It’s never that easy

Chapter Eight

A few months have passed since dad and Nick’s accident. Dad’s fine but Nick’s had a lot of work to do. I’m so proud of him. He’s now able to walk with just one crutch. It’s taken a lot of physiotherapy, but it’s really helped him. The guy who crashed into them on the other hand, was badly hurt and cannot walk. He is also going to prison for a while for a DUI as he was wasted on whiskey. Justice is all I can say.

As for Jamie, he explained he isn’t very good when it comes to situations such as Nick’s accident and therefore, he left as he thought he would be useless. We’ve moved on since then and made up and have become closer as ever, but just as friends. Me? I’ve not spent much time outside of work with Jamie. This means I can also concentrate more on my relationship with Mark.

We’re all going away for the weekend in my parent’s cabin for a nice relaxing holiday (well that’s what I’m hoping for anyway) and to get Nick in a normal-ish place, away from all the doctors and physiotherapists. But first one more day of work before we can all enjoy ourselves. And I mean ENJOY ourselves. Nick is finally off his medication, it’s mine and Mark’s six-month anniversary and Gemma has a new job too as a model to celebrate.

“You ready?”

“Yeah. I’ll be right there Gem!” I shouted down. “Ring me if you need anything okay?”

“Yes sis. Don’t worry about me.”

With that I gave Nick a peck on the cheek and left with Gem for work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but I cannot wait to get away for the weekend.

“Right…I shall see you at five?”

“Yeah see you then. Then it’s party time!” Gemma said with a squeal.

“Yeah, we’ll get packing after we go pick up the mini bus from dad.”

“Yep, deal.”

With that I shut the door and waved to Gemma walking into work. Work just seemed to drag though today with us all going away. It seemed forever before Gemma ended up picking me up.

“PARTY!” Gemma screamed as soon as I got into the car.

“Bring it! Let’s get to dad’s. Quicker we get there, the quicker we start partying!”

I grabbed the keys out of dad’s hand but not before I got a lecture.

“Be careful on those roads, they can be bad this time of the year! If you feel tired pull over and have a rest.”

“Dad don’t worry. The driving is split between Jamie, Gemma and myself. We will be fine. I’ll ring you as soon as we get there.”

“Okay, I can deal with that. Have fun okay? Look after your brother!”

“Will do. Love you.”

I gave a reassuring kiss on the cheek and a hug before we waved goodbye to him as we climbed into the bus, leaving Gemma’s car on their drive. I didn’t get much sleep though, I kept tossing and turning in my bed. I think I only got two hours sleep.

“You okay to drive? I’m knackered.”

“Yeah sure.”

“Right we’ll pick Mark and George first then Jamie who will take over the driving for you.”

“Yep sounds like a plan. Nick, you okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll just have the back to myself. Better for my leg that way.”

“Yeah that’s fine bro. Mark and George can sit in front of you then and Jamie, Gemma and I will be in the front.”

“Right, let’s go get the boys and get this holiday started.”

Twenty minutes later we ended up outside Mark’s home. Gemma hit the horn as none of us had quite woken up yet to go knock on the door.

“There’s my man. Anything going to happen between you and George then?”

“We will have to see, won’t we?” Gemma said winking at me.

“Hey babe. You look terrible,” Mark said with a passionate kiss on my lips.

“Thanks babe. You sure know how to greet your lady.”

“Sorry, not much sleep?”

“No, not really so I’m going for a nap. I just wanted to see you first.”

“And now you have. You have all the rest you need. Gemma and Jamie will be fine sharing the driving.”

“Do you mind Gem?”

“Not at all. Like you said Jamie’s taking over from me when we get to him. I may join the boys in the back,” she explained with a cheeky grin on her face.

“Yeah, I bet,” I laughed.

The next moment was a blur at first but when I woke up from my nap, I looked up and realised I was leaning on Jamie. I suddenly jumped up.

“Hey sleepy head...you were out cold when I got in the bus.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“About two hours. We’re an hour away from the cabin. But now you're awake we’ll make a pit stop. You guys wanting to grab a drink or go about your business for about half hour or so?”

“Yeah sounds good to me. Babe you okay after your nap?”

“Yeah Mark, much better thanks,” I said giving him an innocent but guilty smile.

In some way, I was happy to wake up on Jamie, but I know I shouldn’t with me being with Mark now. But I can’t help myself when I’m around him. It seems like he’s pulling me towards him even with him not knowing it. I seem drawn to him for some reason.

Jamie turned into a lovely cottage like pub. It seemed really cosy from the outside. It looked 1920s. We walked in and it had this massive stone fireplace in the centre of the eating area of the delicate pub.

“Wow. This place is gorgeous. Great find Jamie my boy!” Mark said with a punch to the arm, which didn’t go down too well with them both not really getting on still.

As Mark did that Jamie looked at me in a way I’ve never seen before. It was as if he knew about this place.

“My lady. Shall we take a seat?”

“Yeah. Gemma I’ll have a coke please.”

We got seated near the fireplace. When Mark pulled my chair out, I started to sit down when I noticed Jamie passing something to the bartender. I thought nothing of it and just got on with ordering some food. The food arrived, and I have never tasted anything so delicious. It all just melted into our mouths. All homemade too which made it better.

“I’m just going out for some air,” Jamie declared as he got up from his seat.

“I’ll come with you,” Gemma answered.

I wonder what those two are up to.

“I’m just going to freshen up. I’ll be back in a minute,” I told Mark pecking him on the cheek as I left.

“Why Jamie? Why have you brought us here? Did you organise this?”

“No Gemma. Honestly, I didn’t. Do you really think I would?”

“Yeah I do. You want something you can’t have. You knew this pub would do something to her. She loves places like this.”

“Hey guys! What are you talking about?”

“Nothing much. I was just saying to Jamie that I don’t mind driving the rest of the way.”

“Ah right. Okay. I’ll leave you to it then.”

“Actually, hang on I’ll come with you,” Jamie said rushing by my side.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“How do you like this place?”

“I love it. This is what I want one day. How’d you know it was here?”

“I may have done a little, teeny bit of research before we left. I knew you liked places like these and I wanted to see if there were any near the cabin.”

“You shouldn’t have. You know why too!”

“I know. But I did all this for you. I know, I shouldn’t but I can’t help it.”

“What did you give the bartender earlier?”

“Oh, you saw that?”

“Yes, that’s why I was suspicious of you and Gemma coming outside.”

“It was a little thank you for putting us at the best table.”

“Ah right.”

“Hey guys.”

“Hey Mark.”

“I thought I’d come see where you had got to.”

“Yeah? We were just talking. Is everyone ready to go?”

“Yeah I believe so.”

We all piled back into the bus and headed to the cabin. I’m just looking forward to getting there now. It’s so secluded. No one around for miles. Just buried within the woods with a massive lake. That’s the best part. It’s so cool in there. It’s so nice to relax in.

“We’re here!” declared Jamie.

“Wow. You weren’t joking Keira when you said how spectacular it is,” said George.

“We’ll have to drop bags off and go straight to the hot tub,” screamed Gemma.

“Go ahead. Just remember big bedroom is mine and Mark’s. The rest of the rooms you guys can fight over. Oh, apart from Nick’s of course. Nick, you want any help getting out?”

“Yeah if you can please sis.”

We all got settled in our rooms and got changed for the hot tub. As Gemma and I walked down the stairs, we could hear a lot of wolf whistles. With this, I could feel my cheeks burning up.

“Shut up you guys, it’s only a bikini,” Gemma shouted.

I walked outside to uncover the tub when suddenly there was a gentle tap on my butt and these warm, manly arms came around my waist.

“Hey, want me to do anything?”

“Yeah help me with the cover please babe. Then we need to start it for at least ten minutes to let it warm up.”

“On it boss,” he said with a salute.

“When we’re done, there’s somewhere I want to show you.”

“Okayyy...What?”

“Well you will have to wait and see,” I declared winking at him.

I finished up getting the tub ready, but when I looked up Mark was gone. So much for helping me.

“Where’s he gone?”

I walked into the cabin and saw him playing a game with George.

“Thought you was supposed to be helping me with the cover?”

“Sorry George waved me in for a second, then I got distracted.”

“Whatever. You ready to leave now?”

“Can we do it another night? I want to stay put for this one time.”

“You are joking right?”

With that I had enough and stormed outside. All I wanted was our first night to be a romantic one. The rest of the weekend he could do whatever he wanted with George. Suddenly I heard a lot of shouting and banging coming from inside.

“You really are an arsehole! She only wanted one night with you. Is that so hard to ask for one night away from your boyfriend?”

Next thing I know they were hitting each other.

“Jamie! Mark! Stop it now the pair of you. You’re acting so ridiculous, it’s like watching two school children on the playground. All I want now is to be on my own. Mark, you had your chance. Tonight, you’re on the settee.”

“Keira, come on!”

“No Mark! I’m not having it. I didn’t want our first night to be like this. You both have ruined it for everyone.”

I walked out towards the lake before either of them could say anything else. A nice swim in the lake will do me good. It’s so relaxing in there. It may be a little bit cold at first but once you start swimming around, it’s beautiful. It’s nice to look up at the stars and seeing the shine onto the lake too.

“Hey, can I join?”

This sudden voice made me jump out of my day dream.

“Oh Jamie. Do whatever you want!”

“Oh, come on Keira. Don’t be like that. I was sticking up for you. Like a good friend would.”

“Fine. Thanks, you didn’t have to.”

“See that wasn’t hard was it. Besides I had to, he was being a jerk.”

I couldn’t help myself but laugh and smile at him.

“That’s the smile I love. Now what was it I was going to do? Oh yeah...this!”

Suddenly I was picked up and thrown into the lake.

“Oh my god. It’s bloody freezing.”

I had to get my own back. So how about grabbing his legs and pulling him in.

“That’s it, you’ve started a war now Dixon.”

We started splashing each other until it got out of hand and it turned into something I regretted straight away. It just happened. It’s the magnet effect again. It was such a passionate kiss though. It tasted so divine but forbidden at the same time.

“I can’t,” I said as I climbed out of the lake and collected my things and started to walk towards the log cabin.

“Keira!”

That’s all I could hear all the way to the cabin, but I was literally running so he couldn’t catch up with me.

I ran up the stairs, slamming the front door hard behind me. I ignored all of the confused faces sitting at the table in the kitchen. As I was going up to the bedroom, I could hear footsteps behind me but light ones, so I knew who it was. Suddenly the front door slammed again, that’s when I knew Jamie had come into the cabin.

“Okay what happened?”

“Oh Gem. I’ve done something horrible. Jamie and I kissed whilst swimming in the lake.”

“You did what?”

“I know. I feel guilty. Mark…”

“No! You can’t tell him. I knew he was up to something. I knew from that pub a while ago.”

“It just happened!”

“It’s fine. It was just the once. Nothing can happen again! Not while you’re with Mark.”

“I know, and it won’t. Right we need to act normal and make a reason, so Mark and George don’t get suspicious.”

“Erm, you were cold so came to get dressed and you had an argument with Jamie for fighting with Mark.”

“Yep, that’ll do. Right I’ll get dressed and come down in a bit.”

“What about Nick?”

“Nick knows everything, so I’ll talk to him later.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a while then.”

I shut the door behind her and suddenly I heard voices outside of my door on the hallway. I opened the door two and saw Gemma and Jamie talking.

“No Jamie! Leave her be. She doesn’t need all this. She’s with Mark.”

“Yeah I know. I just need to make sure she’s okay.”

“She is perfectly fine. If you love her, you can help with the excuse of an argument resulting after your fight with Mark.”

“Fine. If that’s what she wants.”

“That’s exactly what she wants.”

He loves me? No that can’t be true. Can it? Nope not thinking about it. I’m going to go get dressed and act like nothing has happened.

I walked down the wooden staircase noticing everyone was sat around the fireplace.

“Tonight, we could sit here and play a game. What’cha think?”

“Yeah sure. What game?”

“I have never…” Jamie shouted quickly.

Everyone agreed and as usual it starts off easy with such things as I have never kissed the opposite s*x or I have never skipped work. But then it got serious.

“I have never fantasized about anyone in this room,” Jamie said.

Of course, I had to drink. The problem being is they may all believe it’s about Mark, but I know it’s about Jamie.

“I’ve got one. I have never kissed someone and wanted more.”

Thanks Gemma because that’s not going to be an easy one. It’s just happened. She certainly knows how to make me sweat. But that’s what best friends are for.

“Oh, I Keira. Who was yours?”

“Mark obviously…” which I said as Jamie and I both looked at each other with that look. The look of I know you mean someone else...me.

“Well, what about you Gem?”

“Well...It happened on the night out...with a certain someone in this room.”

“NO! You never told me. You and George?”

“I didn’t want to tell until we knew ourselves. Which we did by this afternoon when we were talking on the bus.

“Well I’m happy for you two.”

“Thanks Keira. I knew you would be. But don’t worry… I’ll still be with you tonight if you want?”

“No… don’t be silly. Mark needs to grovel,” I said looking at him. “So, I’ll be fine on my own until he wows me. You two have fun and besides that’s a room free for him to have now,” I said winking at them.

“You sure?”

“I am honestly.”

“Okay then.”

“Anyway, I’m tired so I’m going to bed. You better think of something great for tomorrow.”

“Can I at least have a good night kiss?”

“As long as you promise me that you won’t act like a d**k again?”

“Promise. Cross my heart.”

I leant down and gave him a little taste to tease him.

“That’s not fair!”

“Life’s not fair. If you’re good tomorrow you may have a little more,” I said with a wicked grin.

After giving him that to think about, I had a little bit of my own thinking about. I ran up the stairs to get ready for bed, but as I jumped into bed there was a knock on my door. Thinking it was going to be Mark coming to grovel, I told whoever it was to enter and to my surprise it was Jamie.

“What are you doing here?”

“I just want to talk. I needed to check that you’re okay? That we’re okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine...Now go!”

“I don’t believe you and until I do, I’m sitting right here!” He declared sitting next to me on my bed.

“Jamie get off! You can’t demand. Besides, I was telling you the truth. We are fine as long as it doesn’t happen again...It can’t happen again! Promise?” I said sticking my pinkie out for him to promise.

“But I can’t promise that. Who knows what might happen in the future!”

“My future is with Mark.”

“You’ve known him for what? Five months? You don’t know what is going to happen. Anything could happen. You could break up or he could move away. You’ve known me for over five years now. You know me. I will not make any promises like that. I just can’t.”

“Fine. That’s up to you but nothing will happen. I’m not going to argue with you. We will just have to see how it goes, but as I said nothing will happen. Nothing. Not while I’m with Mark or if you end up being with someone else if I’m not with Mark. Nothing can happen while we’re in relationships. We both have to swallow our feelings for each other.”

“It’ll be hard but if that’s what you want then I’ll have to deal with it. Now I will pinkie swear with you.”

We both pinkie swore to each other and we spoke for hours and hours. Just talking about our lives, work, what we want to do and mainly random crap. The next thing I knew, I woke up next to Jamie. I quickly looked at my clock, realising it was four in the morning.

“Jamie...Jamie. Jamie wake up.”

“Huh...What’s happening.”

“We fell asleep. Hurry up and go to your room before anyone sees.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s four in the morning, meaning it’s time for you to leave. Now hurry!”

“Okay, okay. I’m going. You do know that we haven’t actually done anything wrong right?”

“I know but I don’t want people to get the wrong idea. It might look different to someone else who sees us together this late in the night, or should I say this early in the morning.”

“Okay. See you in a few hours then.”

“Yes. Goodnight Jamie,” I replied with a grin towards him as he left.