Love Me Till Wednesday (Sapphire Stars #1)

16

16

‘God, I’m knackered,’ Mel said, coming to an abrupt halt on the corner of Paradise Crescent. She bent over and took several deep breaths.

Lisa sighed. This wasn’t a good start to their regular Tuesday evening jog.

‘We usually manage to run at least a couple of miles before you throw in the towel,’ Lisa said. ‘Do you want to go back to mine, or shall we walk so at least you’ve had some exercise?’

‘Can we knock it on the head for tonight?’ Mel asked.

‘You’re the one in training for a half marathon, so it’s your call.’

‘I’ll be fine!’ Mel started walking back towards Lisa’s house. ‘Race day is over two months away. I’ve got plenty of time.’

‘As long as you’re sure.’ Lisa was glad she’d turned down the opportunity to join Mel on the Great North Run. Mel should be easily running five miles on a weeknight now. At this rate, she’d be walking the course.

She followed Mel back to Number 39. ‘You’re normally quite perky on a Tuesday evening. What’s got into you?’

Mel had got her breath back now. ‘It’s more who’s got into me,’ she grinned .

That made more sense. Lisa took her keys out of her back pocket and opened the front door. ‘Anyone I know?’

‘I don’t think so. He’s one of the supply teachers. I had to help him with the school admin system last week, and one thing led to another.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘I could give you all the details, but I thought you preferred not to know everything?’

‘I don’t mean who stuck what where! I meant, how do you go from lesson planning to something more romantic.’

‘It wasn’t romantic at all. More passionate, I’d say, as in tearing one another’s clothes off.’

‘In a classroom?’

‘No, of course not.’ Mel looked outraged. ‘It’s more discrete if you do it in a stock cupboard.’

‘I would have thought that would have been a bit uncomfortable at our age.’

‘It was the GCSE Textiles stock cupboard. There was plenty of material available in there to pad the sharp edges of the shelving. Actually, it was quite cosy. I regret not trying it before.’

Lisa laughed. ‘What happened to your rule about no sex on school premises? You always used to tell me you had standards.’

‘I used to, but I think I’m getting randier in my old age. It must be the perimenopause. My hormones are having a last-ditch attempt at getting me pregnant. Anyway, it was after school on Friday. All the staff are in a rush to leave on Fridays. We were the only ones around apart from the caretaker and the head, and rumour has it they have their own little after-school club, if you get my drift,’ Mel said as she followed Lisa down the steps into the kitchen.

‘So apart from being up for a bit of extracurricular activity, who is your new Romeo ?

‘His name’s Will. He’s just come back from a year working in South Africa which is why he’s a supply teacher until he can get a permanent job. He teaches Biology, he’s 6ft 2, and he plays rugby.’

‘Still playing rugby at our age. That’s impressive.’ Lisa said as she filled the kettle.

Mel looked uncomfortable. ‘Ah well, he’s not quite our age.’

‘How old is he?’

‘I’m not 100% sure, but I’d say 31?’ Mel pulled a face. ’Ish,’ she added.

‘How ish?’

‘In a “he might only be 27” sort of way,’ Mel said tentatively.

‘That’s younger than Jim!’ Lisa couldn’t imagine getting naked with anyone that young. They wouldn’t be prepared for all your aches and pains, not to mention the saggy bits.

‘You did have Jim quite young.’ Mel was on the defensive.

‘Not that young. You’re still old enough to be Will’s mother.’

‘Age is just a number.’

‘And yours is a much bigger number than Will’s.’ It didn’t sound like a recipe for a long-term relationship. Please don’t let Mel get hurt again. It had taken her ages to get over her husband leaving her.

‘Will says he prefers older women. We’re less complicated.’ Mel had a dreamy look on her face as she sat down on the sofa.

‘That’s good then. I presume he wasn’t so athletic that you’ve still exhausted three days later.’

‘No. It has more to do with us spending most of the weekend in bed. ’

Lisa laughed. ‘I couldn’t imagine doing that now. Twenty years ago, maybe, but it would probably trigger my sciatica now.

‘For god’s sake , you sound like my gran!’

‘But it’s true. Were you at your place or his?’ Lisa asked.

‘Mine. He’s living with his parents until he gets a permanent job.’

‘He sounds like a catch.’

‘You’re just jealous. Your bed’s been a barren wilderness as far as men are concerned for far too long.’

‘I’m perfectly happy, thank you. It has its advantages No more wrestling to keep my half of the duvet, or being serenaded to sleep by the sound of snoring.’

‘Yes, but three years without any male attention at all. How do you manage?’

Lisa raised her eyebrows. ‘We’ve had this conversation many times since Greg did a runner. I am happy as I am.’

Mel went back to the subject of Will. ‘I’m not planning on it being a long-term relationship. Just a bit of entertainment until the summer holidays. He’s planning a trip around Europe in the break.’

‘Perhaps he’ll ask you to come with him.’

‘I hope so.’

Mel looked like she was pondering what a trip round Europe with Will would be like. The pause in the conversation gave Lisa a chance to tell Mel her news. She broke it to her gently:

‘It’s a good job Will’s going to keep you busy as you won’t see much of me at weekends for a while.’

She had Mel’s full attention now. ‘Why? Who’s keeping you entertained?’

‘Pete.’

Mel nearly dropped the mug of tea Lisa had just handed her. ‘Pete Armstrong? ’

‘Yep.’

‘You’re going back to Pete?’

‘Only in a songwriting sense. I’m going up to Keswick next weekend for our first session.’

‘And what does Mrs Pete think of that?’

‘Nothing, I imagine. She left him for a sheep farmer. How did you know he was married?’

‘There was an article about him in the Birmingham Mail a few years ago. My mum saved it for me.’

‘You never said.’

‘It wasn’t that interesting to be honest. I forgot all about it. Not that it matters now he’s single again.’ Mel looked excited at the prospect.

‘Don’t start matchmaking. We’re just friends.’

‘Friends who used to be at it like rabbits.’

‘Until he left me for a man. Don’t forget that part.’

‘But Becky was a woman, wasn’t she?’

‘I assume he’s bisexual.’

‘So there’s hope.’

‘No, there isn’t.’ Lisa put the emphasis on the “no”. ‘We’re back on friendly terms, but that’s it.’

‘Apart from closeting yourself away with an ex writing love songs. You know how those sessions used to end. It’s a long way to go to write music. Why can’t you do it online?’

‘It’s not the same. ‘

‘￡5 says you’ll be back together by September.’

‘You’re on because I can guarantee you that we won’t be.’