Beneath This Man

‘Well, I didn’t tell him what had happened. I don’t want your family thinking that I can’t look after you. He said you were supposed to be seeing him.’ He looks at me like I’ve committed a serious sin for not telling him of my plans, even though there are no firm plans yet.

‘You told him I’m living with you, didn’t you.’ My lips straighten.

‘Yes.’ He is completely unapologetic.

I could kill him! ‘Jesse, what have you done?’ I drop my head onto his shoulder in hopelessness.

‘Hey, look at me.’ He sounds angry again. I drag my head away from its resting place and look at him with all the misery I feel. His frown line has joined the argument. ‘Don’t you think he would’ve been worried if I had left your phone to ring off continuously?’

This is awful – my worst nightmare. Dan had undoubtedly called my parents.

He pulls me down onto his chest and I notice his heart bucking wildly. ‘I’m going for a run. You take a shower. I’ll get something to eat while I’m out.’

He’s going for a run? That’s my fault. ‘Can’t you stay?’ I ask into his chest. I don’t want him to go.

‘No.’ He lifts me and directs me into the bathroom. ‘In the shower.’ He turns it on and leaves me in the bathroom feeling affronted and worried. He never wants to leave me.

Chapter 29

A couple of hours later, I walk into the kitchen and find Jesse still in his running gear with his finger in a jar of peanut butter. I screw my face up in disgust as he glances up and gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He looks on edge.

‘Cappuccino extra shot, no chocolate.’ He holds up a Starbucks cup, and I take it gratefully. ‘I got you everything.’ he shrugs. ‘They don’t do salmon.’

‘Thank you.’ I smile and take a seat next to him.

‘I hope you’ve got lace on under all of that baggy shit.’ He nods at my body as he plunges his finger into his mouth.

I look down at my ripped jeans and cropped Jimmy Hendrix t-shirt and smile. ‘I have.’ I pull my t-shirt up to display my cream lace and he nods his approval. ‘I thought you were getting dinner?’ I pull over the nearest paper bag, finding a croissant. I make quick work, sinking my teeth into it.

‘Technically, as you have been asleep all day, it’s breakfast time.’ He thrusts his finger under my nose and I retreat back in my stool, violently shaking my head. He smiles a little and feeds it to himself, ‘What do you want to do this evening?’

‘I get to pick?’ I garble around a mouthful of pastry.

He looks at me and cocks his head to the side. ‘I told you, I have to let you have your way some of the time.’ He reaches up and knocks a flake of pastry from the corner of my mouth. ‘I’m all for give and take.’

A burst of laughter flies out and I struggle to keep my half chewed croissant in my mouth as I cough and slap my hand over my mouth. Give and take? This man is crazy.

‘Something funny?’ he asks.

I look up and find a serious face. Oh dear! ‘No, nothing, it went down the wrong way.’ I cough a little more and God love him, he starts patting my back.

I regain control as the intercom starts ringing and Jesse leaves me to answer it. ‘Clive, yes, see him up.’ He hangs up and replaces the phone. ‘Jay.’ he mutters without looking at me.

‘Jay? Who’s Jay?’ I place my croissant back on the paper bag.

‘The doorman. He’s got the CCTV footage from the bar.’ He puts his peanut butter back in the fridge and leaves the kitchen.

Oh f**king hell!

CCTV footage?

CCTV footage that will show me talking to Matt?

I think I’m going to be sick.

I hear the muffled greetings and a few moments later, Jesse walks back into the kitchen with Jay. The doorman gives me a small smirk, one that suggests he may have already watched the footage himself and knows what’s coming. Yeah, I’m definitely going to be sick. I get down from the stool and start to leave the kitchen.

‘Where are you going?’ Jesse asks me.

I don’t look back. My face must display complete panic. ‘Toilet.’ I call, leaving Jesse and Jay in the kitchen. As soon as I’m out of sight, I race up the stairs and shut myself in the bathroom, where I’m safe from the hurricane that I know is coming. I should have known he wouldn’t leave it. I should have known he would be on a mission to hunt down the perpetrator. Oh God, this is so bad. I sit on the toilet seat, get up, walk circles around the bathroom, and then the door handle jiggles.

‘Ava?’

I stand looking at the door. ‘Yes?’ It comes out all squeaky and nervous. I’m so nervous.

‘What’s up, baby. You okay?’

Perhaps I should say no, make out I’m ill so I can stay in the bathroom. ‘Yes, fine. I’ll be down in a minute.’ I call. Saying I’m ill would be stupid. He’d break the door down to tend to me.

‘Why is the door locked?’

‘I didn’t realise I’d locked it. I’m having a wee.’ I cringe. It’s a good job there’s a giant lump of wood between us because my finger is a knotted mess in my hair. I should just jump out of the bathroom window.

‘Okay, don’t be long.’

‘I won’t.’ I hear his long even steps take him out of the bedroom. I’m panicking. Really panicking and I don’t know why. I didn’t arrange to meet Matt. It was a chance encounter, that’s all.