The Bully

Chapter Twelve

Before long I was seeing Jay every day. He would call round in a morning and we'd walk to work together. We'd meet again at lunch time and eat together then walk home early evening for dinner. If there was a show we'd head back in and then go back to my place afterwards. He never stayed the whole night though and up to now we hadn't gone any further than kissing and cuddling. He was gentle and kind; easy to talk to and I had to admit very easy on the eye. I wouldn't say I was in love, but I enjoyed our time together.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in an age," William complained. Jay was meeting an old friend in Manchester and so we'd grabbed the chance to get a bite to eat together and a night out. I stabbed a piece of pasta and smiled at him.

"You're the one that said I needed a man to help me get over my past," I replied and he sighed.

"Well I wasn't expecting you to be living in each other's pockets quite so soon, pet," he grumbled.

"We're not exactly in each other's pockets. He still goes home every night and we haven't... well you know?"

William raised an eyebrow.

"Really? But it's been three months!"

"Is that such a long time? Have you and Tania...?"

"Well yes," he said. He had been with Tania for just over a month and I really liked her. She owned a coffee shop and when William started disappearing every day for a coffee and I heard he was in there for up to three hours a day I knew there was something going on. But I was genuinely very happy for him. "I mean it's a big part of a relationship, love."

"I guess so. He's just so considerate all the time, you know always putting me first. He even washes up!"

"He must be a saint," William observed.

"But he's not so much as suggested we move things to the bedroom." I sighed, thinking how long it had been since my last time. It had been a drunken night in Iraq with a soldier I met there. I wasn't proud of myself; I'd been drinking and got carried away, ending up in my flat with a complete stranger. It was so awkward the following morning I didn't repeat the experience and was only grateful he had used a condom. I guessed that was another reason I didn't drink; I hadn't liked the feeling of losing control.

"Maybe you should seduce him?" William suggested. I laughed at that but then sighed. Maybe I should. "Do you want a small glass of wine? I know you don't usually drink but it might make you feel better?"

"Ok," I said, reluctantly. It wasn't a bad glass of wine, so nice that I decided to have another and before I knew it we'd had two bottles between us. We staggered out of the restaurant and William said he'd walk me home. As we walked up to the house, our arms around each other, singing Abba songs at the top of our voices, I suddenly froze. Jay was standing on the path leading up to my front door watching us approach and he didn't look amused. Seeing him, William grinned.

"Good luck with the seduction , love," he said quietly, planting a huge kiss on my cheek before he turned away, leaving me alone with Jay.

"Good night with William?" he enquired, a littler frostily.

"Yes it was great,thanks."

"I thought you didn't drink," he said, quietly.

"Just had a couple," I admitted, searching through my bag for my keys which I promptly dropped. He gave a cross sigh and picked them up for me, but didn't hand them back. He unlocked the door himself and led me inside. I watched as he banged cups in the kitchen, making coffee. "You mad with me?"

He turned to face me, leaning against the kitchen counter, a tight smile on his face.

"Mad isn't the word. Disappointed Angelina. You told me you don't drink but from where I'm standing you look drunk."