Gypsy Wedding (29 page)

‘Obviously. I don’t suppose you ran away on a whim. Not,’ he added, ‘when you consider how dangerous you lot seem to feel the outside world is. So, if taking your chances with the likes of Kelly and me is better than staying at home, things must be tough.’

Vicky nodded and had another slurp of wine. ‘It wasn’t good.’

‘And this Liam bloke that you’re engaged to?’

‘I dunno,’ she said miserably to her glass.

‘So you’ve not spoken to him.’

She shook her head and thought about all the missed calls from him and unanswered messages from Shania.

‘Don’t you think you should? I mean, speaking from experience, blokes don’t like finding out that the girl they thought they really liked suddenly isn’t that interested. But it’s better to be told outright than to be led on.’ He gave her a meaningful look.

‘I’ve said I’m sorry.’

‘Yeah.’ He didn’t look like he reckoned it was much of an apology.

‘Don’t be like that, Jordan. If I could turn back time I would and then I’d make sure that kiss didn’t happen.’

‘It was that bad, was it?’

‘No!’ She glared at him, angry that he was deliberately misunderstanding her. ‘No, it wasn’t and you know it.’

‘And I know how you reacted afterwards.’

‘But it wasn’t because the kiss was awful.’ She held his gaze. ‘I don’t want you to think you did anything wrong; it was all my fault and I’m really sorry. But it was one of those moments that oughtn’t to have happened. Maybe if circumstances were different …’

‘So are the circumstances different now?’

Vicky had another swig of wine while she gathered her thoughts. Shit, she’d drunk the whole glass.

‘I’ll get you another,’ said Jordan, standing up.

She had plenty of time to think while he was gone. Yes, circumstances were different. Everything was different, but the trouble was, even if Liam never ever wanted anything to do with her again, she still loved him. Inside, despite running away and knowing that she’d ruined everything, she still hoped that maybe, just maybe, he’d do the knight in shining armour thing; that he’d gallop up, sweep her off her feet and carry her off to some private place where they could live together without anyone interfering. Because even if Liam, as a result of some miracle, forgave her, she doubted if the elders or the old women on the trailer park would ever let her forget she’d disgraced herself and her family.

She snorted.
Yeah, in my dreams
. Liam wasn’t going to come and get her and that was that. The only route open to her now was to try to make a go of living with gorgios and fitting in with their world.

She looked about her at the other people in the club. Were they so different? They were human beings, just like her. She’d coped at school and at college so maybe she could cope again.

Jordan returned with another large glass of wine. As she leaned forward to take it she felt quite wobbly. She blinked and straightened up.

‘You all right?’ asked Jordan.

The feeling passed as quickly as it had come so Vicky took a drink of her wine just to steady herself. ‘Fine.’ She smiled at Jordan and waved her glass at him. ‘And thanks for the drink. You’re kind.’

Jordan leaned his forearms on his thighs and looked directly into her eyes. ‘So what’s the plan now?’

‘Get a job, find somewhere to live. It sounds simple but …’ She shook her head.

‘But it isn’t.’

Vicky nodded. ‘Kelly and I looked today, it’s hopeless.’ She swirled her wine round her glass and then took a gulp. ‘Either I’m too dim or too young or the job’s too far away.’ All the things that were wrong with the job market plus her own shortcomings were exaggerated by the effect of the wine she’d drunk. Despite her very recent resolve not to cry, the wine had got to her, as had a huge dose of self-pity. She began to sob.

Jordan took the glass from her hand and moved in to put his arm round her. She shook it off.

‘Come on,’ said Jordan. ‘Don’t be like that. I’m here.’

‘But you’re not Liam,’ she snuffled, searching her handbag for a tissue. Finally, she found one and blew noisily into it.

Kelly arrived back from the dance floor, pink and flushed. ‘What have you done to upset her?’ she stormed at Jordan as soon as she realised her friend was crying.

‘I didn’t do anything.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I think she’s a bit pissed.’

‘Is that another glass?’ said Kelly, taking in the nearly full one on the table.’

Jordan nodded.

‘And she had a bit before she left mine,’ admitted Kelly. ‘Oh God, I should have told you.’

‘I’ll take her outside,’ said Jordan. ‘Fresh air might sober her up.’

‘Good idea.’

‘You want to come?’

‘You don’t need me, do you?’ Kelly was afraid that Vicky might hurl when the fresh air hit her and she really didn’t want to be around if that happened.

Vicky was still weeping fairly noisily into her soggy tissue.

‘Come on, Vick,’ said Kelly. ‘Fresh air will make you feel better.’

‘N-n-n-nothing’s going to make me f-f-feel better,’ she sobbed. ‘It’s all c-c-c-crap.’

‘No it’s not,’ said Kelly firmly. ‘Have a walk around outside and you’ll see.’

It took some persuading but eventually they managed to get Vicky to her feet whereupon she swayed alarmingly. The booze – well over half a bottle of wine – was now really kicking in. Jordan put his arm around her to keep her upright as he walked her through the crowded club to the main door.

The air outside was remarkably brisk compared to the stuffy fug inside and the effect of it seemed to make Vicky drunker still. She swayed and staggered and Jordan held her tighter to keep her upright.

‘Le’ me si’ down,’ she slurred.

Jordan looked about for somewhere suitable. About twenty yards away was a shop doorway with three steps leading up to it. Ideal. He managed to steer her to it, wavering and weaving, where she collapsed in a saggy heap, leaning against the doorjamb, her head lolling. Jordan sat beside her to stop her falling over. She was still hiccupping and snuffling but her sobs seemed to be subsiding.

‘How do you feel now?’ he asked.

‘Crap,’ she moaned. ‘I’ve ruined my life and Liam’s. But I can’t go back.’

‘It can’t be as bad as that.’

‘You don’t understand,’ she said through another sob. ‘None of you understand.’

‘Try me.’

Vicky blew her nose and hiccupped again. ‘I could’ve been up to anything while I’ve been gone.’

‘But have you?’

Vicky sat up as straight as she could and gave Jordan a filthy stare. ‘What do you take me for?’

‘So tell them you haven’t.’

‘But they won’t believe me.’

‘Why not?’

Vicky shrugged and slumped back against the door. ‘There’ll be rumours. Whispers.’

‘So your word means nothing, is that it?’

She nodded miserably and shivered, the cool night air finally getting through the insulation the booze had provided.

Jordan put his arm round her and drew her close. Instead of leaning on the door she leaned on his shoulder. She sniffed and blew her nose again.

‘No,’ she said. ‘My word means nothing at all. As much as that.’ She clicked her fingers, several times, till she succeeded properly. ‘Nothing.’

‘Poor baby,’ said Jordan, rubbing her shoulder with his hand. Vicky snuggled closer.

‘It’s all such a mess,’ she wailed as another wave of self-pity engulfed her.

He moved his hand off her shoulder and stroked her cheek. Vicky put her hand up and held his, till Jordan released her hand and moved his to press against her lips. She kissed it.

Very slowly and gently Jordan shifted until he could bring his face beside hers and then he turned her.

‘May as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb,’ he said quietly.

‘Wha’?’ said Vicky, her brow furrowed. She knew she’d drunk too much but the wooziness she felt was almost as comforting as being in Jordan’s arms. And although she knew she oughtn’t to be doing this, the white wine had almost shut down her inhibitions.

And then Jordan kissed her for a second time.

Suddenly Vicky’s worries seemed to lift. Jordan loved her; Jordan would take care of her. He wouldn’t be kissing her like this if it wasn’t so. Maybe she didn’t love him back but Jordan wouldn’t mind that, would he? He’d taken care of her at college, he’d look after her now too. She gave a little moan of relief.

Jordan’s hand moved from her face to her shoulder and then down to her breast.

Dear sweet Jesus
, thought Vicky as her body seemed to leap as his thumb rubbed gently over her nipple. A jolt of lust bolted from her breast to her groin and muscles there, which she didn’t know she had, tightened deliciously. She pressed against Jordan, willing him silently to keep going. That feeling was unbelievable and she was desperate for more. Her encouragement was unmistakable, although Jordan barely needed it.

Then he gently pinched her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. An exquisite surge of pleasure made her whole lower half crunch. She writhed and clung to him as if she wanted them to melt into each other.

Jordan’s hand slipped lower down her body, caressing her through the flimsy fabric of her blouse. His kiss was deeper, more urgent, his tongue exploring her mouth while his fingers explored lower on her body. He reached her thigh. He rubbed his thumb over her leg, easing down to the hem of her skirt and then gently he slipped his hand under the fabric so it was resting on her bare flesh.

Vicky, her misery forgotten, was swept away by this completely new set of sensations and experiences and responded to Jordan’s caresses with another quiet moan.

He moved his hand back up her leg until it lay on the joint between her body and her thigh. Deftly he slipped his thumb under her knicker elastic and touched the moist cleft between her legs.

The intimacy of his touch was a step too far. Kissing was one thing but she didn’t love Jordan enough to let him do
this
to her. The only man she wanted to teach her about sex was Liam. She didn’t know if she ever had a chance to get back with Liam, but carrying on like this certainly wasn’t going to help. She slapped Jordan’s hand and pulled away from him.

‘Gerroff,’ she slurred.

‘What?’ said Jordan. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Stop,’ said Vicky, panting with a cauldron of mixed emotions and grabbing his wrist to stop him moving his hand back where it had been. ‘Stop right there.’

‘But you wanted me. A second ago you couldn’t get enough.’ In his frustration Jordan’s rage began to boil over.

‘Wrong. I’ve now had enough. I didn’t say you could do that.’ She glared at him, using anger to cover her embarrassment at what she’d let him do, how far she’d let him go. Kissing was one thing but getting into a heavy petting session was another.

‘But … but you liked it. You were all over me.’ Jordan couldn’t believe it. ‘For fuck’s sake, Vicky, what are you on?’

‘You went too far,’ she said.

‘Too far? Come off it, Vicky, it’s just a bit of fun. And anyway, you were enjoying it right up until a moment ago, you know you were. You can’t just stop like that,’ said Jordan. ‘You can’t lead blokes on and then slam on the brakes.’ He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her roughly towards him again. ‘It doesn’t work like that, I’ve gone too far to back off now.’

Vicky wrenched herself out of his grasp. ‘Tough, because that’s how it’s going to be. I don’t want you doing that to me. It ought to be Liam.’ She staggered to her feet.

Jordan looked up at her, his face in an ugly grimace. ‘I don’t know what I ever saw in you. You think you’re so special but you’re not. You’re just a pikey and Liam’s welcome to you, you frigid cow.’

Vicky lunged away from him, his horrible words following her.

‘You’re a prick-tease, Vicky O’Rourke,’ he yelled at her departing back. ‘A cheap little prick-tease. What do you think Liam will say when I tell him about you, eh? He’ll never want to touch you again, not even with a nine-foot pole. That should make you happy.’

She shot back into the club, thankful when the deafening music obliterated Jordan’s cruel words. Running away was such a huge mistake. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t be in this dreadful mess now. And would Jordan really carry out his threat? God, what if he worked out how to meet Liam and told him what she’d done? Supposing he ran into him somewhere. Or got to him via the Internet? He was angry enough, she supposed. Even through the haze of drink she understood just how angry she’d made him.

If he did then it really would be curtains for her and Liam.

Oh Liam. She realised with a deep ache just how much she loved him and she was wrecking everything. And if Jordan went around telling everyone what had happened just then …

Terrified of what Jordan might do she staggered from area to area in the club, desperate to find Kelly. Kelly would know what to do; Kelly might even be able to calm Jordan down. Driven by a booze-fuelled panic, Vicky pushed and stumbled her way past dancers and drinkers, searching for her friend. They frowned and muttered nasty comments about drunks and pissheads as she barged past but she didn’t care. Where was Kelly, where had she got to? She forced her way through to the chill zone but Kelly wasn’t there either. The panic rose and got worse the longer it took her to find her friend. Then a dreadful thought struck her – supposing Kelly had left without her? The combination of fear, embarrassment and alcohol made the tears start to flow again, in earnest. She staggered on further to the back of the club, sobbing hysterically, where, finally, in a dark recess, she found Kelly wrapped around the man she’d danced with earlier.