeks we went for several meals. The more I saw of James the grumpier Ricky got.

The bad mood was all Ricky's own doing. I tried to include him in plans. We still spent time with each other as friends but it was like spending time with a grumpy teenager.

And of course the grumpier Ricky got the more charming I found James. Sometimes I would go to see him at work and was greeted one day with a frankly magnificent sight. It was a pleasantly warm day when I walked into the forecourt and found him bent over with his head in the bonnet of an old car. That view was quite delicious it's self but joined with that he was wearing overalls unzipped and tied around his waist and a grubby vest made me quite flushed.

I stood watching him for a while before he turned around and saw me. I blushed at being caught checking him out but he grinned and gave me a cheeky wink.

"See something you like?" he asked as he wiped his oily hands on his vest.

"Oh you know, just some lovely cars." I shrugged.

"Well, don't you look beautiful today." he grinned as he strode over to greet me.

"Clean off before you come too close!" I told him putting my hands in the air. "No greasy hands on this dress! I made it myself!"

"Aren't you a modern day Maria Avon Trapp?" he grinned.

I laughed at this idea. "Yeah but I'm tone deaf!"

Things with James were progressing well. We took it slowly and calmly. We'd been together three months when we met each other's parents. My parents liked him, his seemed to like me, everything was going well until a few months later when he asked me to move in with him.

I should have jumped at this. He lived in a lovely posh house in an expensive part of town but he had a dog and I had Percival the bunny to think about. I'd leant from the vets that Percival didn't mix well with other animals and would even try to chew his way out of the carrier to get away from them. He couldn't go to live with Ricky as he wasn't in one place for too long with his touring lifestyle.

When I told James the reason for my reluctance he lost his temper. This was the first time in the six months we'd been together that he'd even raised his voice.

"You care more about that bloody rabbit than you do about me!" he snapped.

I hesitated which was a mistake. I did truly love Percival more than any human. "Don't make this a competition!" I replied.

"Oh so you do love him more! If I had my way I'd put him out for the foxes." he spat. "Little piece of shit chews everything!"

"Of course he does, that's how he grinds his teeth down! And don't even joke about killing him. It's not funny or clever!" I told him, holding back tears.

"Just give him to Richard. And while you're at it get rid of that lower class northerner." he snarled.

"Don't talk about my best friend like that!" I shouted.

That was it. I couldn't spend a moment longer around a man who could be so rude about my best friend. Yes, Ricky could be an idiot but so could anyone and he was my idiot anyway.

When I got home I lay on my bed crying into Percival's soft fur. He just lay next to me making his happy teeth chattering sounds and snuffling his nose in my face. James rang my mobile a few times but I ignored him. After I'd cried most of my tears I text Ricky to ask if he was free to talk. He phoned me straight away.

"What's up darling?" he asked as soon as I answered the phone.

"James asked me to move in with him." I said still with a wobble in my voice.

"That's great, isn't it? Why are you upset?" he asked.

"Cose he wants to get rid of Percival." I said, new tears splashing onto the bunny's fur.

"Oh." was Ricky's reply.

"I love our Percy Pants too much." I cried.

"I love him too. We'll work something out. Maybe he could travel with me." he suggested.

"He also doesn't want me to be friends with you." I was now sobbing.

"Oh shit." he muttered. "You're not with him now are you?"

"No, I'm at home with Percy." I replied. "What do I do? I can't live without you Rick."

"Stay there. I'll be on my way after the show." he said.

"No, you don't have to come home for me." I protested weakly.

"Yes I do." he said.

"But the band need you more than me." I told him.

"They can live without me for a day. It's only promotional stuff tomorrow." he dismissed. "Don't answer the phone or door to anyone but me. Ok?"

"Ok. I really don't feel like moving anyway." I said.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of the front door closing. My blood suddenly ran cold in horror. Who the hell was in my flat? I sat up as I heard footsteps coming towards my room. I sighed when the door opened and it was just Ricky.

"Hey." he smiled weakly.

"Hey." I smiled sleepily. "You look exhausted."

"I am." he nodded.

I shuffled over to let him get into bed. He took his coat, shoes and jeans off and left them on the floor before he climbed in and pulled me into a hug.

"I think I should break up with James. If it's between you and him I'll chose you any day." I told him.

"Good." he replied sleepily. "I've never thought he was good enough for you."