Page 21 of Fit for Love
“Really? From the way Betsey Jackson’s been talking about you, anyone would think there was a wedding on the cards.”
For God’s sake, that girl.
“Me and Betsey aren’t a thing, Tony.” I wondered if Cora and I were a thing. I’d left the house so early that morning I hadn’t seen her. However, I’d paused outside her room to see if I could hear her, but it was silent.
“Whatever you say, Ethan. Look, I’ve got to go and open up. Give me a call if you need anything.”
I surveyed the work ahead of me in the living room. Tony had indeed done quite a lot of the prep work. There was masking tape around the skirting boards and window frames, and all the furniture was in the centre of the room, giving me plenty of space to work around it.
It should be a cinch.
Late that afternoon, my back was aching and I was covered in so many paint splatters that my hair was almost white. It was beginning to get dark, but I still had more to do. And I’d promised Tony I’d get it done. Realising it was close to the time that Cora and I would usually train, I picked up my phone and messaged her.
Not going to be able to make tonight’s session, can we take a rain check? X
I spotted the three dots, that indicated she was replying, and waited.
Sure. I’m busy tonight anyway.
What was she doing? Apart from Piper, Mal and I, she didn’t know anyone in Westbourne Water.
Okay. Sorry I haven’t seen you today, had a rush job on and needed to get it finished x
Hope it paid well. I’m sure it was worth it.
Now my head ached as well as my back. What on earth was she going on about? Why was she questioning how much it paid? I messaged her back.
Why don’t we meet for a drink later after I’ve finished? My treat x
Why don’t you ask Betsey Jackson instead? I’m sure she’d be more than happy to take you up on the offer.
For fuck’s sake, why was everyone else hell-bent on me getting together with Betsey? I wasn’t interested in her. I was interested in Cora. Although Cora didn’t seem to get that.
I put my hands behind my head and stretched. Fine. If that’s the way she wanted it.
Impulsively, I messaged Betsey and asked her to meet me later at The Fortescue Arms.
Betsey was waiting outside the pub for me. She was dressed in a traffic-stopping red dress that clung to all her curves and dipped low enough to give everyone a glimpse of her cleavage. Her dark hair was fluffed up to within an inch of its life, and her lips matched her dress.
“Hi! What a lovely surprise!” She kissed me on both cheeks, wiping off the lipstick mark she evidently made, and enveloped me with the scent of her heavy perfume that clung to my nostrils every time I inhaled.
“Well, we’d talked about going out, so I thought it was about time.” I forced a smile. “Shall we go in?”
The pub was heaving, and the music was pounding. I hadn’t realised that there was a band playing that night. As I elbowed my way to the bar, I felt the eyes of the locals on me, no doubt rejoicing that I was finally there with Betsey.
Tony was serving and gave a hearty laugh as he saw me approach. “Not a thing?” He winked, referring to his comment that morning, and poured me a pint and Betsey a large white-wine spritzer. “On the house, mate.”
Betsey found us a space at a table where her friends were, including Martha from the leisure centre.
“My gran’s going to be so happy,” she yelled in my ear. “She really likes you. I think if she were younger, she would have made a move on you herself.” She cackled.
I shuddered at the thought.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that it probably wasn’t going to last longer than one date and I’d only asked her out because the woman I really wanted to be with was blanking me. I wondered what Cora was doing. I’d missed working out with her today. And after everything had fizzled out the previous evening, I was keen to find out why. I should have stuck to my guns and insisted on taking Cora out, not Betsey.
While Betsey and Martha chattered away beside me, I surveyed the crowd in the bar. There were several people I recognised, either from the gym, or taxi fares or people I’d done work for. Even though I’d only been in Westbourne Water a few months, I was building up a strong network—which tended to be the way in a small community. There was a small part of me that thought I would miss it when I went away again. With the money Tony was going to give me for finishing up his dad’s place so quickly, plus a few more training sessions, South America could be within my reach by the end of the month. I should have felt more excited than I did. After all, it was what I wanted. Wasn’t it?
I stared into my beer. Travelling was great, but also staying in one place with one person was too. I thought I knew who I wanted that one person to be. And it wasn’t Betsey.
