Hugh slapped my back as Jimmy O's bike roared onto the yard. "Take him to her. You can stay out of it."
Like hell I could.
I took out my mobile and fired off a text despite my better judgement, rather that than see the lad's confidence shrivel to shit.
I'd had a reply by the time I'd finished up dishing out the jobs for the day. The guys hadn't even started up by the time I took Petey off to the side.
"Afternoon off," I said. "On-site training." He looked at me, trying to work out what the hell I was on about, but I didn't offer him much more than that. "Just be ready," I said. "We go after lunch." I smirked and gestured to the toilet. "Make sure your dick's sparkly fucking clean, standards are high where we're going."
I'll be getting fucked by five men. Tomorrow. To-fucking-morrow. Oh my fucking God.
Nerves and excitement, and this weird achy feeling whenever I thought about Trent being there. I just hoped I'd be up to it when push came to shove.
Tonya insisted I should wear the red crotchless. Make a statement, she said. Like signing up for a five-man orgy wasn't statement enough.
The cafe was busy for a Thursday, but finally the Bang Gang whispering seemed to be dying down.
Fred Crocker had stumbled from the Drum the night before, managed to tumble into the river when he was taking a piss over the railings. They'd had to throw him one of those bright orange life rings and fish him out. Apparently his trousers were still round his ankles when they pulled him clear, nothing bruised but his ego.
That was the talk of the day. Darren's little sex business had taken a backseat for the time being.
Thanks, Fred.
We were in the middle of the lunchtime rush when Lorraine ditched her apron and put her coat on.
"I'm out for the afternoon," she said. "Going to the cash and carry."
"Now?!" I said, looking out on the sea of people cramming in for the toasted teacake special.
She didn't even pause. "I've asked Sharon to come and give you a hand, she should be here any minute."
Sharon doesn't know her ass from her elbow. She put cabbage in a ham salad sandwich a few shifts back, and forgot to debone the salmon. Mrs Hartley nearly choked on it, threatened to call Law4You and make a claim for a new set of dentures.
"Fine," I said. "See you later."
"Tomorrow," she said. "I'll be awhile."
"But I put in an order already, we just need … " I called after her but she was already gone. "Napkins," I finished, to myself.
I plastered on a smile and made the best of it. I'd always make the best of it, for Lorraine's sake if nothing else.
Lorraine was much more than a boss to me. She was a friend, too.
She'd taken me under her wing after Pops passed away, listened to my crap as things fell apart for me, and listened some more when things fell apart for me and Darren soon afterwards. She'd been so supportive; so strong when I was weak. So sure when I was so indecisive. She'd helped me make the best of things, taught me to keep a practical head on my shoulders.
To make the right choices, for me and the girls.
Choices like Brian.
Alright, so sometimes even Lorraine gets shit wrong, but that isn't the point.
I'd been keeping the Darren icebreaker right under her radar, which felt kind of shitty, but I cared about what she thought, and she wouldn't think much of it.
Lorraine's never had any time for Darren.
I felt like a shit friend for keeping things from her, at least I could hold the bloody cafe together while she nipped out for essentials.
But we didn't need any essentials.
Still, it was the least I could do.
Tonya arrived before Sharon, fresh from her lunch shift at the fish and chip shop.
"I stink," she said, then looked around at the tables still waiting to be cleared. "Where's Lorraine?"
"Cash and carry," I said. "I'm expecting Sharon."
"Sharon doesn't know her ass from her elbow," Tonya said. Great minds. She stepped behind the counter and grabbed a Velvet Bean apron. "Needs must," she said. "Let me sort those bloody tables."
I can't say I felt easy about pulling onto Lorraine Marchant's driveway, but Petey was oblivious, grinning away in the passenger seat like a dippy spaniel.
If only he knew.
I didn't need to knock on the front door, she was already in the doorway by the time we were at the front step. I cast a glance around the street, checking for neighbours.
As if they wouldn't have seen the fucking truck already. Luckily Allensmore seemed to be far enough out to stay off the village radar.
"Well well," she said. "Look what the cat dragged in. I was wondering when you'd darken my doorstep."
"Been busy," I said.
"So I heard." She raised an eyebrow. "Mandy Taylor and Debbie Gibson?" she scoffed. "I thought you'd have more class than to entertain those cheap skanky bitches."
Her condescending tone got my hackles up. "Business is business, Lorraine, as you well fucking know."
She let out a snide laugh. "So you have done Debbie Gibson. I thought that was a mindless rumour."
Petey flashed me a look of confusion, I willed the fool to keep his mouth shut. Lorraine is the last one I want knowing my fucking business.
I shoved the lad forward. "Present for you," I said to Lorraine. "Enjoy."
I'd stepped away from the door before she tutted at me. "No no no," she said. "You know the rules, Mr Trent, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."
She'd scratched my back plenty of fucking times, crazy bitch.
I gestured to her flashy red Mini Cooper. "Next service is on me, I'll throw you in a new set of tyres, too."
She laughed. "Oh come on, Darren. We're a bit past all that, don't you think?"
Petey was still staring at me, still trying to wrap his head round what the fuck was going on.
"What do you want?" I said.
"You know what I want," she replied. "You've been avoiding me, why?"
I shrugged. "Haven't been avoiding you, Lorraine, just had shit to do."
"Shit like chasing after Jodie by any chance?" She smiled a sly smile as my mood dropped. "Oh dear. You didn't think I knew? Poor you, so naive."
"What goes on with Jodie and me is none of your business," I said. "You'd do well to remember that." I lit up a cigarette.
"That's not how she sees it," Lorraine said. "You really shouldn't try so hard with her, you know, it's embarrassing."
I felt my cheeks fucking burning. "Like I'm running around after her like some fucking idiot. Fuck off, Lorraine."
She shrugged. "She's better off without you, and she knows it. Who do you think this hot new image of hers is for?" She laughed. "You can't honestly think she doesn't have irons in the fire. She's a beautiful woman with a good head on her shoulders, two beautiful girls … Christ, Darren, she's long over you. Let it go, have some dignity."
My gut fucking pained.
Petey looked fucking horrified.
She changed the subject. "Next week," she said. "You and me. Don't pretend you don't want it, I know how to make it feel better, don't you worry."
I sighed to myself. "Just do a good job with the fucking lad."
"You know it," she said.
"I'll pick him up later."
"Don't worry about that," she said. "I'll drop him back when I'm done with him." She looked him up and down, weighed up the rabbit-in-the-headlights expression on his face. "This may take some time."
"Take as long as you want, just get him up to fucking speed."
I didn't even say goodbye.
"Call me," she shouted after me. "Soon, Darren. I'm looking forward to it."
Shame I couldn't say the fucking same.
No babysitting duties for Nanna this evening, Tonya insisted she stay at mine to make sure my Bang Gang special risked no disruptions. I think she was really there to make sure I wore the slutty red.
It worked.
Darren dropped me a text as I finished up my makeup. I could barely contain my nerves, belly churning as I clicked to read it.
Ready when you are.
Shit. Shit shit shit.
"I can't believe I'm really doing this," I said to Tonya, spritzing myself with a second round of perfume.
"Go get ‘em," she said. "Enjoy it. Experience of a lifetime, remember?"
I checked the envelope of cash was still in my handbag. I'd felt like such a slut as I took four hundred in twenties from the bank that lunchtime, but it would be worth it.
At least, I hoped so.
Experience of a lifetime.
I hoped my pussy would take it. Darren had been a good intro, and a vibrator had picked up where he left off. I'd been practicing.