Beneath This Man(90)

'Yikes!'

'On the plus side, though, I do know how old he is now.'

Kate swings her blues to me with a look of excitement. 'Really?'

I nod. 'Really.'

'Come on then. Reveal the mystery of ages.'

'Thirty seven.'

'No!' she says dramatically. 'Really? He doesn't look it. How did you find out?'

'I introduced Jesse to the truth f*ck yesterday morning.' I don't know why I have completely, unashamedly admitted that because I know she'll be pumping me for more information. Do I care?

'You've known a whole day and not told me?'

'Sorry.' I shrug. There's a lot more than his age. A lot more, but I need wine to delve into that shit. I need a night out to off load it all on Kate.

'What's a truth f*ck?' She frowns.

There we are. 'It involves Jesse handcuffed to the bed and me with a vibrator,' I look at her. 'He doesn't like sharing me, even with a machine.' I add dryly. She bursts into laughter and the van swerves. I grab the door. 'Kate!'

'Sorry,' she splutters. 'Oh, I love it!'

I've got so much to push on her, but her own situation is worrying me. 'What's going on with you and Sam?'

She stops laughing immediately. 'Nothing.'

I roll my eyes on a dramatic sigh. 'Nothing. Of course.'

'Hey, what the hell are you wearing to this big bash?' she asks, in an obvious diversion from my enquiries.

I inwardly groan. Am I even going now? 'I don't know, Jesse is supposed to be taking me shopping.'

'Oh? He is, is he?' she muses. 'Make the most of old money bags.'

'I'm not looking forward to it. I've not been there since last Sunday, and that pouty faced tramp will be there.' I grumble. No doubt I'll be receiving another warning. I sit back in my seat and think of all the other things I would prefer to do tomorrow night, and now Jesse is quite clearly raging with me, my enthusiasm has not lifted. It's me who should be raging. He's got some explaining to do in light of Mikael's brainteaser.

We pull up outside my old flat, and I see Matt's white BMW. My heart sinks, but I knew he would have to be here to let me in.

'Do you want me to come in?' Kate asks.

I mull over the question for a few seconds but decide it's probably best if she waits in Margo. Kate is a feisty bugger when she wants to be, and all I have to do is get in, be polite and get out. I shall be quick about it as well.

'No, I'll bring it out to you.' I open the van door and get out. I'm feeling sicker by the minute. Jesse's already crazy mad over a stupid telephone call. I would call him unreasonable if it hadn't been for Mikael's line of conversation, but Jesse doesn't know what was said, although his reaction speaks volumes.

I make my way up the steps and press the buzzer for our apartment, looking up at my building and feeling unexpectedly sad that I don't live here anymore.

'Hi.' Matt's happy voice comes over the intercom.

'Hi.' I say as informally as I can. I don't want to get into friendly conversation with him. I'm still pissed he had the nerve to call my parents.

'I'll buzz you in.'

I hear the door mechanism release and I look back at Kate, giving a little wave to indicate I'm going in. She puts her thumb up and flashes her mobile at me. I nod my understanding and step into the corridor of the downstairs entrance hall.

Making my way up the stairs, I take calming breaths while giving myself a mental pep talk. I must not mention the call to my parents and I must not get involved in too much conversation.

When I reach the top, I see the front door open slightly. Shaking myself up, I walk straight in. I don't shut the door; I don't plan on being here long. I look in the kitchen and lounge for Matt, but he is nowhere to be seen, so I head for the bedroom and find my stuff piled in bags and boxes. With Matt nowhere to be found, I start collecting a few bags up in my hands, but when I turn to leave the room, I find Matt stood in the doorway with a glass of red wine in his hand. He's wearing his beige suit. I've always hated that suit, not that I've told him. His dark hair is in its usual side parting and combed neatly.

'Hi.' he says on an over-the-top smile.

'Hey, I looked for you.' I explain as I lift the bags. 'Kate's waiting in her van. I'll take these down to her.' There's no hiding the hostility that develops at the mention of Kate's name, but I ignore it and walk with purpose to the door, stopping when he makes no attempt to get out of my way.