He Called Me Gorgeous. Disaster Engagement Series Book 2

Episode 3

The barmaid came over with another round of drinks for us, she was tall and blonde and she fancied herself. Chris had shagged her once or twice before he met Carmela but she wasn't my cup of tea at all. She was batting her eyelashes and smiling at Tommy but he wasn't interested in her either. Tommy had been with his ex girlfriend for a few years but they had split up the year before because she had cheated on him. He said he had a lucky escape because she was a pain in the arse with a cocaine problem. Although Tommy was famous and a good looking guy he always kind of shied away from girls throwing themselves at him. He always liked the ones he had to fight for, he said he liked the chase. A group of drunk girls came over to our table. The Big Man was in his element, he was cracking jokes and asking their names. As if he would ever remember any of them in the morning. He leaned over the table and whispered to me "I'm making up for lost time mate, it was hell on that film set with no birds and only Tommy for company" I gave him a confused look "no offence but none of these girls are exactly models Big Man" he let out a huge laugh "I know mate but I take it where I can get it" one of the girls jumped on my knee for a photo, I smiled to be polite but I was desperate to get home to Lydia. The thought of her at home on her own had me worried and the thought of her at home naked in my bath made me hard. I slipped away from the table and headed up to the bar. I needed to check my phone to see if she had tried to call me. I was disappointed to see that she hadn't called and there was no text messages from her either. I thought about her covered in bubbles in my bath and soaping herself up. I was desperate to get home to her. Then Chris came up behind me "Hi Franco are you buying the drinks mate?" he said with a huge smile “Yeah what you having?" I asked "I'll have a fresh orange juice" he said. I was proud of Chris, he was really doing well with his sobriety. "Where's Lydia?" He asked looking around for her “She wanted to let us have a boys night but I'm going to head home soon, I hate leaving her on her own" he shook his head and laughed “yeah you should head home soon, you don't want to leave your girlfriend on her own too long" he said and then he started to make kissing noises "oh Lydia I love you! oh Franco I love you" he said in a stupid voice. I just laughed. Chris had always known how I felt about Gorgeous because I had always confided in him, and now that her and I were living together and getting closer he was over the moon for me and he even asked if he could be the best man at our wedding. The Big Man came over to us at the bar and that’s when he over heard what Chris was saying and he looked pissed off. "So what's all this Fran? What Lydia’s your girlfriend?" His fists were clenched at his sides. I had fought with him for years over Lydia and I don't just mean arguments, but now I didn't want to fight with him. I felt happy for once in my life because I knew she was waiting at home for me in my bed and I knew when I got home she would be just as happy to see me. I didn't have the fire in me to fight with him because I was content for once in my life and I liked it, but he looked like he was going to kill me. "Franco is something going on with you two? I deserve to know" Chris tried to calm him down "Sorry Big Man I was just kidding" "If you’re just kidding then why did he kiss her on the lips tonight?" I knew he was angry but I wondered why he was shouting at Chris “I actually didn't mean that, I think she was as shocked as you" I said and that’s when he turned back to me. His face was like thunder “I swear to god Franco if you are lying to me I'm going to f*****g kill you" "calm down Big Man, we are all mates remember?” said Chris "do you know what Big Man? I love that girl and I think she's starting to feel the same way about me" he was shocked and so was Chris, "I'm sick of all this bullshit. If I want to be with her I'm going to be with her and I feel bad for you but that's just the way it is.” He obviously didn’t expect me to say that but I was sick of listening to him “cool, well you won't mind if I go after her myself will you?" He said with a cocky smile "what are you talking about? You don't have a chance with her" I knew I was pushing him but I had to put him in his place “have you been f*****g her?" He asked with a smirk "No" I snapped and he laughed "You’re pathetic Franco, you’re standing there like you own her, when she just looks at you like a brother and nothing more. So if our agreement that she is off limits to the both of us has been called off then I'm going to go after her myself" He was kidding himself if he thought I was going to let him have her. “You've never had a chance with her Big Man. Let her be happy with me" He came towards me “over my dead body" he said in a sinister way that made me think of all the times we had punched hell out of each other over the years. Chris stood between us because he always tried to play peace maker with us. “come on boys not all this again, we’re supposed to be out for a laugh and this s**t always starts when she's not here" he was right this song and dance had went on for far too long. "Yeah I better go" I said because I didn't want to start throwing punches in public. "Yeah you run home to Lydia, maybe tonight will be the night you finally f**k her, but it will only be in your dreams" he laughed and I couldn’t stand him being smug with me any longer. "You would be running home to her too if she was waiting for you in your bed" "what are you talking about?" He asked “That she’s been sleeping in my bed for the past few months, and I've been looking after her" he looked shocked and so did Chris. "Look Big Man, we can't go on like we have been all these years, we should be honest with her and see which of us she chooses" he nodded his head "agreed let the best man win" he shook my hand and Chris gave me a look. The agreement that neither of us tried to be with her had always suited the Big Man because he knew that he would never have a chance with her. But for the first time in my life I believed that she might want a relationship with me and that scared the s**t out of him and it was written all over his face. Tommy came over "what's happening with these drinks boys?” he asked but he looked at all of our faces and sensed he wasn't wanted in this conversation. "Tommy, Lydia told me you said she was Gorgeous and in my house tonight you couldn't take your eyes off her t**s. I've told you before stay the f**k away from her." Then the Big Man chimed in "Tommy you stare at her like that again and I’m going cut your f*****g eyes out" Tommy put his hands up "sorry boys but she's a beautiful girl" I knew I was being a dickhead. Tommy was my mate and I was just taking out my frustration with the Big Man on him "cool just as long as you understand, who fancies a few shots?" I said with a grin. “I thought you were going home?" Said the Big Man “No way, it's your first night back brother, lets get drunk!" He gave me a weak smile. That's the thing with me and him, we are like brothers and brothers fight sometimes. We had always fought over her but we could always put it to one side because we were a family. Chris walked me home at closing time and although I was drunk I knew I had to speak to her as soon as I got home. “What are you going to say mate?” Asked Chris and I could tell he was just as excited as I was “I really don’t know, but now our agreement is off and I need to tell her I can’t let this pass me by. I need to stop being a p***y and be honest with her” “I’m not just saying this mate but I really think you have a shot with her.” His encouragement was all that I needed and I couldn’t wait to see her.

Chapter 7 POV Lydia

Fran came home from the pub and I heard him shouting my name from the hallway but I just ignored him and pretended to be asleep. I heard the bedroom door open but I closed my eyes really tight because I wasn’t ready to speak to him. “What are you doing in here Gorgeous?” He said sitting at the bottom of my bed. "I'm trying to get some sleep, can you sleep in your own bed" I snapped "but you know I can't sleep without you" He was obviously drunk because he was slurring his words but I couldn’t even bring myself to look at him. “just go to bed Franco" I snapped "ok" he said and he managed to get onto his feet and stagger out into the hallway towards his bedroom. The next morning I woke up and I could hear the shower running next door. I lay in the same position willing myself back to sleep. After about ten minutes I heard the shower stop and then he appeared in the doorway "morning Gorgeous” he was just in a towel and I felt like if I looked at him I would have melted. "Morning, Fran did you have a nice night?" I asked but my tone wasn’t very friendly “yeah it wasn't the same without you, you ok? Why are you sleeping in here?" He asked as he rubbed his head, he was obviously hung over but he still looked good enough to eat "I thought you might have brought someone back with you, so I thought I would give you some space" he sat on the bed beside me. He started stroking my hair "why would I bring someone home with me?" I shrugged my shoulders “Because you’re single and that's what single guys do!" "Oh right” was all that he said and I was livid. I wanted him to say he wouldn’t dream of bringing a girl home with him and that he wanted to be with me but instead he just sat there stroking my hair like I was a lost puppy. Well I had news for him because I wasn’t anybody’s charity case. “I've decided I should move back into my own flat." There was no way I was going to keep living with him now that I knew I was only there out of pity. “why?” He asked with a little smile “It’s time to go home” He looked as if he was deep in thought for a moment. “I’ve obviously out stayed my welcome here” I said and he looked confused. I didn’t want to be there for another second so I quickly got up and started to make the bed. “Why are you saying all this!" He jumped up onto his feet and almost dropped his towel. "I need to get back to normality and so do you" He was looking at me like I was speaking in another language. “I don't want you to move out, what's put this idea into your head? Oh I get it, it's because the Big Man’s home" I screwed up my face "What does that mean? It’s nothing to do with him." He put his hands over his face “well what's started all this? Is it because of what happened in the kitchen last night? I'm sorry if I over stepped the mark" he said "it's not that" "then what's up? I can fix it" I couldn’t tell him I was jealous of him being out with other woman. “I think I need to get a bit of my independence back and you must be sick of me cramping your style" he shook his head “what style?" He almost shouted “You know you can't bring girls back here when your crazy friend is sleeping in your bed" He took a deep calming breath “Lydia I don't want to bring anybody back here, I've already told you that" but I knew he was lying. “Then why were you out with some girl on your knee last night?" I didn’t plan on bringing that up but it was out of my mouth before I could stop it. He gave me a look as if I was stupid “a fan jumped on my knee for a photo that's it" "You don’t need to lie Fran" he looked serious “I'm not lying Lydia, I was desperate to come home to see you last night." Why would he be desperate to see me? I was just his crazy mate that needed constant reassurance and although I loved him for pretending that he would rather be at home with me watching London Streets, I knew he was just saying that to be nice. "Why would you want to be here when you could be out enjoying yourself" He started to shuffle from one foot to another “Because I wanted to be here with you." My heart couldn’t take any more of his lies. I knew he didn’t want to be with me the way I wanted to be with him. “No you don’t Fran. You told Stefan I was damaged goods because of what Jimmy did to me and that I was a burden on you” he took a deep breath “I never said that." I could tell he was angry but I didn’t care any more “yes you did, or how else would he have known about what happened?” He shook his head “You’re wrong, I didn't tell him, I swear to god Lydia, I didn't tell him anything, how can you think that I would? I didn't even want to go out and leave you last night..." and I cut him off mid sentence "because you feel guilty and obliged to look after me! Well I'm a big girl and I can look after myself" I ran past him into his bedroom and started to throw my stuff into bags. After a couple of minutes he came into his bedroom and he looked genuinely hurt that I was leaving "So that's it, you’re going to believe your crazy ex over me, when you know he's a liar. You’re going to stay here with me for months and sleep in my bed and now you’re just going to leave" I just ignored him and carried on packing "please stop and listen to me Lydia" he sat down on the edge of the bed and grabbed me onto his knee. “I would never say that you’re damaged goods, he just said that because he was jealous of us." I knew he was right, Stefan was horrible and would have said anything to keep me away from Fran but it didn’t explain how Stefan knew about Jimmy. “Please stay” he said and kissed my cheek and I wanted to melt into his arms but I knew he didn’t feel the same way about me as I did about him and I knew I couldn’t stay with him any longer. “I'm right Fran I need to move out of here, I can't ask you to put your life on hold any longer. Thank you so much for looking after me" I gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Gorgeous please don't go, I want to look after you." I looked deep into his big brown puppy dog eyes and he did look sad but I knew I was doing the right thing. “I can’t stay, I need to go. We need to get back to normal, thank you for everything Fran." I got up and carried on packing "ok Gorgeous, but you know I'm always here for you, and you’re not damaged goods you will always be perfect to me." But I knew he was lying. How could he think I was perfect? I am damaged and nothing can fix it.

Chapter 8

A couple of days had passed since I had left Fran’s house and I had been back staying at my own flat with Stacey. I was still too scared to sleep on my own so I shared her bed. She laughed when I woke up because she said I kept cuddling her all night. "Sorry Stacey I must have thought I was still in bed with Fran." as soon as I said it her eyebrows shot up and I immediately knew what she was going to say. "So you've been sleeping in his bed beside him? What’s going on Lyds?" I had always hated when people asked me if Fran and I were more than friends but now that I actually wanted something more with him and he clearly didn’t, it was like a kick to my gut. "Nothing is going on with us, we're just friends Stacey." I said a little louder than I had expected too. Stacey just shook her head “yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that Lyds" she was my best friend and I still couldn’t admit my feelings for Fran to her. What was wrong with me? "Anyway Lyds can I borrow your blue shoes for the party on Friday?" I had forgot that Chris and Fran had organised a homecoming party for the Big Man and I was dreading it, but I was happy that it was distracting Stacey. Because any one could see that I was clearly upset about moving out of Fran’s house but she was so self obsessed that she didn’t care what was wrong with me and it meant I didn't have to discuss anything deep and meaningful with her. Carmela on the other hand wanted to know every detail and every feeling and I always got the impression that anything I told her would go straight back to Chris. "Yeah of course you can borrow my shoes" I said with a smile. I was happy to be living with her again because I had really missed her. "That reminds me, I'm going shopping today with Carmela if you want to join us?" I asked, but it was like talking to a brick wall because she just ignored me and carried on talking "I need those blue shoes and your skirt to match if that's ok?" Stacey often did this, she wasn't being rude...well she was a bit, but if she had something on her mind she would completely ignore you until she got it all off her chest. "Yeah of course, anyway do you want to come out with me and Carmela today?" But she just ignored me again and started posing and looking at herself in the mirror "I'm getting my hair and make up done for the party, I want to look my best for the Big Man, I wonder if he missed me when he was away" I got up out of bed and said "remember we have a table booked for dinner tonight" and I went to my bedroom to get changed. As I left her room I heard her saying "I bet the Big Man missed me loads" to herself in the mirror, I just shook my head and laughed, she'd obviously lost the plot. I went out that day and bought a new dress for the party and one for dinner that night. Carmela and I decided to go and get our nails done. I hadn't spoken to Fran since I left his house and I was exhausted by the time I got home. Carmela had spent the whole time banging on about me and Fran, she said he was really down and had stayed at Chris's flat because he was upset. That didn't sound like Fran at all. I think she was trying to make me feel bad for the way I had treated him, but there was two sides to the story but I didn't want to tell Carmela that I had built up my friendship with him into something it wasn't. I had been an i***t and I didn’t want the whole world to know how hurt I was, so I just said I would speak to him and she seemed to get off my back. I rushed home to get changed for my dinner with Stacey. I quickly had a shower and blow dried my hair and put on my make up and then I put on my robe and popped into the kitchen to open a bottle of champagne for us to share before we headed out for the night. I heard the elevator open into my flat and I could tell it was the Big Man from his loud foot steps, I was busy struggling to open the bottle when he came into the kitchen “hey where have you been?” He asked but he didn’t look happy for some reason “I was out with Carmela today and now I’m getting ready to go out to dinner” I was still kind of nervous in my flat on my own even though I had loads of security and now that the Big Man was home from filming I knew he was only down stairs but I still couldn’t completely relax. “Who are you going out with?" He looked a bit down "I’m going out with Stacey, but she's been out for hours I hope she hasn't forgot, what are you up to honey? Do you want to join us for dinner?" He wouldn't look at me and he had a face like he was chewing a wasp. "No your pal Stacey’s a pain in the arse" he said rather sharply, he stood with his hands in his pockets and his eyebrows were down. He looked really pissed off. "Is everything ok honey?" I asked rather sheepishly, I had only seen the Big Man in a bad mood a handful of times in my entire life and it always changed quickly from a bad mood to completely losing his temper. I wondered what was wrong with him. "No, everything isn’t ok" he said "what's wrong honey?" I asked hoping that it was something silly, "I want you to be honest with me Gorgeous. Are you sleeping with Fran?" Oh no he obviously picked up on the fact that Fran and I weren't on the best of terms. His eyes were dark and narrow and he was taking deep breaths as if to calm himself down "What are you talking about?" I said with a nervous giggle. "Don't laugh at me Gorgeous, have you been sleeping with him whilst I was away?" I really didn't mean to laugh at him but he was making me nervous, he was huge and really intimidating. “I haven't been sleeping with anyone" my hands were beginning to tremble so I placed the bottle down on the counter beside the champagne flutes, "then tell me why is he so gutted that you have moved back in here? Why was he kissing you on the lips the other night at his front door?" I couldn't tell him the truth that Fran and I had been playing house whilst he was away like a pair of stupid kids and I was embarrassed that it had blown up in my face. And that when I realised that any feelings I had for Fran were completely one sided and that I wanted to crawl away and lick my wounds in peace because I didn't want to discuss it with all of our friends. "I'm not sure why he was acting like that. You’ll need to ask him" he stepped towards me with gritted teeth "I'm asking you" I was really starting to panic and I wondered why he was he so angry, "I don't know why" I managed to whisper, he slammed the counter and shouted "don't treat me like I'm stupid, I want to know! Have you been sleeping with him?" I was so shocked that he was shouting at me that I was speechless. The last time I had argued with a man in my kitchen I ended up pleading for my life. I could feel my hands trembling and sweat forming on my forehead. But I had to calm down, this was the Big Man, ok he was pissed off, but he would never hurt me. "no honestly I'm not sleeping with Franco" I said as gently as I could. It was quiet between us and I felt like I was going to faint. Then I realised something, why was he angry with me? What had I done wrong? "Why are you so angry with me Big Man?” He was quiet for a second then he took a deep breath “I'm not angry with you Lydia, I just deserve to know the truth" he said gently and he took my hand and kissed my knuckles just like he had when I was in hospital after Stefan had attacked me. "Well you seem angry, you’re not yourself" "I'm not angry I just hate being lied too" he said "I'm telling you the truth" He just shook his head "if you’re telling me the truth then why is he so cut up about you moving out?" "I honestly don't know I haven't spoken to him." He turned his back on me and rubbed his hands over his face, was he going to cry? No, not the Big Man, surly not. What the hell had gotten into him? I hate when people cry and I certainly didn't want to watch him do it. "I think you should go home and calm down Big Man” he took a deep breath "I just want you to be honest with me Lydia" he looked really hurt "Big Man I'm telling you, nothing is going on and even if it was, would it really be the end of the world" his face dropped and he squared off his shoulders he looked really hurt "It would be the end of the world, don't you f*****g get it!" He shouted, he hit one of the champagne flutes with the back of his hand by mistake and it hit off the wall and smashed. I got a huge fright and let out a scream. All I could think of was Stefan smashing my head off the wall and I was terrified "what the f**k is the matter with you, your scaring me, I want you to leave right now" he stepped forward towards me and I thought he was going to grab me so I pushed him away. Within five seconds Harry one of my security men came rushing into the kitchen. He looked at me then at the Big Man. He was flushed from running and a little out of breath "Is everything ok Miss Knight?" he asked as he stared at the glass on the floor. "Yeah Harry I'm fine, I just broke a glass and I got a little fright, I will clean it up later. I better hurry up and get ready or else I will be late for my dinner with Stacey" I jumped over the glass and went through to my bedroom. I couldn't even look at the Big Man because I was so angry. I ran into my walk in closet and started to put on my dress. The Big Man came up behind me "Gorgeous I'm sorry I shouldn't have lost my temper. I feel terrible if I scared you" he did more than lose his temper and I’d had enough “I've been through a s**t time lately Big Man and I'm a nervous wreak. I don't need you acting like that towards me, you’re a f*****g animal I don't want you near me" he looked close to tears “please don't call me that, I lost my temper, I've had a couple of drinks..." I wasn’t taking that as an excuse “So you had a few drinks and decided to come up here and give me a hard time? that's what Stefan used to do” he looked