Page 5 of Beyond Repair
Frankie, being the most perceptive person Katie had ever met, was the first to try to move away from her man when she noticed the situation. But Katie gave her a small smile and mouthed, ‘It’s fine,’ before grabbing her wineglass and chugging it back. She had a feeling she was going to need it.
*cwtch –cuddle / hug
Chapter 3
What kind of scooter do you think I’m talking about?
Okay, so Katie could safely say that this was not one of those situations that improved with alcohol; but the fact that she was steaming had at least numbed her humiliation to manageable levels. Sam had spent the entire evening being pawed by a smug Lydia (she also seemed to have chosen the path of inebriation, which succeeded only in making her even more annoying. Calling the Gower a ‘backwater’, sneering at the fact they were eating a takeaway curry for the main course, and then refusing any of Frankie’s frickin’ delicious cake had not gone down well with anyone) and scowling at Katie frequently, as if he wished she would disappear in a puff of smoke. So, being bloody-minded, and certainly not about to disappear any time soon (plus the fact she was … well … completely smashed), Katie had decided not to shrink into the background in deference to Sam’s hatred of her. The fact that she was not the quietest person in the world may also have contributed to this decision.
As there were one too many females, a boy/girl seating arrangement had been impossible. Katie sat down first, not wanting any awkwardness, and to her surprise Lou came straight over and sat down next to her. Seeing as the ice between them had been well and truly broken, and that neither she nor Lou were particularly introverted, Katie actually started to have some fun despite Sam’s glower and the general embarrassment of the situation.
‘But how would you even consummate a marriage like that?’ Sarah asked, her wide eyes fixed on her brother, who had just shared his knowledge of a man and a woman in America, married to a rollercoaster.
‘I don’t know, Sarse,’ Tom replied, and at that point Katie, in her drunken state, decided to canvas opinion on the matter.
‘Right, everyone,’ she semi-shouted, and all eyes swung to her. ‘Sarah here wants to know how you would screw a rollercoaster.’
Rob frowned and turned to Sarah. ‘Well, honey, it would be tricky but I reckon if you held on to the side of the car I could somehow –’
‘Nonononono,’ Katie slurred. ‘Not shagona rollercoaster. Shagan actualrollercoaster. As in get it on with that metal bad boy, teach him or her who’s boss.’
Lou was laughing so hard at this stage that she snorted a fair amount of wine out through her nose. In fact everyone at the table was laughing, other than Sam (yes, you guessed it – still scowling) and Lydia, who was curling her lip in disgust.
‘I’d take it from behind,’ put in Dylan confidently.
‘You’re such a freak,’ muttered Tom through his smile.
‘Oh am I? Or is it just that only arealWelshman could be man enough to show a rollercoaster a good time?’
‘Are you really bragging about your ability to bonk an inanimate object, Dildo?’ Lou snapped, chucking her napkin over the table to hit him squarely in the face.
‘It’s all just in theory, babes,’ Dylan returned after throwing the napkin back at her. ‘You know I’d never really cheat on you with a rollercoaster … although … if Ididsomehow get locked in Oakwood Theme Park overnight andsomehowa romantic candlelit dinner was provided and then Megafobia made her move, I’m not sure I would be responsible for my actions.’
This time when Lou threw back the napkin, it had unfortunately fallen into her bowl beforehand, and the copious amounts of chocolate sauce it was coated with were transferred to Dylan’s face. After Katie had laughed so hard that wine had come out ofhernose (and caught another disgusted look from Lydia), she decided that it might be time to leave.
‘Right, well, before this degenerates into a full-on food fight, I think I’m going to scoot off.’ She stumbled as she stood up whilst experiencing an unexpectedly strong head-rush, and Lou caught her arm. When she recovered her footing and looked up, she was surprised to see that Sam was also standing. Katie shot him a confused look before she moved around to kiss Sarah and Rob goodbye, doling out various hugs along the way and even giving Lydia a small wave and a smile (much more than she deserved, in Katie’s opinion).
‘Is anyone else going to say something?’ Sam bit out, and all eyes swung to him.
‘About what, mate?’ Rob said in a steady, almost challenging tone, which Katie thought was weird although she didn’t pretend to understand their relationship or what had been going on that night.
Sam blew out a frustrated breath. ‘She’s not driving like that,’ he informed everyone, not even sparing Katie a glance.
‘Oi, Rambo,’ Katie snapped, and his eyes shot to her. ‘You can address me directly, you know. I am standing right here.’
‘Maybe I would, if I thought you were in any fit state to have a conversation about anything more serious than banging a rollercoaster. Since you clearlyare not, there seems little point.’
Katie sniffed. ‘I’m not in a state, thank you,’ she returned snottily, but slightly ruined the effect by stumbling again on her way to the door. ‘And anyway, it’s none of your business what state I’m in or how I intend to get home.’
‘You’re not driving,’ he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Katie then realized that this unexpected interaction must be the result of him, as an upstanding citizen, protecting others on the road from a crazy, drunk Oompa Loopa behind the wheel.
‘Look, Rambo, I’m know I’m not driving, okay? I’m scooting.’ Katie had turned away from him, fully expecting, now that the threat to other road users had been neutralized, that he would sit down and go back to ignoring her. So a large hand enveloping her upper arm came as a shock.
‘You’re not scooting either,’ he told her, and she looked up at him blankly. Her heart was slamming in her chest and she wasn’t sure she could still form words.
‘W-what?’ she whispered.
‘Christ, you’re annoying,’ he muttered, clearing some of her lust-induced haze. ‘Woman, scooters aremoredangerous than sodding cars.’
