Beneath This Man - Malpas Jodi Ellen (книги серии онлайн TXT) 📗

‘It won’t happen again.’ I take my plate to the dishwasher and go to open it, but the plate is whipped from my hand before I have a chance to see through my chore.

‘I’ll take that. You better go and help my boy with whatever it is he needs you for.’

Oh, I know exactly what he needs me for and I’m not going anywhere. He can sort himself out. It’s killing me to deny him, but his face was just brilliant. ‘Oh, he’ll manage.’

‘Okay, shall we go through what I should get on with? I have a roster, but being away for so long, it’s all gone to cock!’ She takes a pad and pen from the front of her apron and gets ready to take notes. ‘I should probably start with the washing and ironing.’

‘Urm, I’m not sure,’ I shrug.  ‘I don’t even really live here.’ I whisper. I want to add that I’ve been abducted and moved in against my will.

‘You don’t?’ Her face is puzzled ‘My boy said you did.’

‘Well, it’s a conversation yet to be had,’ I explain. ‘He doesn’t like the word no. Well, not from me, anyway.’

Her shiny forehead furrows. ‘What, my easygoing boy?’

I scoff.  ‘Yes, so I’m told.’ If anyone else says he’s easygoing, I might just trample them.

‘Well, it’s nice to have a lady in the house.’ she says, collecting some cleaner from under the sink. ‘My boy needs a girl.’ she muses to herself.

I smile at Cathy’s affectionate referral to Jesse. I wonder how long she has worked for him? Jesse had said that she was the only woman he couldn’t live without, although I suspect that has changed now.

She sprays the worktop down with anti-bacterial spray and starts wiping. ‘I’ll wait for Jesse then, if you would prefer.’

‘Yes, thank you. I’m just going to make a few calls.’ I notice my phone charging on the side but no bag. ‘Have you seen my bag?’

‘I popped it in the cloakroom, darling. Oh, and I’ve had Clive sort out the elevator door.’

I cringe. ‘Oh, thank you.’ I grab my phone and make my way out of the kitchen to retrieve my bag. She probably thinks I’m a slob as well as a rude cow, a vandal and a flasher.

I find my bag and glance down at my phone, noting two missed calls from my Mum and a text from Matt. My shoulders sag. I should delete it, but curiosity gets the better of me.

I don’t know what got into me. I’m sorry x.

I bristle from head to toe and delete the message. The last thing I need is Jesse finding it. He was sorry before and it’s still bothering me how he knows about Jesse. I should ring my Mum first, but I have a friend with some explaining to do. She takes a while, but she eventually answers. I know she’ll be looking down at her screen, wondering what to say.

‘You’re a member!’ I blurt accusingly when she finally picks up.

‘And?’ She’s aiming for nonchalance, but I’m detecting irritation.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘It’s none of your business.’ she retorts.

‘Thanks!’ I’m completely offended. We tell each other everything.

‘It’s just a bit of fun, Ava.’ she huffs impatiently.

I’ve heard this before, but I know there’s more to it. I know she likes Sam and I can’t see how joining him in all things kinky and going along with his lifestyle is going to get her what she wants. This is a disaster waiting to happen. ‘You keep saying that.’ I grate down the phone. ‘Why won’t you admit there is more to it?’

‘Like what?’ she asks, her tone indicating surprise – surprise that I’ve come out and asked the million dollar question.

‘Like you really like him.’ I say, completely exasperated.

She scoffs. ‘I do not!’

‘Oh, you’re hopeless.’ I snap. Why can’t she just swallow her pride and admit it? What harm would it do, especially to me?

‘Talking of hopeless; how’s Jesse? Fuck me, Ava. That man can screw!’

I laugh. ‘Yes, he can. Matt tried to jump my bones before Jesse ambushed the flat. He proceeded to tell Jesse that we had a little snog. I think Matt might be nursing a black eye this morning.’

‘Ha, good!’ She laughs, and I can’t help the small smile of satisfaction developing on my face. He deserved it.

‘He knows about Jesse’s little drink issue.’ I add. I’m not laughing now.

‘How?’  Her shock matches mine.

‘I have no idea. Anyway, I’ve got to ring my mother. I guess I’ll see you later.’

‘Oh yes!’ she chirps excitedly. I can’t match her excitement for the anniversary dinner tonight. ‘See you there!’

‘Bye.’ I hang up and dial my mother before she sends out the search party.

‘Ava?’ Her shrill voice assaults my eardrums.

‘Mum, not so loud!’

‘Sorry. Matt’s called again.’

What?

I take myself across to the main open area and sit myself down. Any hopes of being cheered up by my mother have been well and truly dashed with that little statement.

‘Ava, he said you’ve moved in with a raving alcoholic who has a terrible temper. He beat Matt up!’

I fall back in a chair and look up to the ceiling in total mental exasperation. Why can’t the prick just crawl into the dark hole he came from and die? ‘Mum, please don’t speak to him anymore.’ I plead. What a lowlife he really is, dumping this shit on my parents. It just reinforces my conclusions about the deceitful, nasty snake.

‘Is it true?’ she asks tentatively. I can see her in my mind’s eye flicking a worried glare at my Dad.

‘Not exactly,’ I can’t completely lie to her. She’ll have to find out where I am eventually. ‘It’s nothing like Matt says, Mum.’

‘Well, what is it then?’

Oh, I can’t do this over the phone. There is far too much to explain and I don’t want her passing judgment on Jesse. I could kill Matt. ‘Mum, listen. I’ve got to get to work.’ A little white lie won’t hurt.

‘Ava, I’m so worried about you.’

I can sense her despair. I hate Matt for doing this, but he said he was sorry. Was that before or after he called my parents to give them an update on my love life? I should send Jesse around to trample all over him. ‘Please, don’t be. Matt wanted me back. He pounced on me when I went to collect the last of my things and turned nasty when I rebuffed him. Jesse was just protecting me.’ I try to cut a long story short and purposely leave out any parts that could tarnish Jesse. There are a few.

‘Jesse? Was that the man you were with when I called last weekend?’

‘Yes.’ I sigh.

‘So, he’s not just a friend?’ Her tone is scornful. She’s rumbled my small white lie and she won’t be happy about it.

‘I’m just seeing him. It’s nothing serious.’ I try and play it down and laugh in my head. I can’t believe I just said that.

‘And he’s an alcoholic?’ she prompts.

I let out a tired breath that I know she won’t appreciate. ‘He’s not an alcoholic, Mum. Matt’s being spiteful, ignore him. And don’t answer anymore of his calls.’

‘I’m not happy about this. There is no smoke without fire, Ava.’ She really doesn’t sound happy and I can’t blame her. I’ve never been so glad that they live so far away. I don’t think I could face her. ‘Your brother will be back in London soon.’ she adds threateningly. I know for sure she’ll be hanging up on me and ringing Dan immediately to give him the lowdown.

‘I know. I’ve got to go.’ I push.

‘Fine, I’ll speak to you over the weekend,’ she says on a huff.  ‘Take care of yourself.’ She adds the last bit a little more softly. She never ends a conversation on a bad note.

‘I will, I love you.’

‘You too, Ava.’

I drop my phone in my lap and keep staring up at the high ceiling. Will he continue to shit all over me? The temptation to ring Matt’s mother is overwhelming. I’ve never been her favourite person and she’s never been mine. Her little golden boy can do no wrong, so calling her and filling her in on Matt’s transgressions would be fruitless. Oh God, my parents will be frantic.

I close my eyes and try to dispel all thoughts of hideous ex-boyfriends and worrying parents. It doesn’t work. When I open them again, Jesse’s face is floating above mine, a hand braced on each arm of the chair as he leans over me.