Yours, Always

Chapter Thirty Six

The doorbell goes just as I reach the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll get it," I shout knowing it will be James.

Except when I answer the door it's not him.

"Andrea," Steve says from behind a case of beer.

I step back in shock, as mum knows James is coming for dinner tonight, it was her idea. I don't understand why she's invited Steve and Sally over.

"Come on in." I tell them both politely.

I'm about to close the door when I see Bobby locking the car as his parents are laden with alcohol, Tom is also with him. I know it's rude but I leave the door open and rush past Steve and Sally and head to mum in the kitchen.

"You do remember that James is coming for dinner tonight right?" I ask in hush tones as I want no one else to hear me.

"Of course darling, I didn't think it'd be a problem," she tells me.

I narrow my eyes at her because right in this very moment I am aware my mother is a right sneaky cow.

"Fine, train wreak here we come," I mumble and head out into the hall again.

I'm surprised to find James has arrived; I'm not surprised to find him staring daggers at Bobby. God it's going to be a long night. I apologize to James for this almighty fuck up and practically drag him upstairs to my room. Half an hour later mum is calling us down for dinner.

I instantly hate her when I walk in as she's made sure the only empty seats are next to Bobby. Either I have to sit next to him or James does. I rise to her challenge and take the seat next to Bobby.

I expect conversation to be stilled or awkward at least but it's not. Everyone chats and conversation is easy which helps me to relax and I wonder if maybe tonight won't be so bad after all. I hear Steve asking James all the fatherly questions and it makes me laugh because he's already had to answer them for dad.

"So how long have you and Andrea been together?" he asks.

"Two years in July sir." James tells Steve.

"Wow and do you love her?" he asks and I want the ground to swallow me whole.

"Yes sir I do." He tells him completely unfazed.

"You know when Andrea was little she had this amazing talent for lying, it got her into a lot trouble – well only if Bobby grassed on her mind. Can you still do that Andrea?" he asks me totally unware that he's just opened a can of worms.

"No. I'm a terrible lair now." I say laughing.

"That's a shame," he says and I can't believe he actually believes me.

Bobby laughs next to me and I stare daggers at him.

"I think she's lying to you babe," Sally says laughing at her husband.

"Ok well how about we play a little game?" He asks me and I look at him blankly because I'm not sure this is going anywhere good. I'm actually beginning to wonder how much he's had to drink.

"What kind of game?" I ask because I'm not sure what else to say.

"Me and Bobby used to play this game a lot when we went Kayaking, you say three things about yourself but one has to be a lie. I want to see if James can tell which one is the lie." He says and I'm almost convinced alcohol should be banned from this house forever.

"Ok, come on Andrea. Let's see I bet I can do it." James tells me smiling and I feel bad because I know he will get it wrong. I decided to make it easy on him.