Don't Call Me Baby

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Tete-à-tete with Mrs. Lewis

I was surprised to discover that Joe lived really near me in a small apartment off the Kings Road in Chelsea. It was a typical bachelor's pad, and he wasn't very domesticated, as I could see taking in his messy living room. Joe had to call Pam to cancel their date and I decided to take myself off for a tour of his tiny kitchen. This was a conversation I really didn't want to hear. He joined me in the kitchen as I was stirring sugar into two mugs of tea.

"I made us tea," I told him cheerily.

He stood in front of me, gently took the spoon dropping it into the sink, and took my face into his hands. We never made it to his bedroom. Well not the first time, nor the second. There wasn't a third time because it was getting dangerously close to six thirty and I really needed to take a shower before we went to meet Julian's aunt.

We took a shower together to save time, although that might not have been such a good idea as Joe got all excited again, and I ended up having to leap out of the shower. I was going to have to rush home to change. Joe came with me and I was hoping mum wasn't home. No such luck. I was contemplating sneaking Joe into my room, but mum heard us enter and trotted out quickly into the hallway.

"Lola, where have you been? Dinner's ready. Oh," her jaw dropped when she saw Joe standing there.

"Mum, this is Joe," I waved in Joe's direction. "Soz, I have to change then rush out." Mum was still speechless.

"Hi Mrs. Hussey, real glad to meet you," he gave her his best all American beaming smile and I swear mum's mouth fell open even further.

"Joe, I'll be five minutes tops. Do you mind waiting in the living room?"

"Sure, I'll keep Mrs. Hussey company," and he winked at her - so he uses that charm on all women!

I slipped into my red jersey dress again as my wardrobe was still limited. I was less than five minutes, and when I went to pick Joe up in the living room they were laughing at some joke.

"Right, I'm ready," I announced.

Joe got off the sofa, "Well it was a real pleasure meeting you Mrs. Hussey," he shook her hand and I noticed she was reluctant to let it go. "I hope next time we meet it can be for a bit longer. Don't worry I'll make sure Lola gets home nice and safely too," he reassured her winking again. Like really? Am I a teenager or something? Mum beamed up at him.

"Thank you," she simpered. Jeez, this was way too much and I grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door. In the cab on the way to Julian's I was interrogated by Joe.

"So you invited Julian around to dinner to meet your mum?"

"No it wasn't like that," I told him. Mum, such a gossip!

"So it didn't happen?"

"He sorted of invited himself," I told him, "I made him carry my laundry up ten flights of stairs too." Was he jealous? Of course he was, and he showed his jealousy by grabbing me in the back of the cab and kissing me possessively. Oh boy, this man was hot. He ran a caressing hand up my dress.

"Well, now you're mine," he growled sexily.

"Mmm," I managed to say which was no mean feat given his tongue was in my mouth. I pushed him off. "Joe we're in the back of a cab!" We had reached Knightsbridge and would be at Julian's in about three minutes.

"But," I said, "Can we keep this to ourselves for now? There's no point in broadcasting it." He looked at me suspiciously.

"You mean don't let Julian know? Why?" I could see a flash of anger in his eyes. "You do like him, don't you Lola?" he asked me accusingly.