Just Between Us Read online

  “What? You can barely look at me most days, you’re such a pig, go and find Jennie Miller to sort you out.”

  “I don’t want Jennie Miller.” He smiled. “And you better keep away from Tim.”

  “Don’t you dare …” I tried to finish, but he kissed me again. This felt deeper, more passionate, and I was unable to stop myself. I hated that I loved the attention that Kyle was giving me. I hated being like every other giggly school girl that fawned around this guy. I hated him for making me want him at this moment when I knew in my mind that this was a very bad idea. We were step-siblings for Christ’s sake, and we lived in the same house.

  “Soph,” he pulled away from me, breathing heavily and rested his forehead on mine, “I want you to come home with me right now.”

  “You must be kidding,” I yelped, “I’m not some easy lay you can drag home and have a one night stand with, we live together moron. This can not happen again.” Then somehow I mustered the strength to push him away and pull the bathroom door wide, so I could make my escape.

  Six – Just civil

  Now

  We drove through the outskirts of the city to get to Kyle’s apartment. He lived in Harrow, which was surprisingly leafy and built up at the same time. The weather was warm and inviting and despite myself, it did put me in a good mood. Also the thought of wine on the balcony, despite my lingering hangover, was something to look forward to. Kyle lived in a gated apartment block, and he pulled up next to a small machine typed in a code, and the gate opened. He parked in what I assumed was his usual spot, and then we were home, well home for the summer. He lifted the first few bags out with ease.

  “You take mine, it’s only a small overnighter, and I’ll get yours.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, picking my handbag out of the car and then joining him at the boot.

  “Of course, come on.” He shut the boot and nodded to an outside door, which required another code. He inputted the code and led me to a lift. We got inside and shot up to the fourth floor, which was also the top.

  The doors opened, and ahead of us was only one front door, which must have been his. We stepped inside and I was shocked. This apartment was huge. Our house with our parents was big, extremely big and luxurious, but this place in London must have cost a fortune, and the floor space alone was monstrous.

  “My God,” I said eyes wide, “what on earth did you say you do?”

  “I make money, baby!” he said, smiling.

  I followed him inside to the clean, neutral, spacious lounge, modern kitchen, dining area, and what looked like another lounge area with a wall of windows that had fantastic views. There was the balcony, and I smiled at the sight.

  “Come on, I’ll show you your room, and then I’ll get your other bags, and we can order some food.”

  “Okay.” I nodded. “I must look a sight, I need to get changed.”

  “You always look great.” He shrugged.

  He led me to the spare room and placed the two cases on my bed. The room was beautiful with crisp, white bedding, understated furniture, and what looked like a dressing room. I clicked the light on to find a walk-in closet that led to an en suite. It was beautiful.

  “This is the second bedroom?” I asked.

  “Yep,” he nodded. “The master bedroom will make you lose your shit, it’s awesome.”

  He left me alone, and I sat on the edge of the bed, prying my case open, wondering again if I had done the right thing. Melancholy washed over me periodically, but I needed to push it away. I texted Mum to tell her I had arrived and contemplated texting Ashley. She still lived in Lytham, round the corner from my old house with Simon. We had stayed close, and she was going to be my bridesmaid, but she was married and heavily pregnant, so she couldn’t spend as much time with me these days. I couldn’t tell her about Kyle, I couldn’t say where I was as she was the only one that ever knew back then, and she would definitely not think this was a good idea.

  She had seen me cry a river over Kyle Hanson and therefore would most likely be against me staying with him for a few weeks whilst vulnerable and desperate. How could I explain that everything was platonic? How could I tell her that he was just trying to help me recover, especially when I wasn’t sure I could ever trust myself around him? No matter what I would always be attracted to him, and Ashley would know that and tell me to stay away. However, I was broken, and we had both moved on, so we could only ever be friends now. I definitely didn’t think she’d understand, especially if I didn’t.

  Kyle broke my thoughts, and he brought two more bags in. “Right come on, let’s order food and crack the wine open.”

  “Okay.” I smiled. “I just want to freshen up, I’ll just be a minute.”

  An hour later we sat on the balcony, laughing, having demolished a pizza between us.

  “This is better,” Kyle smiled, his aviators still on despite the sun going down, “you look happy.”

  “I am,” I said, “thanks, I think this is what I needed.”

  “Wine?” He laughed.

  “That and someone to just ignore my shit and get me laughing again.”

  “Glad I could be that someone.” He looked away from me to the view, and I wondered if I had said something wrong.

  “You always did make me feel better you know.”

  He sighed. “We sure had a good summer, eh?” He didn’t look at me, and his voice trailed off a little at the end.

  “The best.” I nodded. “Now come on, tell me some more stories about those prima donnas you work with.”

  Old Times

  After I stalked out of Tim’s bathroom, I found the girls pretty quickly, and insisted that we leave. As we waited for the taxi I was mortified that anyone may have seen Kyle leave the bathroom after me. I was quiet on the journey home as Ashley and Kathryn chatted excitedly. Vinnie had left the party early, probably with some other girl, but he said he would give Ashley a call, and so she was excited.

  The following day was a Saturday, and I slept in. I was going to spend the day revising for my last exam the following Wednesday.

  “Sophie?” My Mum tapped on my door as I lounged in bed.

  “Yes,” I groaned, and she took that as her cue to come in.

  “It’s almost eleven; you need to get up. I’ve brought you a cup of tea.”

  “Thanks.” I sat up in bed.

  “Good time last night?” she asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.

  “Yes thanks.” I smiled sipping my tea.

  “Do you fancy lunch and a shopping trip today? Mick and I are off to a dinner dance this evening, and I could do with some retail therapy.”

  “I should revise,” I sighed.

  “Revise tomorrow,” she said, “you’re always revising, I bet you know the books better than the teachers.”

  “I wish,” I laughed, “Okay sounds great, I’ll get a shower and then come down.”

  Mum disappeared and I made my way into the shared bathroom. The bathroom was large enough not to notice that we shared it. We had a sink each and a little cabinet behind our individual mirrors. I kept everything in my cabinet and only had a few things out, but Kyle’s was a huge mess that the cleaner tidied once a week. We very rarely ran into each other in there, as it was obvious when the bathroom was in use and we had different schedules, Kyle was lazy and I was not.

  I locked the door that led to his room, and I had my shower. I hadn’t seen him since last night, but did hear him come home in the early hours. I had no idea what he was playing at, but I desperately needed to stay away from him. I hadn’t ever wanted to be close to Kyle and never even considered it possible, but this was dangerous, and my mum would not be happy if she found out.

  Mum and I spent the day shopping; she took me to lunch at our favourite café. She bought me some new summer dresses and some sandals that I had my eye on, as well as some dressier outfits for going out with my friends. We had a great day, but I felt guilty about not revising, so I decided that I would have a night
in by myself, watch girly movies, and then be fresh for revision the next day. As Mum and Mick were going out, I was looking forward to a quiet night. I hadn’t seen Kyle all day and hoped he was going out with David again or one of his other cronies.

  Later, I sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen whilst Mum busied herself, putting things in a small going out bag for her night out. Her perfume lingered in the air, and she chatted to me as I nursed a coke, sitting in pyjama bottoms and a vest top. My blonde hair was tied up on top of my head, and I wore a headband to keep the frizz from my face.

  “I’ve left you some money to order pizza,” she fussed as she applied lipstick, using the small microwave as a make shift mirror. She wore a fitted red pinafore dress, and her hair was shaped into a chic bob.

  “Mum, you didn’t need to do that. I need to lay off the take away, I’ll get fat.”

  “Rubbish,” she laughed, “you’re so beautiful, just more of you to love.” She came around the breakfast bar and kissed my head. I rubbed it straight away to make sure her lipstick didn’t remain. At that moment Mick entered the kitchen wearing a suit and a blue shirt, opened at the neck without a tie.

  “My beautiful wife,” he said, arms open, making his way to my mum and kissing her lips.

  “Gross,” I sighed.

  “Not out tonight, Soph?” Mick asked, kissing my hair.

  “No, I’m partied out, quiet night on the top floor.”

  He nodded. “Have fun.”

  They left and I grabbed some ice cream from the freezer, making my way upstairs to the party room with a collection of my favourite girly DVDs to choose from. The upstairs to our house had a monstrous flat screen and the most comfortable sofas I had ever known. It was the cosiest corner in the whole house. I didn’t want any dinner after today’s lunch with Mum, and so I grabbed a blanket from my room and made my way up to the second floor. I slipped Dirty Dancing into the DVD player and settled in front of the TV with my ice cream.

  After half an hour I stood to get myself another drink at the bar on the opposite side of the room, and as I did I turned to see Kyle stood in the doorway. I gasped as I saw him, embarrassed to see him after last night. I only hesitated for a second, but I knew that he noted my reaction. I carried on to the bar, and he followed me.

  “Are you having drinks in here tonight?” I asked, trying to sound normal, “I can go to my room.”

  “No,” he said quietly, following me into the L-shaped bar in the corner of the room, it housed every drink imaginable, and there were two fridges stocked with soft drinks and beer. I grabbed a coke from the fridge. “Sophie …” he began, clearing his throat.

  I held my hands up, my face turning red. “Please, don’t say anything.”

  “I…” he began.

  I shook my head. “Kyle, look we don’t have to talk about this.”

  “I think we do,” he said in a quiet voice, following me back to the sofa. I climbed under my blanket again.

  “It can’t happen again,” I snapped with my eyes on the film.

  “Okay.” He nodded, “I just want to say I’m sorry, Okay?”

  I nodded and glanced to him, he watched me, his lips tight with a shy smile. He looked edible as usual, his dark hair fell into his icy eyes, and his dimples were showing slightly.

  “Right.” I nodded. Of course he was sorry. God knows what he had been thinking. Why would he want me? It was sick, just an attraction because I was the only girl he couldn’t have. There was no way I was his type.

  “I wasn’t thinking.” He sighed.

  Again I nodded; it was excruciating to have this conversation. If we could both agree that it wouldn’t happen again, then why did we still have to talk about it?

  “Soph, just …” He shook his head. “Just stay away from Tim, Okay?”

  I looked up to him, and he stood to leave.

  “He’s not good enough for you.” He didn’t look back at me again as he left, and I sat my mouth slightly agape. Kyle and I did not have a relationship full stop, and so why would he care who took an interest in me? And why would he care if they were no good for me? He didn’t have any idea who I was and what I needed. We were strangers, and I was certainly not kissing that stranger ever again.

  Seven – Just chemistry

  Now

  “What do you want to do today?” Kyle asked as we ate breakfast on the balcony. I sat in my pyjamas, and he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

  “Are you not working?” I asked.

  “My hours are a little unconventional.” He smiled. “I’m a music producer, so I can work a few weeks in the studio, then from home, hit the party scene to see my clients, and I can take days off when I feel like it.” He leaned forward. “Plus I have an assistant Geraldine who takes care of my affairs.”

  “An assistant?” I raised my eyebrows. “You really are a big deal then?” I laughed.

  “No,” he shook his head, “I work for the big deals, and they make me plenty of money. So what do you want to do today, shop, sight-see, get drunk?”

  “Oh no,” I shook my head, “I’ve had enough alcohol. How about shopping? I need a new wardrobe.”

  “Are you joking? You brought a whole wardrobe with you.”

  “But I need to invest in the new me.”

  “Good idea.” He nodded, smirking at me. “Let’s get some clothes for the old Soph and burn all this shit.”

  His eyes bored into me, and I tried to laugh off his words, but I felt them deep into my soul. He wanted the old Sophie back, but was she buried too deep to ever resurface?

  “I need a fresh start.”

  “Sure do. Come on.” He jumped up, clearing our cereal bowls. “Go and get dressed, and I’ll take you on a shopping trip to remember.”

  Half an hour later we were walking to the tube station, to make our way into the city centre to go shopping. We walked next to each other easily, and he teased me about my mum babying me and my weeks spent sobbing in bed. I joked about his new life in the city and how many single women must visit his flat. We reached the tube station, and the entrance was slightly crowded, so he pushed me in front of him, placing his hand on the small of my back. It was such a slight touch, but it brought back so many memories. I was the only person who Kyle would touch in those days, and I was the person who had owned Kyle’s heart. We walked next to each other again, he looked over to me, and I met his gaze. Perhaps coming here wasn’t going to help me at all. Perhaps it would just transfer one type of sadness to another.

  Once we reached the city the day was a blur of activity. We moved from one shop to another with gusto. One thing that Kyle and I always had in common was our ability to spend money. We had never been without it, and today was no exception. Kyle tried to pay for my purchases, but I had my own money and refused. I was determined to be the new me, and Kyle was happy to indulge that. I bought dresses, shoes, skirts, cute tops, and make up. Kyle bought a shirt and a belt, but we hadn’t really hit many of his shops. I felt euphoric, and we laughed so much that my stomach hurt.

  Kyle then took me to The Ivy for lunch. He knew the maitre d. He found us a lovely table for two. We ordered champagne and ate steak until we were stuffed.

  “I’ve missed this.” Kyle sighed, sitting back into his chair, hands on his full stomach.

  I leaned forward, and my blonde hair cascaded over my face. My look suddenly turned serious.

  “Don’t do that.” He leaned forward and placed his hand on mine.

  “What?” I plastered a smile on my face that should have been there before.

  “Don’t be sad because we enjoy each other’s company … no guilt. I let you think that was Okay back then because we didn’t know any better.”

  I nodded and swallowed.

  “Sophie, this isn’t wrong, us being together, it isn’t wrong, Okay?”

  I looked up to him. “Okay,” I said quietly.

  “We get on great, and no one can take that away from us, no matter what.”

  “Yep.
” I sighed, desperately trying to change the subject as getting on great with Kyle wasn’t the problem, falling for him was. “Well the good news is that I haven’t thought of my broken heart all day.” I grinned.

  “Until now.” He frowned.

  “Hey,” I squeezed his hand, “more shopping or more champers?”

  “Champers.” He grinned.

  Old Times

  Two weeks after Tim’s party all our exams were over. Ashley, Kathryn, and I were planning the night out to end all nights out, and we were getting ready at my house. We were going into nearby Blackpool, a tourist town next to ours, to hit the bars and clubs, intent on getting very drunk. It was the place to party as it was full of cheesy bars, flashing neon and lots of alcohol.

  “Everyone from school will be out,” Kathryn chattered excitedly as she applied her make up in my full-length mirror. Ashley didn’t wear much make up. She had applied it earlier and slipped into her tight black dress that showed off her gorgeously toned legs. Her hair was so naturally beautiful and hung down her back. She was ready to go out, and so she laid on my bed on her stomach, a glass of wine in hand.

  “Great.” I rolled my eyes. “That’s all we need.”

  “Oh you’re such a kill joy.” Ashley giggled. “It’s great seeing everyone.”

  “You mean you want to see Vinnie,” I said. She laughed and so did Kathryn.

  “Sophie we need to mingle. We’ll be at university soon and won’t see anyone from school ever again,” Kathryn said, as she applied some blusher.

  “Fine,” I sipped my wine, “so long as we only go to the good clubs, and we dance all night.”

  “Great,” Ashley stood up and made her way over to where Kathryn and I stood, “let’s make a toast, to best friends forever.”

  “Best friends forever,” Kathryn and I said as we chinked our glasses.

  I stood behind Kathryn and looked at myself in the mirror. I wore a tight black skirt and red vest that showed off my assets. I had let Kathryn help me with my make up, so it was a bit heavier than I usually wore, and she had straightened my hair. Kathryn caught my eyes through the mirror.