Just Human (21 page)

We have, as Danny pointed out, been together for years; albeit with an extended hiatus, and it’s feeling like that too. Except he’s like no man I’ve ever been with. He cleans, he helps out and he considers me. I know he has nothing else to do right now, but it feels like it’s in his nature to be this way. When my flowers were looking a bit sad on Friday, I went up to see him at lunch time and found that they had gone and the vase was washed and on the draining board. I probably would have left them for another week until the water was all smelly, but he cared enough to do it for me. Later on, I was astounded to have a second visit from the florist with another gorgeous bouquet.

AND
the sex is amazing!

It has been surreal, but I’m thinking about it less and less. We’re in our two-week bubble and I’m determined to enjoy every minute. Things have been perfect, then a couple of days ago, I got a text from Mark which said, ‘Can we talk? x’. It came through while I was curled up on the sofa with Danny watching a film. I showed him. He surprised me by not being jealous or overprotective, he simply asked me what I was going to do. I told him I would do nothing, I don’t owe Mark anything and I don’t have anything to say to him. So I deleted it in the hope that he’d get the message.

Danny’s parents got home from their holiday, so he called them to let them know where he was. They were naturally shocked, but supportive. He told them that right now he was just visiting and he’d let them know if he planned to fly back at any point. He’s also spoken to Jen a few times. I’ve no idea what she’s like, but from the one-sided parts of conversation I’ve heard, they seem to have a lovely friendship.

He has hooked up his laptop and an array of other equipment that I don’t understand and has made one end of my dining table his temporary office. He has no work right now, but still has to check his email every day. Jen passed on a few messages from his machine at home, so he hasn’t missed anything so far. He’s been keeping himself busy and I notice he’s been on Facebook a lot. Over the last week he’s liked the bar’s page and I’ve tagged him in the few photos he appears in. I also noticed that he’s now friends with Max, Charlie, Connie and a couple of the bar staff. I guess he has nothing to do.

He’s been helping out every day, wherever I’m working. I told him to relax and enjoy his holiday, but he says he’s here to be with me, not sit in my empty flat. Right now I’m grateful for his help because it’s Easter Sunday and we’re really busy with a late lunch crowd. He’s helping me with some glasses in the bar kitchen, when my phone buzzes in my back pocket. I pull it out and frown…Mark.

‘Please, I need to see you. x’

“What’s up?” Danny asks.

“It’s Mark again,” I sigh. I thought he would just go away.

“What does he want?” he asks, looking concerned. Like me, he assumed that Mark would not be an issue.

“He wants to see me.” I glance up at Danny. “Well he can fuck off,” I say decisively and shove my phone back in my pocket.

Danny continues loading glasses into the dishwasher.

“Maybe you should talk to him, see what he wants,” he says without looking up.

“What for?”

“Well he won’t go away until you tell him to. If you say nothing, the door is still open.”

“Trust me, he knows the door is very closed.”

“Well obviously not, or he’d leave you alone.”

“I’ve no interest in anything he has to say.” I shake my head and carry on stacking glasses.

“Okay,” Danny says, backing off. We continue to work in silence. I’m so furious with Mark for daring to penetrate the bubble. Not that he realises that is what he’s doing. He has no idea how my life has changed since he left. He probably imagines that I’m all broken. He knows I was angry, perhaps that’s why he has let the dust settle before getting in touch. But maybe now he expects to find me vulnerable and ready for reconciliation. Well whatever, I’m not interested. I finish up and stalk back into the bar, grateful, that we’re busy.

At about 5pm the rush is over and Danny and I have taken a break. Tonight will be busy with the younger crowd, tomorrow is a Bank Holiday, so they will be making the most of the extra drinking time. We’ve eaten and showered. I laugh when he emerges from the bedroom wearing a staff shirt. He ruined another t-shirt today helping out, so I gave him one of our shirts to save the rest of his wardrobe.

“I hope you know, I’m not paying you!” I joke. He raises an eyebrow at me; I ignore his suggestiveness and slip my arms around his waist.

“You couldn’t afford me anyway.” He leans in and kisses me. He holds me close to him and fixes me with his intense stare. “Can I take you away?”

“Away?”

“Yeah, can you get a few days off? I want to take you away for a romantic trip.”

“When?”

“I don’t know, this weekend?”

I frown at him. “Where will we be going?”

“It’s a surprise. Can we do it?”

“Well I’m not working this weekend, so yeah!”

“Great!” he says and kisses me. “Come on,” he says patting my bum. “Back to work.”

“Ooh, I love it when you’re all forceful” I tease and turn to head back downstairs.

After I’ve checked in on the diner staff, wiped a few tables and served some drinks, I head next door. Danny is already pitching in with Max behind the bar and I watch them for a minute. They have a sweet rapport. The fondness I feel for them both overwhelms me. Just then, my thoughts are interrupted by a familiar voice behind me.

“Liv.”

I turn to find Mark standing behind me. Shit. I’m aware that my expression is stony, which is a relief because inside, I flounder for something to say.

“What do you want Mark?”

He looks sheepish, but also a bit lost. Come to think of it, he looks like shit, untidy and unshaven. He sighs, “Please, I just want to talk.”

“There is nothing to say,” I say, keeping my cool.

“I miss you,” he whispers, attempting to take my hand.

I jump back, shocked by the over-familiar intrusion. Three weeks ago I was sharing my bed with this man, now the thought of him touching me makes my skin crawl.

“Don’t.”

I’m suddenly aware that Max has joined me and that Danny can’t be far away.

“This has nothing to do with you Max,” sneers Mark, before Max even opens his mouth.

I hold my hands up to both of them and usher Mark to sit down at a nearby table. The bar is quiet; I would rather deal with this now, in public. I turn to Max, who is hovering behind me and tell him I’m fine. He looks doubtful, but backs off and goes back to the bar. Danny is still working, although he’s also watching. I smile weakly at him and then return to Mark.

Sitting down with Mark at the table, I’m filled with dread. I don’t want to give him my time, but really he won’t go away unless I do. He looks up at me with hope in his eyes, oh God; this is going to be brutal.

“You look great,” he says with a smile. I resist the urge to hurl. I may be stupid, but I never imagined seeing him again and it has knocked me for six.

“I can’t say the same about you.”

“I’m a mess. I don’t know what to do without you.”

I shrug and shake my head. “You had me…but you made your choice.”

He grabs my hand across the table and I flinch, but I don’t immediately snatch it back.

“Please give me another chance.”

I sit and look at him. If there was no Danny, I would be furious with him right now. I would yell and scream at him, for what he did and for having the audacity to come here asking me for another chance. But I’ve completely moved on, there seems no point in getting angry or emotional, even though he deserves it. It would make it seem like he still means something to me and he doesn’t. I take a deep breath and pull my hand away calmly.

“It’s over Mark.”

“I know I messed up, but I love you. Please, don’t throw this away.”

I have to stifle a laugh. “You threw it away, not me. But you did me a favour.”

He looks at me as though I’ve just driven a knife through his heart.

“Don’t say that. Why are you being so cold?”

“Mark, I…” I don’t know how to put this into words. I don’t care enough about what he did to fight with him. He means nothing to me. I’m just going to have to tell him about Danny. “I’m with someone else.”

Mark’s jaw hits the floor, his vulnerable demeanour hardens and his eyes turn cold.

“What?” he spits. “Why are you doing this? Are you just trying to hurt me?” His stance changes. “Who is it? Get rid of him, whoever he is. It can’t be that serious. Did you just meet him?”

“Actually I’ve known him for years and it’s pretty serious. Go home Mark. It’s over, there is nothing more to say.” I glance over at the bar and Mark sees me looking in the direction of Max and Danny. Before I know what is happening, Mark’s chair is scraping on the floor and he is stalking over to the bar towards Max, who is still standing customer side, ready to throw Mark out if anything kicks off. I jump up and follow him.

“It’s him isn’t it,” Mark accuses, pointing at Max.

“Max is gay,” I remind him, through gritted teeth. I want to yell, but this is not a private conversation and I’d be screaming Max’s business across the bar.

“No, he’s been all over you for years. I’ve never trusted him.”

Max can’t take any more and starts towards Mark. Then, behind him, I see Danny vault the bar in one swift fluid motion, land square on his feet and pull Max back.

“Leave it Max, it’s not worth it.”

“Oh, pull yourself together Mark, it isn’t Max,” I say, putting myself between them.

“Well who is it then? Probably half the weekend crowd…slut!”

I turn to Max to stop him defending me and I see that Danny has put himself in between them. Just as relief sets in, I watch in slow motion as Danny lands a punch right on Mark’s jaw, knocking him to the ground.

Mark touches his mouth and finds it bleeding. I look back to Danny, who is standing shoulder to shoulder with Max. Both are satisfied that someone has finally put Mark in his place, but they’re ready for more if it’s required.

Ben, one of the doormen, walks through the door just then, arriving early for his shift, and takes in the scene. He looks to me, then at Mark on the floor.

Mark staggers to his feet, looking between us all in disgust.

“Who is this joker?” he spits, sneering at Danny. Danny flinches towards Mark and Max stops him.

“Go home, Mark,” I growl. “We’re done.” I turn to Ben. “He’s barred.”

We watch as a disgruntled Mark is escorted from the premises. Turning back to the boys, I see Danny rubbing his hand and Max slapping him on the back, one comrade to another. In any other circumstances I would have been angry about the violence in the bar…or indeed anywhere. But I’ve wanted to smack Mark in his smug face ever since I caught him. I regretted stopping Max at the time, so I’m secretly pleased he got what was coming. I can’t lie, it was kind of a turn on to see Danny jump the bar and defend me.

I scan the bar and am relieved to see only one couple that we know quite well. Everyone else is either in the diner or the garden, but as it’s six-ish, a lot of punters have either finished for the day or haven’t even started. I think we got away with it. I head over to the couple and apologise, offering them a drink on the house. I also fix three rum and cokes and go in search of the boys.

I find them sitting at a table in the garden. After I put down the drinks, Danny holds his hand out and pulls me into his lap. I curl my arms around his neck.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lost it,” he says sincerely. “I just couldn’t let him call you that.”

I smile at him and kiss him lightly on the lips.

“He deserved it. Thank you.” Turning to Max I add, “And you. Sorry about what he said.”

Max laughs it off. “Well, to be fair, I have been all over you for years,” he mocks and we all laugh.

The rest of the night went without incident. The Bank Holiday is a good one for the business; I think we can afford to go ahead with the outdoor revamp, which is brilliant. The weekend has been brilliant for me and Danny as well, I’m really getting used to having him here. I left him earlier, sorting out his washing and finding space in my room for his stuff, because I’m sick of tripping over his suitcase. I need to go out with Max and start looking at garden furniture and there’s a trade show at the NEC, so we head off early and leave Danny having a day at home. I haven’t made a big deal out of clearing him a drawer or anything. Things are so relaxed between us; I just left him to it.

I return home at gone 6pm to find him in the kitchen, cooking. I pause in the doorway to watch him, as he hasn’t noticed me yet. The radio is on and he’s kind of dancing as he moves around. There’s a beautiful, fragrant smell filling the flat. It’s Thai for sure. I drink him in, while he adds something to the pot, watching his hips rock to the beat. He’s so sexy, freshly showered and wearing his trackies and a black t-shirt. He flips a tea towel over his shoulder as he turns and freezes when he sees me. He looks slightly embarrassed as I beam at him, but he recovers quickly and crosses over to greet me.

“Hey!” he says folding me into an embrace. Lifting me effortlessly as we kiss, he places me down on the counter, next to the chopping board. His arms release me and his hands trail down my sides and onto my thighs as they withdraw. He pulls away from our kiss and returns casually to his chopping. I steal a piece of red pepper and crunch as I watch him. He continues chopping and stirring in silence, stealing the odd glance. He’s so hot in the kitchen!

“So did you find anything?”

“Yeah, it’s going to look great.” He turns and catches my eye. “What is all this?” I ask, waving my hand at the food.

“I wanted to do something nice for you. Do you like Thai?”

I smile and nod, putting him at ease. “You didn’t need to do this, you’re spoiling me.” I capture him in my arms as he tries to pass me. I pull him between my legs and hook my ankles together to hold him close. Resting my elbows on his shoulders, I run my fingers through his shiny hair.

“I want to spoil you,” he whispers.

“Careful,” I warn, “I’ll get used to it.”